When searching for a heating and cooling contractor, you may have stumbled across the term “service call fee.” Also named a “trip charge,” this fee is the amount an HVAC company bills for sending a technician to your home when your heating or air conditioner 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, requires fuel, and results in wear and tear on the company vehicle. Remember that service call fees don’t usually cover parts and labor if you decide on a repair or replacement.
How Much 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 any service call, while others adjust the price if the appointment is further outside the established service radius. The particular cost changes with market and company, but you should expect your usual trip charge to be between $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 next. For example, you can decide to move forward with the technician’s recommended repair or replacement, depending on which method is more cost effective.
You are welcome to collect varied 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 original service call, you will still owe the contractor a fee for coming to your home and performing diagnostics.
How Can I Steer Clear of Paying a Service Call Fee?
An easy way to reduce trip charges is to enroll in an HVAC membership from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning. All four of our memberships come with a waived service call fee, meaning we’ll come to your home and assess your HVAC system for free.
Other 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 acting up, or you’re open to an affordable HVAC maintenance plan, Stallion Heating Plumbing Air Conditioning is ready 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 happy to help our customers save money on emergency repairs, replacements and maintenance with worthwhile 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 215-278-9690 today!