When searching for a reliable contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost 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 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 causes wear and tear on the company vehicle. Be aware that service call fees don’t typically come with parts and labor if you choose to go with a repair or replacement.
How Costly is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company chooses how much to charge for a service call. Some companies charge a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others adjust the price if the home is further outside the normal service radius. The particular cost differs by market and company, but you may expect your usual trip charge to be anywhere from $79 to $129.
Who is Responsible for the Service Call Fee?
If you request a service call, you will need to produce the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For example, you could prefer to agree with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which method is more cost effective.
You are encouraged to request multiple job estimates from different HVAC companies—just keep in mind that you might 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 completing diagnostics.
How Can I Skip Paying a Service Call Fee?
A smart way to reduce trip charges is to purchase an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships come with a waived service call fee, which means we’ll come to your home and evaluate your HVAC system for free.
Additional money-saving benefits of an HVAC maintenance membership include:
- No overtime charges
- 15% savings on repairs
- 15% savings on indoor air quality products
- And much more
If your furnace or air conditioner is malfunctioning, or you’re looking into an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, D&K Home Services by Enercare is willing 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 willing 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 maximizing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 613-707-2421 today!