Someone got to start this one 🤔

[king of pipes]

Morning chaps sitting here watching the early morning news this cronavirus business is really getting a hold now , two families I know have had holiday's cancelled to Spain, this is going to effect us all personally and business wise I am lucky enough to have a shower upgrade a weeks work for a retired couple who are happy to have me in their home , then a full gas central heating job in a empty property to do so won't effect my work situation for the next 3 weeks or so. I have a elderly mother with asthma who lives alone who I am obviously conserved about she lives a 2 hour drive away and getting her to stay in will drive her stir crazy I am seriously considering bring her to stay with us for a month or so, how are you all coping with the problem ? Supermarket shelves are being stripped of basic essentials and I can see this getting worse your opinions please gentlemen. Keep well regards kop

 

[centralheatking]

I think it all got very serious today, I am confident that this unprecedented situation is being managed well. At the end of the day it’s down to individuals and families to do what’s best for them and where they can help others. That’s my approach. As I understand no power switch offs, no evictions rented or otherwise and once the sheep can cram no more into their cupboards things will reach some sort of balance. Also a good thing is how we have come to appreciate the the previously unseen and often derided now important jobs in society. Centralheatking

 

[king of pipes]

I think this new chancellor had come across quite well it remains to be seen if he lived up to his promises ? Alot of people have probably breathed a sigh of relief not alot of help for the self employed mind but thats no surprise is it , picked up a boiler change today and a bit of tiling in a kitchen so with the work I have should be ok for the foreseeable . Keep well all regards kop

 

[SimonG]

Too soon for this closure. Shops on the high street still open, more chance of catching it there than at the local.

But what will be will be.

 

[Harvest Fields]

I think this new chancellor had come across quite well it remains to be seen if he lived up to his promises ? Alot of people have probably breathed a sigh of relief not alot of help for the self employed mind but thats no surprise is it , picked up a boiler change today and a bit of tiling in a kitchen so with the work I have should be ok for the foreseeable . Keep well all regards kop

Make sure you take a 50% deposit mate.

 

[king of pipes]

Is that what your doing H ? I get the customer to purchase the boiler and main parts now mate keeps me under the Vat I sort it at my merchants they ring up and pay a account payment I know I lose out a bit but often add a few consumables to it they don't seem to mind . Keep well mate . Cheers kop

 

[Harvest Fields]

Yes mate. It just makes sure that I never have that supplier issue.

 

[centralheatking]

Get your drain rods out, every cloud etc. people are using wipes, newspaper etc. because they cannot get bog paper. BBC quote Northumbrian Water. Every cloud has a silver lining Centralheatking

 

[rpm]

Reckon that with all the pub, gym, leisure centres etc being closed and loss of income in households the divorce rate will soar as one partner has nowhere to escape to.

 

[king of pipes]

Best get on ya boat and sail off into the sunset bud . On a lighter note maybe when this whole virus nightmare is under control people and the countries around the world will look at the way they have conducted themselves, show a bit more compassion and understanding for each other stop the fighting , killing and suffering and work towards tolerant and a more peaceful world . Stay safe all kop

 

[oz-plumber]

Reckon that with all the pub, gym, leisure centres etc being closed and loss of income in households the divorce rate will soar as one partner has nowhere to escape to.

Boat sales may increase in the short period

 

[rpm]

Being on the boat means I'm self isolating 90% of the time anyway and I can always cast off and get out on the quiet waters for a different view out of the window plus with the pubs being shut moorings are plentiful lol.
People are withdrawing their boats from the market Oz not expecting buyers to view and brokers to be on skeleton staff at the moment, reckon that now could be a time to get a bargain tbh.

 

[Ric2013]

What do you mean by finally mate? I’m lost.

I mean that advising people to avoid pubs was never going to be enough, though I agree with others that other shops are equally likely to be areas of contagion.

