What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Influence Me?
When looking for a HVAC contractor, you may have come across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your heater or air conditioner seems to be acting up.
Why Do HVAC Companies Charge a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee includes the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, requires fuel, and causes wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t usually cover parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Much is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company chooses how much to charge for a service call. Some companies offer a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others adjust the rate if the home is located outside the standard service radius. The specific cost varies by market and company, but you may expect your usual trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you arrange a service call, you will need to produce the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For starters, you can decide to move forward with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which method is more cost effective.
You are free to collect several job estimates from different HVAC companies—just be aware that you may 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 contractor a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Avoid Paying a Service Call Fee?
An easy way to reduce trip charges is to sign up for an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships provide 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 include:
- 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 malfunctioning, or you’re considering an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Neal Harris Service Experts is ready to help. We charge some of the lowest service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement off to a good start. We are also excited 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 816-787-0500 today!
