Service techs routinely endure discomfort and indignities to keep people healthy, cozy and safe. It's time to spread the word.
This notion arose after reading a thread on Dan Holohan's “The Wall” (www.heatinghelp.com) last February. It appeared in the days following a monster storm that dumped two feet of snow throughout much of the northeast. The topic was “Emergency calls during snowstorms,” and was led off by a contributor asking, “When do you tell a customer 'no'?” That is, when do you refuse to go out on a plumbing or heating service call because awful weather makes it downright dangerous to drive.
Most respondents took the position that it doesn't help the customer if the contractor gets stuck spinning his wheels in the middle of a blizzard, so they best stay home. As one put it, “to some people, a running faucet is an emergency.” Some told tales of bailing out people in terrible conditions, only to be treated rudely. Someone pointed out that for potentially deadly emergencies, such as a gas leak or downed power line, you'd have to contact utility companies anyway. It was hard to argue with the cases made for staying home.