CallZippy
CallZippy
Buyer's guide for HVAC and plumbing owners
Both answer the phone when you can't. The differences are in what each one costs as calls go up, how fast the caller gets an answer, and whether the call ends with a booked job or a message on your desk.
If your phones get busy in heat waves and cold snaps, and most calls are the same handful of requests (no heat, no AC, a leak, a clogged drain, a maintenance visit), an AI receptionist will usually answer faster and cost less per call. If most of your calls are long, custom conversations, or your customers insist on a person every time, a live answering service may suit you better. Plenty of shops do both: AI for after-hours and overflow, their own office for daytime calls.
| Typical live answering service | CallZippy (Riley, AI receptionist) | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Usually per call or per minute, with overage charges when you go past your plan. | Flat monthly plan: $297, $497 or $797 plus a one-time $199 setup fee. Phone usage included within fair limits. |
| Busy days | Calls can wait in a queue when many clients' lines ring at once. | Answers right away and can take more than one call at the same time. |
| Booking | Often takes a message; some services book appointments as a paid add-on. | Collects the job details and shares your booking link or sets a callback window on the call. |
| Emergencies | Follows your on-call instructions. | Spots gas smells, CO alarms, no heat in freezing weather and active leaks, gives basic safety steps, then routes to your on-call tech using your rules. |
| Consistency | Depends on which agent picks up. | Follows your script, service area, hours and diagnostic fee every time. |
| The human touch | A real person on every call. | Says it's an AI up front, and transfers to your team whenever the caller asks for a person. |
Live answering prices vary a lot, so check the provider you're comparing. As one public example, Smith.ai's human-first receptionist plans listed 30 calls for $300 a month, 90 calls for $810 and 300 calls for $2,100, with per-call charges for extras such as booking appointments (Smith.ai pricing, checked October 16, 2026). That works out to roughly $7 to $10 a call before add-ons.
CallZippy's Pro plan is $497 a month for 24/7 answering of all calls, with booking and emergency transfer included. At 90 calls a month that's about $5.50 a call, and the cost per call drops as volume rises. The bigger number to watch is the value of each job: one no-heat repair or water heater replacement you would have missed can be worth more than a month of service. Try our missed-call calculator with your own numbers.
Ask for the price at double your normal call volume, including overage and add-on fees.
A message isn't a booked appointment. Ask whether the call ends with a time on your schedule or a callback window.
Ask exactly what happens on a 2 a.m. gas smell or burst pipe call, and how fast your on-call tech hears about it.
You shouldn't need a new number. Call forwarding from your existing line is enough.
Look for a written summary with name, callback number, address, the problem and urgency.
Call a demo line yourself and try a tough call. Ours is (301) 822-9853.
Usually, once call volume is above a few dozen calls a month. Live services often bill per call or per minute, so a busy week costs more. CallZippy plans are a flat $297, $497 or $797 per month plus a one-time $199 setup fee, with phone usage included within fair limits.
Yes. Riley introduces itself as an AI assistant on every call and answers honestly if asked. Callers can ask for a person at any time.
If most of your calls are long, emotional or highly custom conversations, or your customers strongly prefer a human every time, a live service may fit better. Many contractors use an AI receptionist for after-hours and overflow and keep their own staff for daytime calls.
Yes. You forward after-hours, overflow or unanswered calls from your current number. You don't need a new number.
Call the demo line, then book 15 minutes to talk about your business.
The demo line answers as a sample HVAC company. Calls are recorded with your consent.
