What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Affect Me?
When looking for a heating and cooling contractor, you may have run across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your heating or AC unit appears to be acting up.
Why Do HVAC Companies Charge a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee covers the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, requires fuel, and results in wear and tear on the company vehicle. It’s important to know that service call fees don’t often come with parts and labour if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.
How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company chooses how much to charge for a service call. Some companies use a standard or flat rate for each service call, while others increase the price if the home is someplace outside the usual service radius. The specific cost changes with market and company, but you should expect your usual trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who Covers the Service Call Fee?
If you arrange a service call, you will need to pay the trip charge regardless of what step you take next. For example, you might prefer to proceed with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are welcome to request several job estimates from various HVAC companies—just be aware that you can 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 technician a fee for coming to your home and completing diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to avoid trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from McKinley Heating Service Experts. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, and so 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
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is acting up, or you’re considering an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, McKinley Heating Service Experts is ready 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 valuable 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 780-800-7092 today!
