What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Affect Me?
When searching for a HVAC contractor, you may have stumbled across the term “service call fee.” Also known as a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heating or AC unit begins working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Use a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee includes the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, consumes fuel, and causes wear and tear on the company vehicle. Be aware that service call fees don’t generally include 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 any service call, while others increase the cost if the home is located outside the normal service radius. The specific cost varies by market and company, but you should expect your usual trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you arrange a service call, you will need to produce the trip charge regardless of what step you take after. For starters, you can choose to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which method is more cost effective.
You are welcome to find 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 original service call, you will still owe the technician a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Skip Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to decrease trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, and so we’ll come to your home and evaluate your HVAC system for free.
More money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership include:
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- No overtime charges
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- 15% savings on repairs
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- 15% savings on indoor air quality products
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- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is working poorly, or you’re considering an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is ready to help. We charge some of the most affordable service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. We are also happy 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 enhancing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 866-397-3787 today!