When looking for a trustworthy contractor, you may have run across the term “service call fee.” Also known as 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 seems to be working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Use a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee covers the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, requires fuel, and accumulates wear and tear on the company vehicle. Don’t forget that service call fees don’t often cover parts and labor 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 contractors offer a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others increase the rate if the home is somewhere outside the established service radius. The specific cost differs by market and company, but you should expect a typical trip charge to be between $79 to $129.
Who Covers 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 starters, you can prefer to move forward with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are welcome to compare varied job estimates from local HVAC companies—just keep in mind that you can end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. 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 carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple 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, which means we’ll come to your home and evaluate your HVAC system for free.
Other money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership are:
- 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 working poorly, or you’re open to an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Komfort Air Service Experts is happy to help. We charge some of the lowest service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement going the right way. 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 704-705-8135 today!