COVID-19 remains a significant threat to health. But regardless of the pandemic, our homes still require regular maintenance. We need to invite professionals into our properties to carry out all manner of work, including duct cleaning services, boiler repairs, pipe repairs, and insulation. The question on everyone’s lips is how to get these essential tasks done safely without exposing anyone to any undue risks.
Note that you will not be able to eliminate the risk of infection if you invite somebody into your home. Thus, you should carry out a cost-benefit analysis, weighing the value of the home repairs against the cost of becoming infected.
So what can the average homeowner do to protect themselves, their family, and the rest of the community?
Ensure That The Home Repair Company Provides Staff With PPE
Most firms in the home repair industry know that their customers want them to take actions that keep people safe. So many of them now provide their staff with PPE for peace of mind and protection.
Before you order any services, take a look at their website or ring them up to ask whether personnel will be wearing masks and other safety equipment. PPE doesn’t eliminate the risk of infection outright. But it can reduce the chance of transmission, which is important if workers have been going from house to house as part of their regular working timetable.
Insist That They Wear A Mask When They Arrive
If you need a repair job, but repair workers show up at your property without a mask, you can insist that they put one on before entering your home. Yes, there’s a cost involved in this approach, and, yes, the company should be taking precautions already But it is better to be safe than sorry.
Disinfect When Home Repair Professionals Leave
Evidence suggests that coronavirus can linger on surfaces for several hours and, perhaps, days. For that reason, you should disinfect the area in which the repair professional worked and anything else that they might have touched. That includes door handles, mugs, toilet seats, and so on.
Wear A Mask And Disinfect The Bathroom If They Use It
Coronavirus gets into all parts of the body, including the colon. Thus, if a COVID-positive repair professional goes to the bathroom while working on your property, the toilet can become an infection vector.
Evidence suggests that flushing a lavatory can throw coronavirus particles into the air, creating an aerosol-effect. The virus can then land on all the surfaces around your bathroom, including your toothbrush.
Store your toiletries in a cupboard ahead of time. And after the repair worker leaves, put on a mask, and disinfect all surfaces in your bathroom.
Don’t Schedule Home Repairs If People In Your Household Are Sick
Lastly, you should avoid scheduling home repairs if people in your household are sick. They could infect home repair service people who, in turn, could then asymptomatically infect others in the community.
These are only some of the ways you can follow to avoid contracting viruses, including COVID-19. Remember that it’s better to be safe than sorry.