When hunting for a trustworthy contractor, you may have run across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heater or AC unit appears to be working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Have a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee covers the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and increases wear and tear on the company vehicle. Keep in mind that service call fees don’t typically include parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Much 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 each service call, while others adjust the rate if the appointment is further outside the usual service radius. The specific cost differs by market and company, but you can expect your usual trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129.
Who is Responsible for the Service Call Fee?
If you arrange a service call, you will need to settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For starters, you may decide to move forward with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are free to compare multiple job estimates from various HVAC companies—just don’t forget that you may end up paying a trip charge for every one. Even if you take no action after the first service call, you will still owe the contractor a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Skip Paying a Service Call Fee?
An easy way to decrease trip charges is to sign up for an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships provide a waived service call fee, and so we’ll come to your home and assess your HVAC system for free.
Additional 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 malfunctioning, or you’re considering an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, BW/Cook 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 ready to enjoy savings and peace of mind while boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 574-218-6404 today!