When you need heating, air conditioning or plumbing services from Stevenson Service Experts, you will pay a trip charge and a diagnostic fee separately. Some companies you’ve hired in the past most likely combined the trip charge and diagnostic fee, but we feel we can provide you with even more value by separating them.
What's a Trip Charge?
A trip charge covers the cost for a qualified plumber or HVAC technician to come to your home. Often called a service call fee, this payment is the base rate for bringing our technicians, equipment and expertise to your front door. If you want to cut out the trip charges in the future, you can consider joining one of our membership programs.
What Is a Diagnostic Fee?
The diagnostic fee pays for the services needed to determine the root cause of a problem. In plumbing, this may include scoping. During HVAC repairs, it may involve examining the inside of the cabinet. If you prefer to use Stevenson Service Experts for your repairs, the diagnostic fee will be rolled into the repair bill. That said, you're charged for the diagnostic services alone if you do not.
What Are the Differences Between a Trip Fee and a Diagnostic Fee
In most cases, a trip fee gets the plumber or HVAC technician to your home, while the diagnostic fee addresses all the work involved in evaluating the problem and coming up with a plan for repairs. If you are paying for repairs, you won’t even notice the diagnostic fee because it will be absorbed into the cost of the repairs.
Why Are Diagnostic Fees and Trip Charges Billed Separately?
Some other plumbers and HVAC companies charge one fee for both the trip and the diagnostics. Rather than charging you for two services at once, we prefer two distinct fees. This enables us to price our services in the fairest available manner.