When searching for a reliable contractor, you may have stumbled across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the expense an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heater or AC unit begins working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Charge a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee recoups the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and produces wear and tear on the company vehicle. Be aware that service call fees don’t usually cover parts and labor if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.
How Costly is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company decides how much to charge for a service call. Some contractors use a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others increase the cost if the appointment is located outside the standard service radius. The specific cost changes with market and company, but you should expect an average trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who Covers the Service Call Fee?
If you request a service call, you will need to pay the trip charge regardless of what step you take after. For instance, you may choose to move forward with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are free to find varied job estimates from trusted HVAC companies—just be aware that you may end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. Even if you take no action after the original service call, you will still owe the HVAC company a fee for coming to your home and completing diagnostics.
How Can I Avoid Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to avoid trip charges is to enroll in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships come with a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and check your HVAC system for free.
Other 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 working poorly, or you’re interested in an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Golden Seal Service Experts is ready to help. We charge some of the most inexpensive service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement going the right way. We are also happy 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 boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 630-246-2698 today!