Like everything else in your building, lifts must be maintained. It’s even more important to keep your lift in good condition, as it carries people up and down all day and even a small error could result in a major problem. At best, it will be an inconvenience for everyone, at worst, it could result in an injury or someone being trapped in the lift.
Maintenance is a very important part of having a lift installed. Whether it’s in your home or a tall building, the lift must be checked and updated regularly.
How Often Should Your Lift Be Inspected?
You should plan for a technician to visit and inspect your lift at least once a year. This is something that may be done more often if you feel it needs to be done. The technician will need to examine everything inside and outside the lift car to ensure it works correctly.
If anything is found to be malfunctioning or in poor condition, it should be replaced or updated. This is something that you may need to do before the year is up.
Inspecting Inside the Car
The lift car is where people will ride, so it has to be in good condition. Ideally, you’ll want it to be cleaned regularly and the
ongoing maintenance will be up to you. This means cleaning, replacing lights, and keeping it looking nice. However, the lift technicians will need to go a bit deeper.
They will check:
Doors: Do the doors open and close smoothly? They should move without any halting movements or obstructions.
Control Panel: This is the most important part and the tech will ensure that the buttons work correctly. This includes checking that the emergency stop button is functional. Any control panel lights that need replacing will also be replaced at this point.
Phone: The lift phone must be functional and able to contact the authorities.
The technician will also examine the interior for any damage that may affect the function. If there is something that needs to be repaired, it will be taken care of at this point. All repairs should be made once the problem is found or within the next few days.
Inspecting the Exterior of the Car
The exterior of the lift car includes the top, as well as all around it. The technician will examine the top of the car to check that the emergency hatch is not only reachable but opens easily enough that anyone can escape.
The cables that run the lift up and down will also be checked for signs of wear and tear. If they are beginning to wear down, they’ll need to be replaced. That requires quite a bit of use but is an important part of the inspection.
In commercial settings, it’s also necessary to check for vandalism around the lift car and throughout the elevator shaft. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous people may sneak in and cause problems, so if you ever suspect someone has tampered with the lift, be sure to get it inspected before you allow its use again. At each level, the technician will need to look at the lights and buttons for the lift. If the indicator lights have burned out, they will be replaced. The buttons need to be in working order, as well. At each level, they will also check the clearances and see how well the lift car lines up with the outer floor, as well as checking the door panels for any issues. Again, any adjustments may be made at this point.
Smoke detectors and fire alarms are also part of the inspection, to ensure the fire protection is set up properly. If the lift has an automatic shut down option once the alarm goes off, this will need to be tested.
Finally, the technician will need to test the lift brakes and ensure they work well. If any adjustments or replacements need to be made, they will take care of the repairs to ensure the lift is safe for ongoing use.
Checking the Machine Room
Not all lifts have a machine room, but if there is one, it will be another area the technician will need to inspect. They will look at the oil levels and be sure that lubrication is sufficient throughout the machinery. If there are any obstacles or items that will affect the lift’s function, these will be dealt with rapidly.
Since there are quite a few electrical systems and wires running through the machine, these need to be visually inspected. If mice or rats have gotten in, they may have chewed the wires, which could be a fire hazard. Leaks and water damage may also be a hazard that will need to be resolved immediately.
Inspecting the Pit
The final part of the
inspection requires the technician to enter the pit. This is the section below the lowest level of the lift and it should include sufficient space to prevent a collision. From the pit, it’s possible to check the exterior of the lift car for any possible signs of damage, particularly around the frame.
The pit should be accessible at all times, so be sure the way to it is clear.
After the Inspection
You should receive a written report of the inspection, as well as a list of any work that was done. While the inspection and repairs are necessary on an annual basis to prevent any big problems, you should never be afraid to call the company for repairs if something goes wrong before the year is up.
Any time you notice anything wrong with the lift, you should have it repaired as soon as possible. Small problems can become big ones if they’re ignored. A few of the most common issues include:
Uneven Landings: When the floor of the lift and the outside floor don’t line up by a small amount, this is normal, though it can be a tripping hazard. However, if it’s several centimetres off or more, you should have the technician come out and fix the alignment of the lift.
Malfunctioning Doors: If your lift doors aren’t working properly, or tend not to close completely, you should call for a repair, as well. Malfunctioning doors can be a safety issue, so it needs to be fixed rapidly.
Strange Noises: Any new and odd noises should be reported quickly. While they’re usually not serious, it’s best to ensure there is nothing dangerous happening before you continue to use the lift.
Stuck Lift: Of course, you’ll call for help if the lift gets stuck, but you should also call if it only sticks a little and is pausing at random times. Even if it only pauses a moment, it’s a sign something is not right and it needs to be looked at.
Control Panel Malfunction: If your control panel stops working or one of the buttons no longer works, you’ll want to get this repaired as soon as possible. It can be a serious issue if you’re trying to get the lift to go somewhere and can’t use the controls.
When your lift is installed, you should get the contact information of the company to have regular maintenance performed. However, you can also hire a company that specializes in lift maintenance to come out and do the annual inspection. Either way, you need to have a trustworthy number to call if anything goes wrong. You don’t want to use a faulty lift and that can mean a lot of stairs until you have the right person to come to manage the repairs.
Are you looking for someone to handle the maintenance tasks for your lift? ADL Lift Services offers installations and repairs, as well as ongoing inspections.
Contact us today to make your appointment.
