When hunting for a trustworthy contractor, you may have run across the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the expense an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heating or air conditioner appears to be acting up.
Why Do HVAC Companies Use a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee recoups the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and produces wear and tear on the company vehicle. It’s important to know that service call fees don’t generally cover parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Costly is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company determines how much to charge for a service call. Some companies charge a standard or flat rate for any service call, while others increase the cost if the home is somewhere outside the standard service radius. The particular cost changes with market and company, but you may expect an average trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you schedule a service call, you will need to settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take next. For example, you may decide to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are free to compare several job estimates from different HVAC companies—just keep in mind that you could end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. 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 carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A smart way to minimize trip charges is to sign up for an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships come with 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 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 working poorly, or you’re open to an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, McKinley Heating Service Experts is happy to help. We charge some of the most affordable service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement off to a good start. 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 hoping to enjoy savings and peace of mind while boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 780-800-7092 today!