What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Impact Me?

When looking for a HVAC contractor, you may have come across the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your furnace or air conditioner appears to be acting up. 

Why Do HVAC Companies Charge a Service Call Fee? 

A service call fee covers the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, requires fuel, and adds wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t typically come with parts and labor if you opt for a repair or replacement. 

How Expensive is a Service Call Fee? 

Every HVAC company determines how much to charge for a service call. Some technicians select a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others increase the rate if the customer is somewhere outside the established service radius. The specific cost differs by market and company, but you could expect an average trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129. 

Who Covers the Service Call Fee? 

If you arrange a service call, you will need to pay the trip charge regardless of what step you take next. For starters, you can prefer to proceed with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective. 

You are welcome to request multiple job estimates from trusted HVAC companies—just remember that you may end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. Even if you take no action after the first service call, you will still owe the technician a fee for coming to your home and completing diagnostics. 

How Can I Skip Paying a Service Call Fee? 

A simple way to minimize trip charges is to sign up for an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, which means we’ll come to your home and assess your HVAC system for free. 

Additional money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership are: 

• No overtime charges 
• 15% savings on repairs 

• 15% savings on indoor air quality products 
• And much more 

If your furnace or air conditioner is acting up, or you’re interested in an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is happy to help. We charge some of the most affordable service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. We are also willing to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with worthwhile offers on our website. If you’re hoping to enjoy savings and peace of mind while enhancing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 866-397-3787 today!