Lift breakdowns cause a major inconvenience to passengers. Regular maintenance can help prevent problems as well as highlighting issues so they can be rectified before they cause the lift to breakdown, but there are a number of common lift problems that all lift owners should be aware of.
First of all, it’s important to stress that lifts are complex pieces if equipment and you should never attempt to assess or fix a fault yourself. For your own safety, always get in touch with your lift maintenance provider.
Keeping your lift in good working order is like looking after your car. Maintain it well and work quickly to resolve problems as they start to emerge. And don’t get complacent!
Common Issues:
Power Supply Issues. Power failures or fluctuating power is a frustratingly common culprit for a lift malfunctioning. There are lots of things which can trigger issues including maintenance work which affects the overall electrical supply to the building, a broken fuse, a sudden storm which cuts off power to a wider area along with more obvious causes like a simple power cut.
Shaft Alignment: A good, accurate installation will leave you with a reliable lift. Unfortunately if your lift hasn’t been installed well and it is even the slightest bit out of plum (doesnt run ‘stright’ top to bottom), you could be left with a lifetime of problems. You may notice that the lift sometimes misses a floor level or that the doors may not open smoothly. Perhaps the ride quality is poor and there is a slight judder as the lift travels up and down the shaft. These are all signs that the lit may not be running smoothly, straight, up and down the shaft.
Doors: Often with more rollers than you would know what to do with, the doors are a critical part of the working and safety of your lift. The door tracks need to be clean and clear for the doors to close and the safety edges need to be clean and secure so that the infrared beams meet. There are motors, locks, belts and they all need to work together for the doors to open smoothly.
Levelling: As a lift ages, you may start to notice the lift doesn’t level as well at floors, or takes longer to come to floor level. This can be due to worn breaks or the sensors in the positioning system. These issues can be resolved by repairing the affected parts.
Strange Noises: Lifts are designed to make very little noise, if any, so you have good reason to be concerned if your lift starts making strange noises when in use. Owners are often tempted to ignore some sounds which ‘don’t sound too drastic’. But keep in mind that when a lift makes an unusual noise it can often be due to a major issue affecting the mechanical structure. It is always best to contact your lift specialist as soon as possible so this can be investigated quickly, often preventing a breakdown or much larger repair cost in the future.
SOLUTIONS to lift problems.
As we noted above, lifts should only be inspected and checked by a professional. Attempting a repair yourself is dangerous for you and also for any engineer subsequently attending and could lead to further damage.
When it comes to lift problems, prevention is better than cure. Communication with your lift provider is often key.
Make sure your lift has the following items so that issues can be resolved quickly
- A working autodialler, so a trapped passenger can call for help.
- Emergency lighting, so in the event of a power failure a passenger would not be trapped in darkness
- Lift breakdown signage and a maintenance barrier to inform passengers the lift is out of service.
- Your maintenance providers 24-7 number, displayed on the lift.
Can I get a second opinion?
Its important to remember that the lift is YOURS. Of course you are entitled to get a second (or third) opinion at any point. Let your lift contractor know, as they will need to be aware who has been working on the lift for their engineers safety.
Nordic Lifts are often able to provide free surveys, so if you are interested in getting a second opinion, please get in touch.
Get In Touch
info@nordiclifts.co.uk
0113 487 1950
01285 896 444
