What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Influence Me?
When hunting for a HVAC contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your furnace or cooling seems 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 adds wear and tear on the company vehicle. Be aware that service call fees don’t generally cover parts and labor if you opt for a repair or replacement.
How Much 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 each service call, while others raise the cost if the home is someplace outside the established service radius. The exact cost differs by market and company, but you should 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 settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For starters, you can opt to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are encouraged to compare several job estimates from local HVAC companies—just remember that you may end up paying a trip charge for each one. Even if you take no action after the original service call, you will still owe the HVAC company a fee for coming to your home and performing diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
An easy way to decrease trip charges is to participate in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships come with a waived service call fee, and so we’ll come to your home and evaluate your HVAC system for free.
Additional 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 looking into an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Coastal Service Experts is happy to help. We charge some of the most affordable service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. 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 912-208-2399 today!