The Italian lockdown is not enough to prevent spread, but it does seem to be slowing it down a bit. The UK has started the shutdown earlier, but the measures taken in the UK are still far less strict.

 

[centralheatking]

Two funny things I saw today. Man standing outside bookies can’t believe it and the pub next door are closed...where has he been. Second man in Boots buying £34 worth of ****** sensible man, no pub or bookies so 3 rd best form of entertainment Centralheatking

 

[Chuck]

3 rd best form of entertainment

It'll be interesting to see which increases more: the birth rate 9 months from now or the domestic murder rate. At Castle Chuck it's looking much more like the latter right now.

 

[centralheatking]

This was the queue at Aldi this morning ....not ...in fact it was all very civilized ..maybe things are calming down.

 

[Jones82]

In the light of the figures in Italy... 800 dead yesterday! I’m thinking of changing my approach. I’m due to visit 4 different properties tomorrow. Two gas safety checks, 1 service and replace a unvented control valve. I’m seriously thinking about rescheduling the gas safety checks and the service. They are due but could wait two weeks?

 

[king of pipes]

You all have to do what you think is best for you and your loved ones , and protect your customers.

 

[Jones82]

There’s an interesting dilemma going round my head about the gas safety checks. Essentially I am putting the virus above them in a risk assessment. I’ve serviced them for years, I’m 99% sure they are perfectly safe but legally they are due and the landlord would be liable if anything happened.

 

[king of pipes]

I think they would make a exception in this case bud but its your choice at the end of the day . Kop

 

[Harvest Fields]

I think they would make a exception in this case bud but its your choice at the end of the day . Kop

The gas safe website says they should be completed still.

 

[oz-plumber]

As of this afternoon, we are going into almost complete lockdown.
School's nation wide are closing in 48 hours.
School holidays scheduled in a weeks time but no date when schools will resume
All non essential services are being shut.
States are closing their borders - except for essential services.

We have a few things booked, but cancelling all non-essential works.
Just have to see how things pan out and see how serious the lockdown is.

I'm sure all major building works will cease this week.

 

[Ric2013]

There’s an interesting dilemma going round my head about the gas safety checks. Essentially I am putting the virus above them in a risk assessment. I’ve serviced them for years, I’m 99% sure they are perfectly safe but legally they are due and the landlord would be liable if anything happened.

That would be my line of thinking too.

Yes, the landlord would be liable, but that's his problem, and if he can't get the boiler serviced by anyone, that might lend him the judge's sympathy. Your responsibility is to your own safety and that of any employees, and we're in an international emergency.

After all, what is the probability that a boiler, diligently inspected a year ago, is ID? To be honest, if the boiler were in my own house, I wouldn't really want you coming to service it.

6500 new cases in Italy yesterday, up from 6000 the day before. We still haven't reached a peak in new cases.

 

[centralheatking]

The best representation of the facts about the virus I have yet to see, it’s self explanatory you might need to blow it up a bit. It shows the real risks and effects.

 

[bacon_sandwich]

I am in a similar situation but with commercial clients. I am going to ring them next week and determine a course of action where we can both be safe and the boilers / heaters are also safe.
I dont do domestic and glad in a way as i think the approach needed for these will entail, the client staying well out of the way and using high power cleaning sprays both before you go in and when you come out, along with desposible latex gloves, mask.... similar to how our doctors and nurses carry out , what is a daily routine against infection for them.

 

[king of pipes]

The gas safe website says they should be completed still.

Agreed H or completed up to 8 weeks prior to needing it , what I am saying is in these testing times ahead a modern well maintained boiler will not cause a major risk to health if left 3 months over its last service and gas safety check , there is a greater risk to the customer and ourselves of contracting or spreading this virus , we are being advised to keep away from eachother and common sense needs to be applied here. Look after your own health and that of your customers, I will be avoiding visiting multiple addresses and servicing appliances in favour of concentrating on work involving just one address and with the least amount of contact with people. Regards kop