Anyone drive away from a job and then worry about if you’ve forgot to tighten any nuts

[Pickwickpick]

Once I just settled in bed and had an alarming thought of did I close p2 on the gas valve. Did not remember doing it up. Phoned customer at 11pm and explained. Went to his house and....I had closed it. He was actually happy I went back and recommended me to his mother. I would not have been able to sleep if I had not gone back.

Must admit I think any reasonable customer would really appreciate the honesty and the conscientiousness.

 

[BYP]

Good old mobile phones cameras

It’s not just me who has a photo album full of test points then

 

[Dylandyl96]

Compression nuts I tend to have a routine where I check every nut again before I turn water on.
Radiator vents I prefer to open and later close them myself, so to not miss one and risk water everywhere on refill

From this post I have taken it’s a good idea to get into a routine on every job to check and test and forget it knowing you’ve done.

 

[DGT plumbing]

Yes, have that feeling most times about one thing or another, especially about did I turn the gas back on. Go through the sequence in your head and yes everything is always fine. It really screws things up when customers come and talk to you when your half way through doing something. Also left my mobile phone in an airing cupboard once after using the torch on it. Trouble was the number of the client was on it so couldn't phone them to ask them if it was there just had to go back to the property and see if my hunch was correct. Luckily they were still in so I was able to retrieve my phone after turning the van upside down looking for it.

 

[dan_the_plumber]

The trick is to link an action (eg, tightening a nut) to a memory.
It goes like this: ‘I know I’ve tightened this nut because at exactly the same time, I’ve looked at the clock and the time is exactly 11.22’
Or..,’I know I replaced that test point because right then the postman shoved a letter through the door and made me jump’
Honestly I’m the kind of guy that checks a door is locked 20 times, but using this method I’m almost always 100% sure every time.
For the few times now and then when you can’t quite remember if you did or didn’t, just go back! It doesn’t look unprofessional, if anything it makes you look more conscientious

 

[Rob Foster]

Yes, have that feeling most times about one thing or another, especially about did I turn the gas back on. Go through the sequence in your head and yes everything is always fine. It really screws things up when customers come and talk to you when your half way through doing something. Also left my mobile phone in an airing cupboard once after using the torch on it. Trouble was the number of the client was on it so couldn't phone them to ask them if it was there just had to go back to the property and see if my hunch was correct. Luckily they were still in so I was able to retrieve my phone after turning the van upside down looking for it.

Yup, done that too, left mobile on a roof in Chepstow whilst shoving a liner down, went back , scaffold gone....its still there !

 

[sammathias]

Meter test points always get tested with off once put back in. I stick to the routine so never worry. I do worry about flue gas caps tho but thankfully my analyser reminds me to put cap in when I turn it off.

 

[Best]

Meter test points always get tested with off once put back in. I stick to the routine so never worry. I do worry about flue gas caps tho but thankfully my analyser reminds me to put cap in when I turn it off.

Just a thought, but maybe flue test point caps should be spring loaded covers that just snap back closed when you pull the analyser probe out, so to be idiot proof.

 

[bacon_sandwich]

Yep, because i was that idiot. Found it on the following annual. It was the fresh air side, but nethertheless rather stupid of me. I too try and have a routine and never answer the phone during testing or any activity that has a sequence where i must leave it safe.
I normally leave tools and yes even testers onsite, not sure why, i guess its old age, they generally come back to me over time

 

[Ric2013]

How about the gland nut on that stiff stopcock? Did I tighten it back up? Not that it would make any difference either way, the amount of limescale that was in there...