When Should You Hire Specialists to Repair Your Lift?

Lifts are a brilliant piece of engineering that allows us to get where we want much faster and without any effort. They also make the otherwise painful task of moving groceries, office equipment, or heavy pieces of furniture several storeys high a breeze. That is, until they stop working properly.

As a property owner, be it domestic, commercial or shared ownership, at Gartec we know that you need to keep an eye out for symptoms that may indicate that your lift has (or is about to) malfunction. This will ensure that the residents or office employees you are directly responsible for are not distracted by loud noises, will arrive to their destination on time, and will generally enjoy a safe ride.

But to prevent the lift from trapping people in between floors, you can’t rely on scheduled maintenance checks alone to repair your lift. Below, we take a look at 7 instances where you will need to call for lift repairs as soon as possible, even if your elevator has been recently serviced by professional technicians. The cost of conscientious maintenance and repairs is far less than the price of a brand new lift.

The Lift Is Making Loud Noises

Lifts, especially more recent models, should operate quietly. However, if you hear banging, grinding, squeaking or other annoying sounds upon activation, this could indicate that some of the lift’s components are either loosened or are worn out and need to be replaced. In other words, you may need to repair your lift.

Usually, the culprit will be worn out or damaged lift bearings. Besides generating noise, these elements could also potentially disrupt the motor’s work, and should be replaced immediately. In any case, the only way to find out for sure what’s generating these noises is to call a certified technician like the Fantastic Certified Electricians to repair your lift. Once they arrive on site, the specialist will use modern diagnostics equipment to repair your lift by tracking down and replacing the faulty elements in your home to ensure that your lift will run silently once more. Malfunction can be the result of other electrical faulty outside the lift itself regardless of where you had the lift installed.

The Waiting Times Are Longer Than Usual

While not exactly a critical issue, this delay in the lift’s performance can prompt many disgruntled tenants or employees to ring on your doorbell. So, if you notice that the elevator’s doors are staying closed in between floors far longer than they should, call a technician right away. He will be able to look into the matter and repair your lift by readjusting the doors so that they close properly.

The Lift Goes Up and Down In a Jerky Manner

Is the lift occasionally bouncing to a stop or is moving about as it takes you to your destination? If so, this may indicate that the lubricants used to keep the components well oiled have either dried up or have been contaminated with dirt or by micro metal particles, caused by the friction. This could not only lead to people losing their balance inside the cabin, but may also potentially damage the entire lift beyond repair. Of course, this issue could be caused by faulty electronics instead, however in both instances calling a professional to repair your lift is the best move you can make.

The Lift Is Not Getting Enough Power

If your lift has started underperforming right after installing new lighting, equipping a new office room, or making other changes that draw lots of power, then it is no longer receiving the required voltage and amperage it needs to function properly. Insufficient voltage could lead to:

• Disrupted motor operations and potential motor failure;
• Permanent damage to the lift’s electrical components.

Finding out if your lift is starving for power or is receiving over the recommended amount is a tricky matter, and can only be done with the help of a trained lift technician. For this type of work, professionals will examine the lift by using a infrared thermograph. This equipment will help them seek out places with potential temperature spikes in your lift system and determine if the problem is caused by under- or overvoltage.

The Variable Frequency Drives Sabotage the Motor

Variable frequency drives lie at the heart of every lift system as they help decrease the motor’s energy use. In doing so, however, they release the so called common mode current. This current can potentially increase the motor’s vibrations to unhealthy levels and cause it to fail. To prevent this, your technician can install an inductive absorber. This piece of tech will absorb the harmful currents and ensure that your motor works properly even under heavy load.

The Lift’s Electric Motor Is Misaligned

In lifts, as well as in other equipment, motors are usually connected to other rotating equipment via so called shafts. With time, these shafts can become misaligned, which will put strain on both the motor and the rotary element. Specialists can use laser measuring equipment to adjust both shafts and ensure that they are collinear or, in other words, perfectly aligned.

The Benefits of Regular Maintenance

To own a lift in your home is an invaluable asset for your property. According to the property buyer professional Tom Davies, a fully functional and fault-free unit can add up to the overall real estate value and give a substantial boost to the price of a house or flat.

Final Words

Any machine that is used on a frequent basis will sooner or later break down and, unfortunately, lifts are no exception. As a property owner, learning how properly identify common lift malfunctions on your own is crucial as it will help you fix any issues in a timely manner. Always remember that you are not just protecting your investment – you are keeping people safe, too! For more information on our available products, visit our catalog or our dedicated home lift buyers guide to get you started.