HVAC service call and diagnostic fees (incl. after-hours)

These are national figures from three publishers. They differ because each one measures something slightly different, and local rates vary. Use them to judge whether a fee you are quoted is in a normal range.

A service call fee, sometimes called a trip charge or dispatch fee, covers getting a technician and a stocked truck to your door. A diagnostic fee covers the time and test equipment needed to find the fault. Some companies combine the two into one charge and some list them separately.

The fee does not usually include the repair. After the diagnosis you should get a price for the fix, and you can accept it or decline and pay only the fee. Many companies credit the fee toward the repair if you approve the work on the same visit. Ask about that when you book.

Most residential HVAC companies use flat-rate pricing. You are quoted one price for a specific repair, and it stays the same whether the job takes one hour or three. That gives you certainty before work starts.

Others bill time and materials: an hourly labor rate plus the parts used. This can cost less on a quick job and more on a slow one. With hourly billing, ask whether there is a minimum charge, whether travel time is billed, and how parts are marked up.

Nights, weekends and holidays cost more because the company is paying on-call staff. The premium may be a higher dispatch fee, a higher hourly rate, or both.

Before you pay it, decide whether the visit can wait until morning. A dead AC on a mild night can usually wait. No heat in freezing weather, or no cooling in extreme heat with a vulnerable person in the house, cannot. The guides to emergency AC repair and emergency furnace repair explain what to check first and how to stay safe while you wait.

• What is the service call or diagnostic fee, and is it credited toward the repair?
• Is there an extra charge for evenings, weekends or holidays, and how much is it?
• Do you price repairs at a flat rate or by the hour?
• Will I get the repair price in writing before any work starts?
• What warranty do you give on parts and on labor?
• Are you licensed and insured in this state?

A company that will not state its fee over the phone is one to skip. For typical repair prices once the fault is known, see the HVAC cost guides.