When looking for a reliable contractor, you may have come across the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your heating or air conditioner appears to be malfunctioning.
Why Do HVAC Companies Have a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee covers the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and accumulates wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t often come with parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company decides how much to charge for a service call. Some technicians select a standard or flat rate for any service call, while others adjust the rate if the home is located outside the normal service radius. The particular cost varies by market and company, but you may expect your usual trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who is Responsible for the Service Call Fee?
If you schedule a service call, you will need to produce the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For instance, you might opt to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which method is more cost effective.
You are welcome to compile several job estimates from different HVAC companies—just don’t forget that you might end up paying a trip charge for each one. Even if you take no action after the first service call, you will still owe the contractor a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A smart way to reduce trip charges is to participate in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships come with a waived service call fee, and so we’ll come to your home and inspect your HVAC system for free.
More money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership are:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs with the Maintenance+ Plan
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products with the Maintenance+ Plan
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is acting up, or you’re interested in an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Midland Air Service Experts is ready to help. We charge some of the lowest service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement off to a good start. We are also eager to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with special offers on our website. If you’re looking to enjoy savings and peace of mind while maximizing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 803-399-7208 today!