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It feels as if our regular routines have been upended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Health officials recommend distancing and self isolating from others. Many businesses are now closed, and many people now work from home.

But what does this mean for plumbing services? Should you continue to receive regular maintenance services or should you avoid getting any plumbing services for the time being?

These are questions that many homeowners have begun to ask. Some plumbing services are simply considered necessities. This is especially true in emergency situations. If sewage is backing up into your home or if you have a leak, you should call a professional plumber as soon as possible. There are many options to choose from in Mansfield, TX. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth offers a wide range of plumbing services to those in the Fort Worth area. They service many cities, including Mansfield TX.

If you plan on calling a plumber, here are some tips and tricks that you should keep in mind to keep the professionals and yourself safe.

#1. Ask Each Plumbing Company About the Safeguards They Have in Place

Many plumbing companies that are still operational have increased hygiene and sanitation protocols. They may even have modified some of their policies to reflect the pandemic and to adhere to the nearest public health guidelines. Before you agree to any plumbing services, ask the plumbing company what they are doing to protect the customers and their employees.

A reputable company will have many safeguards in place. Let’s take a look at some of the most common safeguards below.

Proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Prior to this pandemic, most plumbers won’t show up in your home wearing a full safety suit and a face mask. However, one of the most common safeguards that many plumbing companies have in place is a requirement for all of their employees to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Proper PPE can include anything from a full suit, a face mask and even goggles. The plumbers will keep the PPE on the whole time that they’re working in your home. This is to prevent any transmission of the disease should anyone be asymptomatic.

You should ask the plumbing company whether their employees wear new PPE every day. It’s important that they do not reuse their PPE, as the PPE becomes less effective if it is worn for long periods of time. The moisture from one’s breath may reduce the overall effectiveness of the face masks. A good company will send their plumbers out with a full face shield that is worn over their gloves and safety goggles. While the PPE may seem uncomfortable, it could reduce transmission rates by quite a lot.

Keep in mind that most plumbers come in contact with many people during the day. They’ll meet up with more than one client in one week. Due to this reason, they have a higher risk of contracting corona and need to take appropriate precautions to make sure that they protect themselves.

Additional Social Distancing and Hygiene Procedures

Another important thing to inquire about is whether the plumbing company has new social distancing and hygiene procedures in place. This includes anything from additional handwashing to using alcohol-based hand sanitizers on a regular basis. Many plumbers will now sanitize their hands before they work on anything in your home. Some plumbers may even go as far as wearing gloves.

Proper social distancing is also important. For one, there should not be a lot of traffic within your home. Most plumbing companies will try to only send out one or two plumbers to get the job done. Although this may take a longer time, it will expose you and your family to less people.

The plumbers should also distance themselves from everyone in the household. They should stand 2 meters away while explaining the procedures to you. It’s important that everyone has as much personal space as possible during such tough and trying times!

Additional Sick Leave and Communication with Employees

Last but not least, it’s crucial that the plumbing companies are in constant communication with their employees. Their new policies should require all employees to stay at home if they feel even a little bit sick. Employees should notify their employers immediately if they have had contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. They should also stay at home and notify their employers immediately if they are getting tested themselves.

#2. Do Your Best to Create a Safe Work Environment

It’s important that the plumbing company is not the only party who is trying to lower transmission rates. You should also do your best to create a safe work environment for the plumbers who are providing the plumbing service. You should always discuss with the plumbing company how the visit will go and what they expect from you, as you also share responsibility in providing a safe work environment.

If you’re wondering what you can do to help make a difference, consider some of the tips and tricks below.

Give the Plumbers as Much Space as Possible

Prior to the pandemic, many homeowners like to hover around the plumbers. The homeowners want to make sure that they get a look of what’s happening every step of the way. However, homeowners should try to give the plumbers as much space as possible nowadays. Instead of crowding within the same area, it may be better to leave the plumbers alone. If you have to be in the same room, make sure that you are staying at least 6 feet away. This is the minimum distance that has been recommended by the CDC.

It’s also important that you don’t touch the plumbers. Be more mindful of your own actions. Avoid touching their shoulders when trying to talk to them or making any type of physical contact at all.

Some contractors are now using dust walls to cordon off the areas that they are working in. This will also prevent the homeowners from coming into close contact with them.

