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Where is pride in one’s craft disappearing to?

Writer's picture: Mikael DenutMikael Denut

During the coronavirus pandemic, there’s been fierce competition in the air ventilation industry, and prices are dropping like clothes on a lover’s date. This is concerning, but the problem didn’t start because of the coronavirus.


For a long time, I’ve been wondering, when meeting clients, where they come up with the unrealistic prices they present. One example that comes to mind is the annual grease duct cleaning. Many restaurant owners claim that the job usually costs them about 200 euros, either tax-free or directly into the cleaner’s pocket. I simply cannot understand how such a price is reached.

Air ventilation technician is inspecting a roof extractor

For a grease duct cleaning job, a technician leaves the office at 7 a.m. and starts work within half an hour. Just brushing the duct system takes at least a couple of hours. If it’s a large duct and the technician needs to use a brushing machine, the work can take much longer. In some places, there’s liquid grease on the duct surface or nearly a ten-centimeter thick buildup of grease. These kinds of jobs take even the best workers a full day or more, and it often can’t be done alone. In any case, after cleaning the ducts, the vents must be washed and the exhaust fan cleaned. These all take time.



Once the cleaning job is complete, the tools need to be cleaned, the equipment packed, and the technician needs to return to the office.


By the time the technician arrives back at the office, it is already afternoon, meaning the employer has to pay a full day’s wage to the worker. For my own company, this means billing at least €447 per employee per day to cover wages and basic expenses. At this point, the company still hasn’t made a profit.


So, when someone does the job for €200, how can it be done properly? Either the worker isn’t paid appropriately, or the job is done carelessly.


This phenomenon has been in Finland for many years, but it’s becoming more apparent now. Everyone wants top quality, and customers are very quality-conscious, but they want things to happen immediately and almost for free.


In my opinion, this is not possible. So, I’m left wondering, where is the pride in craft disappearing?


If you suspect ventilation problems and care about healthy indoor air, contact a professional today!


 

WE KNOW, WE CARE & WE GET IT DONE


IVAeris Oy

010 206 3000

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