A Vancouver Island plumbing company is taking COVID-19 on with common sense, warm water, soap and a little social distance.

Victoria-based Oceanview Mechanical Ltd. is building and installing washing stations on its projects along with other guidelines to ensure its employees are both working and safe as new precautions are required while still delivering solutions to their clients.

We want to keep working and keep my guys working, and we do a lot of low-income housing and said to ourselves a lot of people need to move into this housing at some point, Oceanview Mechanical project manager Rick Smith said.

We put stations on site and they clean the washroom every half hour to an hour depending on who is on site. We maintain social distancing by dividing up suites so if youre in a suite working nobody can go inside while youre there, Smith said. Thats all we can do, limit the number of people in the suites and in the area and coordinate with our sub trades to keep people working.

Smith explained that his company works on both multi-residential condominiums and houses. With residential work we make sure we have only one person on site. Its a little slower but its better than no progress, he said

As a plumbing company, Oceanview is well-suited to deal with new workplace conditions brought on by COVID-19, Smith said.

We wear gloves anyway. When a plumber has hands in pipes, they arent putting their fingers on their face, he said.

Were just doing wash stations for our own projects, but every single condo has at least one wash station and as projects progress, we put more in. Were bidding on a project at the moment and we have to put in a different price to account for the hand-washing stations, Smith said.

The stations are simple but effective since theyve been built by experienced plumbers, he added.

we just got laundry tubs, the stand-up kind you have at home and put water and soap in them. We instructed our guys to put their hands down deep so there isnt any splashing, and we drain the tubs properly, so people arent walking through it, he said.

Being plumbers, its easy for us, as were bringing temporary water in anyway. Plumbers are really the ones to do this, Smith said.

Smith and others in his staff are also able to work remotely and still manage projects, he said.

I packed up everything and Ive been working from home for about three weeks. Im estimating and coordinating everything from here, and if a foreman needs to talk to me, they can put me on FaceTime and I can (virtually) walk around the site, he said.

Smith emphasized that Oceanview views the current crisis with grave concern and will do what it takes to work within the pandemics new restrictions.

Nobody is like they were eight weeks ago, where we didnt think it would end up here. We know its going to get more serious and we need to be more careful, Smith said.

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Plumbers stay at work with DIY hand-washing solution - Daily Commercial News

WASHINGTON Question:

Is there a risk to having people in your home, such as house cleaners and plumbers?

Answer:

Yes. Every time another person comes within 6 feet there is a risk of transmission, and that's why our experts recommend that you factor in the possible risk when deciding who should come to the home.

Sources:

Process:

In an attempt to "flatten the curve," people across the globe are attempting to practice social distancing. This has prompted questions online about who should be allowed to come to the home.

"Is it safe to have your house cleaned by outside workers," asked on person in an email to the Verify Team.

And of course, it's not just house-cleaners. What about the plumber or the electrician? The Verify Team turned to the experts to get a feel for the possible risk.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention did not offer a clear-cut yes or no answer. Instead, they offered guidelines that all people should follow. The CDC said special precautions should be taken by those who are older, or have an underlining health issue.

"(They should) prohibit visitors who do not have an essential need to be in the home.

Meanwhile, the CDC said everyone else should also practice social distancing by limiting "close contact with others as much as possible.

Dr. Timothy Price, from Price Medical, agreed that people should take the risk seriously.

In general, not having people in your house who are not essential would be my recommendation, he said.

Price said that he made the decision to tell the housekeeper not to come this week for this reason.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, from Johns Hopkins University, said that each person should make a risk assessment, based on whether they are healthy or not. Healthy people may be able to tolerate more risk.

I think each person needs to look at their level of risk," he said. "I think its fine for healthy people so long as youre not hiring sick individuals.

The Verify Team also reached out to the American Association of Cleaning Professionals. A spokesperson said that they are recommending work as normal, although recommending that cleaners wear gloves and face masks.

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VERIFY: Should I have the house cleaner in my home? What about the plumber? Here's what the experts say - WUSA9.com

When you have a family of four or five people that potentially could be home non-stop, that puts a lot more stress on your plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems, which causes things to fail, Magic Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Air owner Billy Salts said. Salts noted that activity in Boise has fallen far more dramatically than in Twin Falls.

There are a handful of reasons that even though so many are at home, so few are needing home repairs.

For one, people dont know how long the recession is going to last, so people are holding onto their money, Petruzzelli said.

Plus, many have more free time on their hands and might be more willing to tackle minor issues on their own rather than call a professional.

On top of that, its often older folks,who dont want to grapple with plumbing, heating or electric issues on their own, who call for services. Many of those people might be limiting the number of visitors coming into their homes.

Dynamic Plumbing owner Josh Taylor works on a new house build Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Twin Falls.

I think a lot of people just have a lot of fear right now, Dynamic Plumbing owner Josh Taylor said.

Caywood said he had a client who asked to just talk to me through the door in the garage.

