When searching for a reliable contractor, you may have stumbled across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your heater or cooling starts malfunctioning.
Why Do HVAC Companies Have a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee includes the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, requires fuel, and causes wear and tear on the company vehicle. It’s important to know 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 select a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others adjust the price if the appointment is further outside the standard service radius. The particular cost changes with market and company, but you should expect a typical trip charge to be between $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you request a service call, you will need to settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take after. For starters, you might opt to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are welcome to compile several job estimates from trusted 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 initial service call, you will still owe the technician a fee for coming to your home and performing diagnostics.
How Can I Avoid Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to reduce trip charges is to participate in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships offer a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and inspect your HVAC system for free.
More money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership include:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is behaving strangely, or you’re open to an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Strogen's Service Experts is willing to help. We charge some of the most affordable service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement going the right way. We are also willing to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with worthwhile offers on our website. If you’re ready to enjoy savings and peace of mind while enhancing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 603-923-4570 today!