When hunting for a trustworthy contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heater or air conditioner seems to be working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Have a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee recoups the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and adds wear and tear on the company vehicle. It’s important to know that service call fees don’t typically include parts and labor if you choose to go with 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 increase the cost if the customer is somewhere outside the established service radius. The specific cost differs by market and company, but you may expect an average trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you schedule a service call, you will need to pay the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For starters, you might prefer to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are welcome to find several job estimates from various HVAC companies—just remember that you can 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 Skip Paying a Service Call Fee?
A smart way to avoid trip charges is to enroll in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and check your HVAC system for free.
Additional money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership consist of:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is acting up, or you’re looking into an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Orangutan Home Services is willing to help. We charge some of the most inexpensive service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. 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 hoping to enjoy savings and peace of mind while enhancing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 602-906-0111 today!