Posted November 22, 2020
What You Need to Know
- Ask the service technician to wear a mask.
- You and other household members should wear masks.
- Stay at least 6 feet from the service technician, and limit interactions between the service technician and other household members and pets.
- After the service is completed, clean and disinfect any surfaces in your home that may have been touched by the service technician.
- Check with your local health department to see if there is a stay-at-home order in your state or local community that restricts non-essential activities or services. If a stay-at-home order is in effect in your community, consider if the service request is essential or if it can be delayed.
- If you or someone in your home has COVID-19, has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, wait to schedule non-emergency services that require entry into your home until it is safe to be around others.
- If you or someone in your home is at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults or those with underlying medical conditions, consider not being inside the home during the service, or find someone else who can be in the home instead.
- Do as much of the pre-service consultation as possible before the service technician arrives, to reduce the amount of time the service technician spends inside your home. For example, discuss the details of the service request on the phone or by email, and send pictures ahead of time.
- Discuss any COVID-19 precautions the service technician is taking, including the use of masks for the duration of the service visit, any pre-screening procedures (such as temperature checks) and using the restroom during the service call.
- Do not allow service technicians to enter your home if they seem sick or are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
- Ask the service technician to wear a mask before entering your home and during the service visit. Also, you and other household members should wear a mask. Consider having clean, spare masks to offer to service technicians if their mask becomes wet, contaminated or otherwise soiled during the service call.
- Avoid physical greetings, for example, handshakes.
- Minimize indoor conversations. All conversations with the service technicians should take place outdoors, when possible, and physically distanced indoors, if necessary.
- Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from the service technician, and limit interactions between the service technician and other household members and pets.
- During indoor services, take steps to maximize ventilation inside the home, such as turning on the air conditioner or opening windows in the area.
- If possible, use touchless payment options or pay over the phone to avoid touching money, a card, or a keypad. If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol after paying.
- After the service is completed, clean and disinfect any surfaces in your home that may have been touched by the service technician.