HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR RESIDENTIAL ELEVATOR?

Residential elevators are a great investment. They can make it easier for disabled or aged people to move around your home. But just like any appliance, residential elevators also undergo wear and tear and system failures. Therefore, it is important to fulfil their maintenance requirements to keep the elevators in safe working order. Regular maintenance also saves you a lot of money on avoidable repairs.

Schedule Elevator Inspections and Maintenance

Maintenance should always be done by professionals. Therefore, make sure to schedule routine maintenance with an elevator repair company annually. This will help you keep your elevator in working order. Elevator repair and maintenance companies usually check issue like

Elevator inspections

Factory authorized repairs

Safety testing

Routine maintenance

Some countries have laws regarding residential elevators’ inspection schedules. For example, the residents of Massachusetts must get their elevators inspected after every 5 years whereas residents of New York have to get annual inspections of their home elevators. Even your state or area doesn’t have any such inspection laws, you should still schedule an inspection schedule with the elevator repair company for your own safety.

Updating Your Residential Elevator

Most residential elevators last for about 20-30 years before they have to be replaced. However, in the meantime, they may require updates for which you’ll have to hire an elevator repair company. Generally, if your residential elevator is about 5 or more years old, it will require updates to run reliably. There are two major types of elevator updates:

Aesthetic updates

These updates include changing the appearance of your home elevator. You can discuss with the manufacturer to find out which parts does he have that are compatible with your elevator model. A lot of people replace their elevator’s old fixtures and railings with new ones to give it an upgrade that matches their home interior.

Replacement of motor or control system

If your elevator’s motor or control system is damaged beyond repair, you should get it replaced to keep your elevator in working order. However, before you decide, make sure to do the cost calculations of replacing the entire thing. It costs somewhere around $8000-$10,000 to replace elevator’s control system and around $10,000-$15,000 to replace its motor. On the other hand, the cost of replacing the entire elevator is about $10,000-$50,000 depending on your elevator model. So sometimes, it might be a better choice to just replace the entire elevator instead of replacing its parts.

Common Residential Elevator Repairs

Just like other major appliances, elevators also eventually undergo certain problems. The most common complaints reported by elevator users include door jamming, noises from the elevator shaft, elevator getting stuck, a slow or bumpy ride, and unusually high energy usage. All of these problems require professional help to figure out the underlying cause and fix the issue.

Most of the residential elevators cost around $450 annually in maintenance and repairs, but these costs vary with several factors. One major factor is the number of floors the elevator serves. The more the floors, the costlier the repairs. The costs of repairs also vary depending on whether the elevator door is manual or electric, as electric repairs are more expensive. It also varies depending on whether the elevator system is pneumatic, hydraulic or vacuum-driven. It’s because the repairs and maintenance of hydraulic elevators are pricier as compared to other types.

Common elevator repairs include:

Piston failure

Electrical problems

Hydraulic fuel line

Wiring and cables in the elevator cab

Malfunctioning of doors.

If your elevator requires a highly expensive repair, consider whether you really need the elevator for safety and accessibility in your home. It may also increase the resale value of your home. Depending on all these factors, even an expensive repair may be worth it.

DIY Home Elevator Repairs

Mostly, maintaining and repairing your elevator yourself isn’t recommended. Working with the electric wires or computer mainframe may invalidate the warranty given by your manufacturer. Moreover, it can be extremely dangerous working with residential elevator components if you are not familiar with their functioning.

However, there are a few things that can be done to troubleshoot a faulty elevator while the repair company reaches at your place.

Check the circuit breaker.

Check for the doorway blockades

Check backup batteries

Look for built-in reset switch