When looking for a HVAC contractor, you may have seen the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your furnace or air conditioner seems to be working poorly.
Why Do HVAC Companies Use a Service Call Fee?
A service call fee covers the cost of traveling to your home. After all, this takes time, uses fuel, and accumulates wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t typically cover parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Expensive is a Service Call Fee?
Every HVAC company chooses how much to charge for a service call. Some contractors offer a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others increase the cost if the customer is somewhere outside the normal service radius. The exact cost changes with market and company, but you should expect your usual trip charge to be between $79 to $129.
Who Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you request a service call, you will need to produce the trip charge regardless of what step you take after. For example, you can prefer to proceed with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are welcome to request several job estimates from different HVAC companies—just be aware that you can end up paying a trip charge for every one. 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 Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to minimize trip charges is to purchase 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 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 working poorly, or you’re considering an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Donelson Air 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 excited 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 615-953-9885 today!