When hunting for a heating and cooling contractor, you may have run across the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company requests for sending a technician to your home when your furnace or cooling seems to be malfunctioning.
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, uses fuel, and accumulates wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t typically come with parts and labor if you opt for a repair or replacement.
How Costly is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company determines how much to charge for a service call. Some contractors charge a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others raise the rate if the home is located outside the usual service radius. The specific cost changes with market and company, but you can expect a typical 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 example, you could decide to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are encouraged to compare multiple job estimates from different HVAC companies—just remember 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 technician a fee for coming to your home and completing diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of 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 inspect your HVAC system for free.
Other 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 acting up, or you’re interested in an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Comfortech Service Experts is willing to help. We charge some of the most affordable service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. We are also willing 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 601-852-3105 today!