Use our complete guide below for everything you need to know about elevator maintenance!
What Is The Importance Of Elevator Maintenance?
Both preventative maintenance and corrective repairs are needed for the proper operation of elevators. Keeping up with these maintenance needs will help maintain the safe operation for the riding public while also protecting the residential investment by ensuring optimal performance.
Preventative maintenance needs typically consist of component adjustments, equipment cleaning, oil changes, and replacement of parts. These procedures increase elevator uptime while also extending the life of the equipment.
Various levels of maintenance and replacement coverages are available through most service providers. The scope of options exist so you can select the right fit for your budget, building, and equipment.
When choosing an elevator maintenance service, it’s crucial to select a reliable company that can properly care for your elevator(s). While preventative maintenance is important, your service provider must also maintain the right supply of components for any necessary repairs.
What Is Preventative Elevator Maintenance?
Preventative maintenance needs typically include the following tasks:
- Inspection: Visually inspecting the elevator for any damage or wear and tear.
- Lubrication: Lubricating moving parts to reduce friction and wear.
- Testing: Testing the elevator’s safety features, such as the brakes and door sensors.
- Adjustment: Adjusting the elevator’s components to ensure proper operation.
- Replacement: Replacing worn or damaged parts.
The frequency of preventive elevator maintenance depends on the type of elevator and the number of passengers it carries. However, it is generally recommended to have the elevator inspected and maintained at least once a month.
Preventive elevator maintenance can help to prevent elevator breakdowns, which can be costly and inconvenient. It can also help to reduce the risk of injuries to passengers.
Common Elevator Problems
Here is a look at some common residential elevator issues:
- Door Malfunctions: Elevator doors failing to open or close properly are one of the most common problems. This can be caused by misalignment, sensor issues, or worn door components.
- Stuck Elevator: Occasionally, elevators can get stuck between floors due to mechanical failures, power outages, or sensor errors. This can be alarming for passengers and requires prompt attention from maintenance personnel.
- Slow or Jerky Movement: If an elevator moves slowly or jerks between floors, it could indicate problems with the motor, brake system, or control mechanism.
- Strange Noises: Unusual noises such as grinding, scraping, or banging could indicate mechanical problems within the elevator system, including worn or loose components.
- Elevator Overshooting or Undershooting Floors: Inaccurate leveling can occur when the elevator overshoots or undershoots the desired floor, leading to inconvenience for passengers and potential safety hazards.
- Faulty Buttons or Controls: Malfunctioning buttons, keypads, or touchscreen controls can prevent passengers from selecting floors or activating emergency features.
- Elevator Maintenance Alert: Elevator systems are equipped with sensors and diagnostic tools that can detect maintenance issues such as worn components or irregularities in operation. These alerts should be promptly addressed to prevent more serious problems.
- Power Outages: Elevators may become non-operational during power outages if they are not equipped with emergency power backup systems like generators or battery backups.
Regular maintenance and inspections by qualified elevator technicians are essential for preventing these common problems and ensuring the safe and reliable operation of elevator systems.
How Much Does Elevator Maintenance Cost?
With profit margins getting tighter and tighter taking care of your building and your elevator to avoid costly repairs makes fiscal sense. It also reduces potential liabilities and downtime which helps keep your occupants happy. When an elevator is out of service it impacts the function of the property and reputation of a commercial property’s safety. If occupants don’t feel safe they may choose to move to a new building which impacts your property’s earnings.
Over the course of 25 years of service most elevators will need major repair emergency service every 5 years. Most repairs involve a labor cost of about $1,200 dollars and $700 in parts. That means that each of these serious breakdowns will cost about $1,900. Given that it may happen about 4 times the total cost of these repairs will be $7,750. Preventative maintenance typically ranges about $275 per year which adds up to $6,875 over the course of 25 years. This all adds up to a total of $14,625 for elevator car with a maintenance contract.
Elevator Maintenance & Repairs By Arizona Elevator Solutions
Arizona Elevator Solutions is your go to elevator specialists that can handle anything from elevator repair and maintenance to elevator modernization and upgrades. Get a free elevator modernization quote from Arizona Elevator Solutions today! We also offer elevator services in Colorado.