When you want heating, cooling or plumbing services from Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, you will pay for the trip charge and a diagnostic fee separately. Some companies you’ve hired in the past might have combined the trip charge and diagnostic fee, but we believe we can offer you better value by separating the two.
What Is a Trip Charge?
A trip charge handles the cost for a certified plumber or HVAC technician to come to your home. Often called a service call fee, this charge is the standard rate for sending our technicians, equipment and expertise to your doorstep. If you'd like to eliminate trip charges in the future, you can look into signing up for one of our membership plans.
What Is a Diagnostic Fee?
The diagnostic fee pays for the services needed to locate the root cause of a problem. In plumbing, this may consist of scoping. During HVAC repairs, it might involve examining the inside of the cabinet. If you elect to use Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning for the repairs, the diagnostic fee will be rolled into the repair bill. That said, you're charged for the diagnostic services alone if you do not.
What Are the Differences Between a Trip Fee and a Diagnostic Fee
In most cases, a trip fee includes sending the plumber or HVAC technician to your home, while the diagnostic fee addresses all the work involved in assessing the issue and working up a plan for repairs. If you are paying for repairs, you won't notice the diagnostic fee because it's absorbed into the cost of the repairs.
Why Are Diagnostic Fees and Trip Charges Separated?
Many plumbers and HVAC companies will charge a single fee for both the trip and the diagnostics. As opposed to charging you for two services at the same time, we have two distinct fees. This allows us to price our services in the fairest achievable manner.