By Christian Dunning

To say that coronavirus has changed the ways in which Americans live, work, and interact with others would be an understatement. Here in New Jersey, one of the hardest-hit regions, it seems as though the state has been at a virtual standstill since mid-March. Countless thousands of residents are now working from home. Many others, deemed essential workers, are out in the field — but practicing social-distancing measures to protect themselves, and the people they serve.

Here at A.J. Perri, a nearly 50-year-old provider of heating, cooling, plumbing, and indoor air quality services to a dozen New Jersey counties, we’ve taken numerous steps to keep our associates and customers safe. We encourage the entire industry to follow similar practices — not merely because it’s good business, but because we all have an obligation to continue flattening the curve and reducing the burden on our healthcare infrastructure. We also have a responsibility to serve our customers. Whether it’s repairing a malfunctioning air conditioner or unclogging a stopped drain, our services are needed by homeowners even in times of crisis.

Measures We’ve Taken

• All technicians are equipped with masks, gloves, and shoe covers.
• Our associates also carry disinfectant, and thoroughly sanitize work areas and surfaces both before and after performing work.
• Our customer service associates speak to every customer at least twice before their service appointment — once at the time of booking, and again just before a scheduled service call. They confirm that no occupants of the residents are experiencing symptoms.
• Associates in the field are required to monitor their daily temperature, and display today’s date on a visible sticker on their uniform to indicate they have no fever.
• All technicians are empowered to respectfully decline to enter a residence and reschedule the appointment if they feel that the environment is unsafe — for example, if they observe symptoms.
• Associates who do not need to be in the field or in the office, such as certain customer service, administrative, and marketing personnel, are working remotely.

Of course, we are giving priority to emergencies during the pandemic, but we understand that even non-emergencies are important. With more people working remotely, and an increased focus on hygiene and indoor air quality, each and every customer’s comfort and peace-of-mind is paramount.

We certainly aren’t out of the woods yet, but recent updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are encouraging, and show that our efforts have made progress in decreasing the spread. All of us in the A.J. Perri family extend best wishes for health, safety, and success to our colleagues in the HVAC industry.

About the Author

Christian Dunning is the General Manager of A.J. Perri, which proudly serves New Jersey homeowners, providing service in heating, air conditioning, plumbing and indoor air quality systems.

To learn more about A.J. Perri, visit them at www.ajperri.com