When searching for a trustworthy contractor, you may have seen 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 heating or cooling seems to be working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Have a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee includes the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and increases wear and tear on the company vehicle. Keep in mind 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 determines how much to charge for a service call. Some technicians use a standard or flat rate for any service call, while others raise the cost if the appointment is someplace outside the established service radius. The exact cost changes with market and company, but you should expect a typical trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129.
Who Covers 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 example, you could choose to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which method is more cost effective.
You are welcome to request varied job estimates from different HVAC companies—just don’t forget that you may end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. 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 carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
An easy way to decrease trip charges is to sign up for an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships include a waived service call fee, which means we’ll come to your home and assess your HVAC system for free.
Other money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership consist of:
- 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 behaving strangely, or you’re open to an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Matz-Rightway is ready to help. We charge some of the most inexpensive service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement going the right way. We are also happy to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with valuable 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 631-406-9220 today!