Plumbers, electricians and HVAC companies said theyre doing everything they can to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

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Even with everyone stuck at home, the phones aren't ringing for plumbers, electricians and HVAC techs - Twin Falls Times-News

With Spain's national lockdown now exceeding two weeks and the recent announcement by the Spanish Government that only essential services will be allowed over the coming fortnight, many of the country's population are unsure of exactly what is allowed or not during the state of emergency.

One such doubt is related to essential services or the day-to-day domestic problems that arise, for instance needing the services of a plumber or electrician. Such services are allowed but have protocols attached to them and have to fulfill a series of requirements set by the Spanish Government in order to avoid the risk of spreading the virus further.

Given that these services require home visits, government protocols stipulate the use of protective clothing: masks, gloves, etc. and state that they may only be rendered in cases of emergency or "extreme necessity". Similarly, the customer who receives an electrician or plumber in their home must also take protective measures: both must ensure there is no physical contact and keep at least a distance of one metre apart, and the customer also has the right to demand the person providing the service wear their protective clothing.

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Coronavirus: Plumbers and electricians allowed in cases of 'extreme necessity' in Spain - AS English

Coachella Valley Water District is urging customers to be careful and pay attention to what they are flushing down the toilet. The district said they have seen an influx of items other than toilet paper that have been flushed down the drain.

"Were sort of speculating that this is COVID-related-- that because people went and started stockpiling toilet paper, toilet paper was in a shortage, more people are using wipes and thats probably why this is happening," Coachella Valley Water District Director of Communications and Conservation, Katie Evans said.

Items like paper towels, flushable wipes and even disinfectant wipes have been found at the district's treatment plant.

"What has increased is the drain calls- thats for sure," Tommy Rooter Plumbing owner, Thomas Clarke said.

"A lot of these people still have toilet paper in their house, theyre just so afraid of running out of toilet paper. Theyre willing to use things that arent supposed to be flushed down the toilet and thats causing some major issues for us," Clarke said.

Clarke said he has even come across people using restaurant napkins in place of toilet paper.

"Regular toilet paper is designed to fall apart, and allow it to flush normally. It goes down the drains, and it just falls apart. Paper towels arent designed to do that. They're supposed to stay together," Clarke said.

Flushable wipes have also become a culprit showing up in drains.

"The packaging does say flushable and they are flushable in the sense that if you put it in the toilet and flush it, it will flush but that does not make it good for the system," Evans said.

These types of items could potentially clog the sewer system.

"It could create clogs in the sewer pipelines that are running under the street which would be a huge problem. Wed have to cut into the streets, cut those clogs out of the pipes and put new piping in," Evans said.

Meanwhile, if residents were to run into similar problems back at home it could be costly.

"That could get into the several hundreds, even thousands of dollars depending on the severity of the clog," Clarke said.

The issue has one simple solution.

"You should only be flushing human waste and toilet paper," Evans said.

Read more:
Plumbing issues on the rise as more wipes, paper towels are found in sewer system - KESQ

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) State pollution control officials are warning consumers not to flush any paper products other than toilet paper.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the lack of availability of toilet paper in stores amid the COVID-19 outbreak is causing people to use alternative options.

That includes products like baby wipes or paper towels.

We are seeing people flushing things down the toilet that they shouldnt be, Hero Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling drains manager Chris Stevens said.

Flushing those products can cause a big problem for pipes, including clogs and even sewage coming back up into the home.

Stevens said plumbers are slammed with business right now as working parents and school age children are suddenly at home all day.

Everyone is just using whatever they have, they have no option, Stevens said.

Stevens said a sewage backup can cost a homeowner tens of thousands of dollars. The MPCA also said flushing products other than toilet paper can also cost a city money in repairs and harm the environment.

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Coronavirus In Minnesota: Plumbers In High Demand As Families Flush Paper Products Other Than Toilet Paper - CBS Minnesota

Advice from DFW plumbers during the COVID-19 crisis: stop flushing weird stuff down the toilet.

Because of our bizarre, virus-fueled run on toilet paper, many area residents are being forced to resort to alternative options. Kleenex. Wet wipes. Paper towels. Napkins. No reports yet of leaves or corn cobs, but were only in Day 5 of shelter in place, so stay tuned.

Reminder: There is no viable substitute for toilet paper.

Some of those things may be biodegradable, but they dont break down as well as toilet paper when immersed in water, says Berkeys Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical president Jamie Wooldridge.

Adds Baker Brothers president Jimmie Dale, Were getting about twice as many calls (for clogged toilets) as usual.

COVID-19s gnarly tentacles are presenting essential businesses with a variety of quandaries.

As temperatures flirt with 90 degrees Thursday, HVAC service repair experts are the first responders to air-conditioning units being kicked on for the first time after winter hibernation. Those service calls are being made to potentially dangerous environments contaminated with coronavirus.

Along with adhering to the CDCs guidelines of wearing protective masks/shields and gloves and remaining 6 feet apart during calls to homes and businesses, companies are taking extra measures to disinfect equipment between jobs and implement touchless transactions.

When possible, were having customers simply read us the credit card number, Wooldridge says. Instead of passing the card back and forth between hands.

Wooldridge says that if a customer tells Berkeys that theyre under quarantine or exhibiting symptoms associated with COVID-19, theyre asked to reschedule. Still, even without warning there is risk upon entering homes or businesses and touching multiple shared spaces with strangers.