Do Your Part and Wear a Mask

The virus is easily spread through airborne particles. You can also do your part in creating a safe environment by making sure that you and your family wear a mask while the plumber is offering any type of plumbing service in your home.

Wash and Sanitize the Surfaces Nearby

You should also consider sanitizing the surfaces that the plumber will come in contact with. For example, if the drain in the kitchen is clogged, you should sanitize the kitchen surfaces and the areas nearby.

Another thing that you can do is to clear a path to the work space ahead of time. This may include things like leaving the doors open so that our plumbers won’t have to touch any handles or door knobs. It may also include moving furniture and other items that may have the potential of becoming a problem.

For efficiency’s sake, you should consider covering the work area in a drop cloth. If you do so, you’ll be able to save a lot of time cleaning up afterwards.

Provide Soap, Water and Other Sanitation Tools

Nowadays, you’ll find that a lot of people clean and wash things excessively. To protect you, the plumbers will need to do the same. They need to be able to wash their hands often and they need to be able to clean their equipment and tools. Provide a safe work space by providing soap, water and other necessary sanitation tools, like alcohol-based wipes.

You’ll also want to provide a plastic bag for the plumbers to get rid of all of the garbage that they have. Make sure that you have garbage bags or garbage bins next to the areas where they will be performing the plumbing service. You should even consider setting aside a specific faucet for the plumbers to wash their hands while on the job.

Pay Online or with a Card

Many plumbing companies in Mansfield, TX no longer accept cash. If you’re planning on paying on cash, you may be in trouble. Thanks to this pandemic, you may be required to pay with either credit card or a debit card. You may be able to pay in-person; however, many companies would much prefer if you would pay online, as this will minimize the amount of contact that the plumbers must have with you. They’ll be able to do their job and go.

#3. Make Sure You Stay Updated on the State’s Guidelines

Last but not least, you need to make sure that you stay up-to-date on the state’s guidelines. This is your responsibility. Every state will enact different guidelines and orders in order to protect their citizens from contracting and spreading corona.

If you’re not familiar with the state’s guidelines for those who reside in Texas, give Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth a call. We can help you figure out where to look. We’ll also provide you with a rundown of what we know so far. This way, you won’t have to go through all of the trouble of figuring out everything for yourself.

Make Sure that Your State Are Exempt from Ordered Closures

Before calling any plumbing service, the first thing that you need to do is to make sure that the plumbing service is exempt from ordered closures. In order to prevent the spread of corona, many businesses have been ordered to close. Thankfully, plumbing services are often considered to be essential. This means that they can remain operational during this time.

You’ll want to stay on top of the businesses that have been ordered to close in your state, as the guidelines are changing frequently. It feels as if every health official is also playing this out by ear.

Get a Handle on Your Responsibilities

The state may have already outlined what the homeowners are expected to do should they call for any type of plumbing service. This may include staying away from the plumbers during the entire time. Or it may include something like providing sufficient alcohol-based wipes. Make sure that you have a good handle on what your responsibilities are.

Is the Exposure to Corona High with Plumbing Services?

Many homeowners are beginning to neglect regular plumbing maintenance. They are simply worried that they may get unnecessary exposure to corona if they welcome a plumber into their home.

Thankfully, with all of the guidelines and protocols listed above, most homeowners don’t have to worry about contracting corona and other diseases from the plumbers that arrive at their home. They can receive plumbing services without a care in the world.

Our Plumbers Follow the Health Guidelines

Are you looking for some type of plumbing service in Mansfield, TX? It can be difficult and scary to call a plumber in today’s climate. However, some plumbing services simply cannot wait, as the issue will only worsen significantly with each passing minute.

In these situations, you’ll want to call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth to inquire about the safety procedures and protocols that they have in place to protect not only the plumbers, but also you and your family as well. Thankfully, the professionals at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth always keep up-to-date with the latest information and guidelines. They are able to provide the plumbing services that you need with as little risk to you and your family as possible.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth provides plumbing services to those in the Mansfield, TX area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. We are always here to help, and can handle a wide range of plumbing services, from drain cleaning services to whole house repiping services. No matter what you need, we got you covered!

Give us a call today or contact us online for more information on how our policies and protocols have changed to accommodate the latest climate. Your health and safety is our first priority!