[companynWhen hunting for a reliable contractor, you may have run across the term “service call fee.” Also called a “trip charge,” this fee is the cost an HVAC company charges for sending a technician to your home when your heating or AC unit begins 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, consumes fuel, and results in wear and tear on the company vehicle. Keep in mind that service call fees don’t usually come with 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 contractors use a standard or flat rate for every service call, while others adjust the cost if the home is located 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 Pays the Service Call Fee?
If you arrange a service call, you will need to pay the trip charge regardless of what step you take later. For instance, you might prefer to accept the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which choice is more cost effective.
You are free to request multiple job estimates from various 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 carrying out diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
A simple way to reduce trip charges is to sign up for 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 check your HVAC system for free.
More 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 behaving strangely, or you’re open to an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Midway Services is happy to help. We charge some of the lowest service call fees to get your HVAC repair or replacement off to a good start. 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 hoping to enjoy savings and peace of mind while maximizing efficiency and home comfort, give us a call at 727-219-2471 today!