The regulations for the coronavirus alarm state contemplate that repair services can be requested when it is an urgent fault, at least until Phase 1 of the de-escalation. But what is urgent?
Life as we knew it stopped on March 14. And if the already uncertain decision to make a home renovation had been made, it will probably still be half done. The confinement to stop the coronavirus came as a surprise to everyone and despite the fact that the construction sector has kept up its activity for a while, the works on inhabited residential buildings were stopped the day the state of alarm began.
The law is clear in this regard. According to order SND / 340/2020 of the Ministry of Health, “all kinds of works that involve intervention in existing buildings are suspended if people not related to them are in the building in which they are to be carried out.” And it seems that this will be the case until at least Phase 1 of the de-escalation, when “the requirements of Occupational Risk Prevention necessary in the different activities, adapted to covid-19” will be analyzed, although it could be delayed to later phases. Meanwhile, exceptions are made to “urgent specific works and installations and breakdowns”. But what is urgent?
Faced with a regime that requires living at home, could finishing the work of a kitchen be considered a necessity? And install the lights in a room? The question of urgency lends itself to interpretations, as many as: suffer. Although in general it is related to habitability
“From our point of view, an urgent service is the one that helps provide the user of the home with basic supply services: Having water to wash and cook and electricity or gas. Likewise, we can intervene to ensure that the user of the home can make correct use of the bathroom ”.
They offer a similar perspective from the AXA insurer. All the inconveniences that may arise in the house and that are considered very urgent – they comment – such as being without water, without light, unprotected or without access to enter or leave the home are dealt with in less than three hours. For example, if a fire breaks out and creates uninhabitability, they will act. Although if there is an accident in the kitchen and a small fire arises that blackens the wall and the hood, it will be necessary to get used to the dark panorama for a few more weeks.
“Beyond these, any repair considered by our clients as urgent, we analyze. The key is to understand your situation to serve you in a personalized way. Each case is unique: a breakdown for those who have two or more bathrooms is not the same as for those who only have one ”, they explain from AXA. Interventions that ensure basic housing services are generally allowed.
Appliance repair
Running out of food storage during quarantine is a full-blown emergency. This is confirmed by AXA, which attends to breakage of refrigerators, but also of ceramic hobs and washing machines. However, the dishwasher is not among the essential appliances, so if it breaks, it will be time to arm yourself with patience and wash the dishes by hand.
Faults in the bathroom
The toilets and the shower work at full capacity. It is common for them to suffer an incident. However, as indicated by the insurer, “they are only repaired if there is only one bathroom in the home.” It is another of the spaces considered essential for habitability. “For example, when the user cannot shower, cannot use the toilet or does not have hot water, we consider it an emergency.”
However, small repairs in this environment will have to wait for the alarm state to rise or do them yourself. “Changing the toilet flush if you lose water, the sink or shower faucet are tasks that you can do yourself. Another very simple maintenance task is to renew the silicone in the shower or bathtub. It just involves removing the damaged joint and applying a new anti-mold silicone bead ”. It is not always possible to change a broken window. “We only consider it to be an emergency repair if the glass is facing the street or there are children in the home,” they comment from AXA. But if the fracture is in a glass window overlooking an inner courtyard, the damage should be covered as well as possible and wait for the general activity to resume. If what breaks is the glass of a table, the furniture must also be quarantined because the state of alarm does not contemplate this repair.
Plumbing problems
Chipping or breaking a pipe can cause great discomfort at home. In addition, other collateral damage to neighboring houses that unleash the wrath of a neighbor. However, solving the mess during the crisis.
Leaks and humidity
Although in recent days it seems that the weather has given a truce, the rains of March and April generated more than a leak in houses and attics. Those who have suffered the problem will have already integrated the bucket to collect the drip as one more element of the decoration of the room. Neither this type of water filtration nor humidity are considered emergencies. “If they are produced by capillarity, it will be necessary for a technician to study the action points and determine the type of treatment to be applied (chemical waterproofing, asphalt sheet, etc.)”.
However, the appearance of mold in the passenger compartment has a solution at the user level. “If they are produced by condensation, the humidity can be eliminated with good ventilation and installing dehumidifiers. In addition, the affected area should be sanitized with an anti-mold product and painted with anti-humidity paint ”.
Half works
If a deep renovation of the house was started, it is only possible to advance until the minimum habitability is guaranteed. Water, electricity, security and the basic elements necessary to make life in the home. “We maintain contact with all the clients with whom we started works, since, although they may continue to use the bathroom and kitchen as normal, we are aware that the reforms have an emotional component. Also, of the desire that a family has, that these days he spends so much time at home, that the home is adapted to his well-being ”.