What Are Trip Charges and Diagnostic Fees?

When you want heating, cooling or plumbing services from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, you will pay a trip charge and a diagnostic fee separately. A number of companies you’ve worked with in the past might have combined the trip charge and diagnostic fee, but we believe we can offer you greater value by separating the two.

What Exactly Is a Trip Charge?

A trip charge covers the cost for a certified plumber or HVAC technician to stop by your home. Often called a service call fee, this cost is the base rate for bringing our technicians, equipment and expertise to your front door. If you would like to avoid trip charges in the future, you can look into joining one of our membership plans.

What Is a Diagnostic Fee?

The diagnostic fee covers the services necessary to determine the root cause of a problem. In plumbing, this could be comprised of scoping. For HVAC repairs, it could involve taking a look at the inside of your unit. If you elect to use Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for any repairs, the diagnostic fee is rolled into the repair bill. But bear in mind, you will be charged for the diagnostic services alone if you do not.

What Is the Difference Between a Trip Fee and a Diagnostic Fee

In most cases, a trip fee gets the plumber or HVAC technician to your home, while the diagnostic fee addresses all the work concerned with evaluating the issue and figuring out a plan for repairs. If you are paying for repairs, you won’t even notice the diagnostic fee since it’s absorbed into the cost of the repairs.

Why Are Diagnostic Fees and Trip Charges Separated?

Other plumbers and HVAC companies charge a single fee for both the trip and the diagnostics. Rather than charging you for two services together, we prefer two individual fees. This helps us to price our services in the fairest available manner.