When searching for a reliable contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the expense an HVAC company requests for sending a technician to your home when your heater or air conditioner appears to be working poorly.
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, consumes fuel, and adds wear and tear on the company vehicle. Be aware that service call fees don’t typically come with parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company determines how much to charge for a service call. Some companies utilize a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others adjust the rate if the home is further outside the established service radius. The exact cost differs by 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 next. For example, you may decide to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which option is more cost effective.
You are welcome to request varied job estimates from various HVAC companies—just don’t forget that you can end up paying a trip charge for all these visits. Even if you take no action after the first service call, you will still owe the HVAC company a fee for coming to your home and carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Skip Paying a Service Call Fee?
A smart way to minimize 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, 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 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 interested in an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Rob's Albertan Service Experts is happy to help. We charge some of the most inexpensive service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement started. We are also eager to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with valuable offers on our website. If you’re ready to enjoy savings and peace of mind while enhancing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 780-800-9047 today!