What Are Trip Charges and Diagnostic Fees?

When you are looking for heating, cooling or plumbing services from Peitz Service Experts, you will pay a trip charge and a diagnostic fee separately. A number of companies you’ve called in the past may have combined the trip charge and diagnostic fee, but we feel we can offer you better value by keeping them separate.

What Exactly Is a Trip Charge?

A trip charge includes the cost for a certified plumber or HVAC technician to stop by your home. Occasionally called a service call fee, this payment is the standard rate for delivering our technicians, equipment and expertise to your doorstep. If you'd like to cut out the trip charges in the future, you can consider signing up for one of our membership plans.

What Is a Diagnostic Fee?

The diagnostic fee pays for the services required to find the root cause of a problem. With plumbing, this could include scoping. For HVAC repairs, it could involve taking a look at the inside of your unit. If you decide to use Peitz Service Experts for the repairs, the diagnostic fee would be rolled into the repair bill. However, you are charged for the diagnostic services alone if you choose not to.

What Are the Differences Between a Trip Fee and a Diagnostic Fee

Generally speaking, a trip fee covers sending the plumber or HVAC technician to your residence, while the diagnostic fee addresses all the work involved in evaluating the issue and figuring out a plan for repairs. If you pay 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 Billed Separately?

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