The fact is that the techs cannot only become infected, but also spread it to other places and other people, Dale says. Thats the part that really scares them and scares us. Thats why were being extra cautious and vigilant.

Not surprisingly in light of the airborne virus there is also an uptick in inquiries regarding air purification systems.

Industry experts tout the Captura HEPA, which is advertised to trap viruses, germs, bacteria and allergens with a 99.7% efficiency, and the REME HALO, which claims to successfully defend staph (MRSA), SARS and E. coli by eliminating sneeze germs up to 3 feet.

Neither system has been tested specifically against COVID-19.

But we havent come across anything that it cant handle, says Rene Luna, a representative of The Partners Group HVAC, which distributes to a four-state area including Texas. We represent 16 other products, but this is the one people are asking for.

Luna says demand for HALOs has risen one thousand percent in the last two weeks.

Read this article:
Plumbers and HVAC Repair People Also on Coronavirus Front Lines - Dallas Observer

Sponsored - The following content is created on behalf of Keith McNeil Plumbing and does not reflect the opinions of Gray Television or its editorial staff. To learn more about Keith McNeil Plumbing, visit Keith McNeil Plumbing.

Are you considering switching to natural gas appliances in your home? Your first call should be to a qualified plumber. Dryers, water heaters, fireplaces, ovens, stove tops, furnaces and more home appliances can all be powered by natural gas. To get that gas from the curb to your home, youll need a professional plumber. McNeill plumbing is your local expert in gas installation.

Powering your home with natural gas has several advantages. Primarily, gas is almost always more cost effective to use than electricity. There are usually less emissions involved when using natural gas as opposed to using electricity. Natural gas is also much more reliable than electricity. Natural gas outages are extremely rare, especially when compared to the frequency of electrical outages.

Today, more than ever, as we become more conscious of rising costs, energy use, and the environment, it really is time to consider converting to a tankless water heater. These systems not only have a positive effect regarding these issues; they feature systems designed to fit your specific needs. The advantages to owning a tankless water heater include:

Unlimited supply of hot waterSince a tankless water heater system works on demand, you have hot water when you want it and for as long as you want it.

Space efficientThe tankless water heater is much smaller than a water tank. This is especially beneficial if you are living in a condo or smaller home where extra space is always beneficial.

Water is clean and fresh A water tank stores water. This can lead to corrosion, rusting, and scale build-up in the tanks interior. This stored water is what you are using when you bathe, wash dishes, do laundry, and so on. End result the water you use is less than fresh.

Energy efficientThe system only runs when hot water is being used. When you turn off the hot water the unit turns off. Consequently energy is not being used energy when its not needed.

Savings on energy billsIf you currently have a tank water heater, a large percentage of your energy bill results directly from it. A tankless water heater can save you up to 40% on your water-heating bill. Remember, the system turns on only when there is a need (i.e., someone turns on the hot water faucet).

Longer lastingCompared to conventional water tanks, tankless water heaters last twice as long. A tankless system has an average life expectancy of 20 years.

Keith McNeil Plumbing. is ready to help make your transition to natural gas and a tankless water heater easy and painless. Our expert technicians will do the job right the first time, and have you saving money in no time.

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Save Money at Home With Natural Gas and Tankless Water Heaters - WCTV

Plumbing contractors, general contractors, and plumbers whose businesses and services have closedby the COVID-19 pandemiccan receive online technical training in the use of tankless water heaters and boilers.

Navien, a manufacturer of water-heating equipment for residential and commercial construction projects, is offering live and on-demand digital trainings via webinar.

Live trainings are real-time virtual training sessions hosted by one of the Navien product trainers. Plumbing and construction professionals can view the training as it is presented, ask questions of the presenter, and receive real time feedback.

Prerecorded on-demand webinars may be viewed at the attendee'sconvenience. Contact information for the presenter will be provided so that attendees can ask questions via email.

Training sessions coveringthetechnical aspects of condensing tankless water heaters, non-condensing tankless water heaters, fire tube boilers, and fire tube boilers combi-boilers are available live or on demand.

To register, go to:https://training.navieninc.com/virtual_classes.php

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Online technical training sessions on tankless water heaters and boilers - Building Design + Construction

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Minneapolis (WCCO) State pollution control officials are warning consumers not to flush any paper products other than toilet paper.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the lack of availability of toilet paper in stores amid the COVID-19 outbreak is causing people to use alternative options.

That includes products like baby wipes or paper towels.

We are seeing people flushing things down the toilet that they shouldnt be, Hero Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling drains manager Chris Stevens said.

Flushing those products can cause a big problem for pipes, including clogs and even sewage coming back up into the home.

Stevens said plumbers are slammed with business right now as working parents and school age children are suddenly at home all day.

Everyone is just using whatever they have, they have no option, Stevens said.

Stevens said a sewage backup can cost a homeowner tens of thousands of dollars. The MPCA also said flushing products other than toilet paper can also cost a city money in repairs and harm the environment.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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Plumbers in high demand as families flush paper products other than toilet paper - KTVZ