When hunting for a HVAC contractor, you may have come 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 heater or AC unit appears to be working poorly.
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 increases 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 Costly is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company chooses how much to charge for a service call. Some technicians charge a standard or flat rate for any service call, while others increase the rate if the home is further outside the usual service radius. The specific cost changes with 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 request a service call, you will need to produce the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For starters, you can choose to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are welcome to compile several job estimates from local 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 original service call, you will still owe the contractor a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
An easy way to minimize trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships offer a waived service call fee, which means we’ll come to your home and inspect your HVAC system for free.
Other money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership include:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is behaving strangely, or you’re interested in an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Barlow Service Experts is happy to help. We charge some of the lowest service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. We are also eager to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with worthwhile offers on our website. If you’re looking to enjoy savings and peace of mind while boosting efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 801-436-8985 today!