What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Influence Me?
When looking for a HVAC contractor, you may have run across the term “service call fee.” Also known as a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company requests for sending a technician to your home when your heating or cooling starts working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Use a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee recoups the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, requires fuel, and causes wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t generally include parts and labor if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.
How Much is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company chooses how much to charge for a service call. Some technicians select a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others increase the rate if the customer is somewhere outside the usual service radius. The particular cost changes with market and company, but you may expect a typical trip charge to be anywhere from $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 next. For starters, you can opt to move forward with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are welcome to find varied job estimates from various HVAC companies—just keep in mind that you can end up paying a trip charge for each one. Even if you take no action after the original 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 good way to avoid trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships offer a waived service call fee, and so we’ll come to your home and inspect your HVAC system for free.
Additional money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership consist of:
- 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 behaving strangely, or you’re considering an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Becht/Givens Service Experts is happy 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 excited to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with valuable offers on our website. If you’re looking to enjoy savings and peace of mind while boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 502-785-8230 today!
