What Are Trip Charges and Diagnostic Fees?

When you are looking for heating, air conditioning or plumbing services from Golden Seal Service Experts, you will pay for the trip charge and a diagnostic fee separately. A number of companies you’ve worked with in the past might have combined the trip charge and diagnostic fee, but we think we can provide you with even more value by separating the two.

What Is a Trip Charge?

A trip charge handles the cost for a qualified plumber or HVAC technician to come to your home. Occasionally called a service call fee, this payment is the standard rate for sending our technicians, equipment and expertise to your front door. If you would like to avoid trip charges in the future, you can look into signing up for one of our membership programs.

What Is a Diagnostic Fee?

The diagnostic fee is made up of the services necessary to locate the root cause of a problem. In plumbing, this may be comprised of scoping. During HVAC repairs, it could involve taking a look at the inside of your system. If you prefer to use Golden Seal Service Experts for the repairs, the diagnostic fee is rolled into the repair bill. However, you're charged for the diagnostic services alone if you choose not to.

What Are the Differences Between a Trip Fee and a Diagnostic Fee

Generally speaking, a trip fee includes sending the plumber or HVAC technician to your residence, while the diagnostic fee encompasses all the work involved in assessing the problem and coming up with a plan for repairs. If you're paying for repairs, you won’t even notice the diagnostic fee because it's included with the cost of the repairs.

Why Are Diagnostic Fees and Trip Charges Separated?

Many plumbers and HVAC companies charge one single fee for both the trip and the diagnostics. Rather than charging you for two services at the same time, we opt for two individual fees. This allows us to price our services in the fairest possible manner.

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