What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Influence Me?

When searching for a reliable contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also known as a “trip charge,” this fee is the expense an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your furnace or air conditioner begins acting up.

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, requires fuel, and accumulates wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t typically include parts and labor if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.

How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?

Every HVAC company decides how much to charge for a service call. Some technicians use a standard or flat rate for each service call, while others raise the rate if the appointment is further outside the standard service radius. The specific cost changes with market and company, but you can expect an average 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 later. For example, you may choose to move forward with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.

You are encouraged to find varied job estimates from various HVAC companies—just don’t forget 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 contractor a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.

How Can I Avoid Paying a Service Call Fee?

An easy way to decrease trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. All four of our memberships come with a waived service call fee, which means we’ll come to your home and assess your HVAC system for free.

More money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership consist of:

    • No overtime charges
    • 15% savings on repairs
    • And much more

If your furnace or air conditioner is malfunctioning, or you’re looking into an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is willing 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 happy to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with worthwhile offers on our website. If you’re looking to enjoy savings and peace of mind while maximizing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 866-397-3787 today!