Electricians and Electrical Work During COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic (Public Weekly Thread)

[littlespark]

i'm picking up well now.

Went on a self imposed 2 month doing nothing, because quite frankly, it was confusing whether we should have been working or not, being in other peoples homes. (I could do work in someone elses house, but i could visit my own parents??)

I was half way through a new kitchen when the customer called off. Their doctor had said no one in the house as the customer has quite bad lung problems and didnt want to take any risk... so thats one to go back to in the future.

I had a slew of outside sockets to install. Everyone decides they are holidaying at home this summer, and everybody wants a hottub. Trying to get outside sockets where i am was a nightmare. I was buying double when they came into stock, just so i had them.

Some customers dont realise there's a problem. They answer the door, hand outstretched... sorry, not shaking it.
They pass in the room, really close... Looking over my shoulder... Ive got my mask and gloves on, and i really want to cough just to make them back off. 2 metres!

Ive just had word from a local village hall to ask about a heating job I quoted for before xmas..... when could i start?.... they're wanting it done before the end of August..

 

[Chuck U Farley]

I'm keeping my head above water, had TWO grow-houses to put right after they were busted thanks to locked-down locals overpowered by the whiff making complaints to Mr Plod.

I've had a couple of jobs dragging on though too, thanks to plasterers apparently being unable to get hold of any plaster.

A few local pubs were moaning about being forced to close, then were taken by surprise when the recent re-opening was announced. So, after months of inactivity, they suddenly decided they wanted stuff doing, NOW. They are in the queue...

 

[richy3333]

We are flat out as we were before Covid lockdown. Long list of people waiting.

We were in a hotel yesterday - all empty apart from the owner. We were really surprised when guests started to turn up as the owner hadn't told us he was opening that afternoon. Luckily we soon finished and legged it.

The north of Scotland is heaving with tourists now which we find concerning as our medical infrastructure cant cope if there is a large outbreak.

I've switched trades completely and am farming now. Got a bad feeling about winter...

The latest rumour-mill is that November is the month to watch out for. With the USA elections and bubbling civil unrest; combined with cold weather and Covid flourishing again. Who knows, we'll see!

 

[Baddegg]

I’ve never been so busy, the phone hasnt stopped mainly through checkatrade, I’ve actually started another fella this week....admittedly Electrical work probably only makes up less than 50% of my works but it’s all within the building trade...

 

[Nobby Nobbs]

I do carpentry and building work as well so have picked a few jobs in those ares, nothing very substantial but just enough to keep afloat.
Local builders merchants have run out of cement and plaster now though and other supplies will be hit as the stockpiles dwindle. It's vital that manufacturers get going again asap wherever possible.
I'm in S Devon and like Richy3333 above it's crawling with holiday makers, the caravan park down the road is packed.

 

[Malcolm Broomfield]

I am slightly different to you all as I am a safety consultant, I look after a lot of construction as well as another wing of the business including engineering, Glass manufacturers, bingo halls lots of individual trades with CHAS etc. This means I am always busy but of course everything died April/May and slowly started to revive through June and now back to full strength. I realise I am one of the lucky ones as a lot of clients decided to upgrade their policies training etc which kept me busy. Anyway good to hear most of you on here are getting by if not overwhelmed. Stay Safe.

 

[John-SJW]

EV charging is growing all the time and takes up most of my time these days.

Sounds good in more ways than one.

 

[Cyril Eaton]

As a Customer, I've had guys in to look at my heating system (Air Source Heat Pump) and it worked very well. They arrived at the door wearing PPE, explained their requirements re Social Distancing and got on with the work. It really wasn't that different since I usually let them get on with things and only go "help" when required. As long as customers understand Social Distancing and cleaning down afterwards it should be easy.

 

[BrianM]

Lost apprenticeship because of coronavirus. Transferring to AM2e as my only hope to get qualified. Need my house rewiring and have money in the bank and public liability insurance... CANNOT find a single electrician near me willing to let me work on it to get my portfolio completed. Rather starve than work with a girl? I don't get what the problem is. Have ongoing work for mobile and transportable units too. Literally no takers. York.

 

[Longsider]

We have 312 jobs booked in with a pipeline of over 1000 EICR tests to take. December thought we might be going under but now we are flying.

 

[BrianM]

We have 312 jobs booked in with a pipeline of over 1000 EICR tests to take. December thought we might be going under but now we are flying.

Got any jobs going? ?

 

[Dan]

We will keep this thread going and start one in the arms for those who want keep it out the eyes of public.

I need hear of people doing well for my own mind. But then those who aren't shout out so we can help.

 

[telectrix]

Lost apprenticeship because of coronavirus. Transferring to AM2e as my only hope to get qualified. Need my house rewiring and have money in the bank and public liability insurance... CANNOT find a single electrician near me willing to let me work on it to get my portfolio completed. Rather starve than work with a girl? I don't get what the problem is. Have ongoing work for mobile and transportable units too. Literally no takers. York.

if you were in my area, i'd help out , no problem.

 

[Grey Master]

Having had, we believe, the virus and a self enforced isolation, I am doing well, not as busy as before but I have a good base of property and customers to look after, many shops, flats, village halls, and a large apartment complex which is what kept me going for a little while with pre-planned maintenance.
Things are picking up all the time with many places getting ready for eventual re-opening, so decoration, renovation, testing and maintenance meaning lots of local trades are doing well. Affluent area helps as does the relative spacing of the population, who seem to be being cautious but positive and willing to bring people in to get the work done.
A plumber friend is struggling but improving whereas a decorator friend hasn't stopped

 

[DILWV3]

it had been quite scary when it first went into lock down because not everybody was sure on how to go about doing the work
The site we were working on shut down for period of 2/3 weeks until measure were brought in, because we were told nobody was working on site
we decide that if nobody was on site than it be better to go in and carry on working with a sensible approach of social distance/ working apart and no borrowing of tools.Also advice all my sparkys to bring own flask and food and keeping everything contained.
Like many sparks we were doing more call outs than usual because of the DIY Charlies doing the man cave or the sheds and getting it wrong.
but work wise during covid 19 we have been busy.
my advice is have list of sensible questions ready for the customer for the call out before jumping in, so that its safe from your part to approach and get the call out done quicker
question like:
1.does anybody hav the flu in the family
2.any old parents living
3.where is fuse board located
4.photos shoot the problems and send them over to you.
5. if entering the property keep all doors wedge open so that its less handling of handles
6.payment by card or online transfer.

hope this helps