What is a Service Call Fee and How Does it Affect Me?
When looking for a trustworthy contractor, you may have run across 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 heating or air conditioner seems to be malfunctioning.
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 results in wear and tear on the company vehicle. Don’t forget that service call fees don’t generally cover 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 technicians utilize a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others adjust the rate if the appointment is somewhere outside the normal service radius. The exact cost varies by market and company, but you could expect an average trip charge to be around $79 to $129.
Who is Responsible for the Service Call Fee?
If you schedule a service call, you will need to settle the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For starters, you might decide to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are encouraged to collect several job estimates from various HVAC companies—just remember that you could 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 performing diagnostics.
How Can I Avoid Paying a Service Call Fee?
An easy way to avoid trip charges is to participate in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships provide a waived service call fee, and so we’ll come to your home and check your HVAC system for free.
Additional 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, Peachtree Service Experts is happy to help. We charge some of the most affordable service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement going the right way. We are also willing to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with special offers on our website. If you’re looking to enjoy savings and peace of mind while enhancing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 678-235-9699 today!
