What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Impact Me?

When looking for a trustworthy contractor, you may have come across the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heating or AC unit seems to be acting up.

Why Do HVAC Companies Use a Service Call Fee?

A service call fee includes the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, requires fuel, and produces wear and tear on the company vehicle. Be aware that service call fees don’t usually come with parts and labor if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.

How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?

Every HVAC company determines how much to charge for a service call. Some technicians utilize a standard or flat rate for each service call, while others increase the rate if the customer is located outside the standard service radius. The particular cost changes with 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 arrange a service call, you will need to produce the trip charge regardless of what step you take next. For instance, you may decide to proceed with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which method is more cost effective.

You are free to collect varied job estimates from trusted HVAC companies—just keep in mind that you could end up paying a trip charge for each one. Even if you take no action after the initial service call, you will still owe the technician a fee for coming to your home and completing diagnostics.

How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?

A good way to avoid trip charges is to sign up for an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing. All four of our memberships offer a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and assess your HVAC system for free.

More money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership consist of:

    • No overtime charges
    • 15% savings on repairs
    • And much more

If your furnace or air conditioner is behaving strangely, or you’re looking into an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing is ready to help. We charge some of the most inexpensive service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. We are also excited 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 866-397-3787 today!