When looking for a heating and cooling contractor, you may have come across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company requests for sending a technician to your home when your furnace or air conditioner seems to be working poorly.
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, consumes fuel, and increases wear and tear on the company vehicle. It’s important to know that service call fees don’t usually come with parts and labor if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.
How Much is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company determines how much to charge for a service call. Some companies offer a standard or flat rate for each service call, while others adjust the price if the home is located outside the usual service radius. The particular cost varies by market and company, but you can expect an average trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who Covers the Service Call Fee?
If you schedule a service call, you will need to pay the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For starters, you might prefer to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are free to request varied job estimates from various HVAC companies—just be aware that you might end up paying a trip charge for every 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 completing diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
An easy way to reduce trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and check your HVAC system for free.
Additional money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership consist of:
- 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 open to an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Stevenson Service Experts is ready to help. We charge some of the lowest 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 valuable offers on our website. If you’re ready to enjoy savings and peace of mind while maximizing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 937-503-7896 today!