When hunting for a trustworthy contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the expense an HVAC company requests for sending a technician to your home when your heater or cooling appears to be working poorly.
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 causes wear and tear on the company vehicle. Keep in mind that service call fees don’t often include parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company chooses how much to charge for a service call. Some contractors utilize a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others increase the price if the home is further outside the usual service radius. The exact cost differs by market and company, but you may expect your usual trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who is Responsible for the Service Call Fee?
If you arrange a service call, you will need to produce the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For example, you may opt to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are encouraged to compile varied job estimates from local HVAC companies—just keep in mind that you may 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 HVAC company a fee for coming to your home and performing diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A smart way to decrease 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, which means we’ll come to your home and check your HVAC system for free.
Other 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 malfunctioning, or you’re looking into an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Falso Service Experts is willing to help. We charge some of the lowest service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. We are also happy to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with special offers on our website. If you’re hoping to enjoy savings and peace of mind while boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 315-313-6531 today!