Quick Tips on Maintaining Your Home Lift Elevator

Homes with residential elevators are a class apart regarding luxury and accessibility. Lifts and elevators offered by lift companies can make the entire property accessible, grander in looks and feel and, as mentioned above, a class apart. However, the performance of these machines relies a lot on how they are maintained and what steps are taken for their upkeep. This post gives us an idea of how to maintain the home elevator with some straightforward steps.

How to maintain the home elevator - Oldmateelevators

MAINTAINING HOME ELEVATORS – RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY LIFT COMPANIES

MAINTAIN THE WEIGHT LIMIT

The first step involves maintaining the elevator's weight, which is essential because most elevators break down due to overload. Experts from every elevator service company will recommend respecting the weight limit of the elevator and making multiple trips rather than one single trip with an overweight lift.

Experts from every elevator service company - Oldmateelevators

GIVE SOME ROOM TO YOUR ELEVATOR

Experts from lift companies want you to ensure that shelves, stands, and other items are at least two feet away from your residential elevator. This is recommended to eliminate the chances of the elevator getting damaged due to random objects falling on it.

KEEP DOORS SHUT

Home elevators are for personal use and tempt people to keep the doors half open and closed. This is a serious concern for any elevator services company, as this habit can damage the mechanics and put users at risk. Experts recommend keeping the door closed even when the lift is stationary to prevent damage and accidents caused to children playing around them.

Experts recommend keeping the door closed - Oldmateelevators

INSPECT THE DOOR LOCK CAREFULLY

You must also check the door lock before leaving the elevator unattended, and if it is not in sound working condition, it must be attended to and repaired immediately. The door lock not working is a serious problem and should not be left unattended.

UNUSUAL SOUNDS

If your elevator generates strange and unusual sounds while moving, you should assume it has a serious issue that needs immediate intervention from an elevator service company. These sounds are basically due to the lack of lubrication, and bumpy rides are also a huge concern. In both these situations, professionals from top lift companies can visit your home to inspect the lift and take necessary actions.

 

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Recognising the Signs That Home Lift Elevator Requires Modernisation

Lifts and elevators play a significant role in our lives by providing high-speed vertical transportation features. They are the lifeline of high-rise buildings and facilities, and residential elevators, in particular, are a boon for older people and those having mobility-related issues. The absence of timely maintenance and upgrading will result in decreased performance, safety hazards and diminished aesthetic appeal. Not to mention, this will also put rider's safety at risk.

The lift owner must stay attentive to the signs that it's time to upgrade the lift. Failing to detect these signs in residential elevators will result in decreased performance and efficiency, and safety hazards will also be present. You will see that the elevator's aesthetic appeal is also affected by the lack of timely lift modernisation. Here is a post where we discuss some signs that tell that it's time to modernise and upgrade your home lift elevator.

Failing to detect these signs in residential elevators - Oldmateelevators

FREQUENT DOWNTIME AND REPAIR ISSUES

One of the most common signs that tell you that residential lifts need modernisation or upgrading is the increased frequency of breakdowns and system failure. Due to the lack of maintenance, machines and components of residential elevators start wearing away, and due to this, breakdowns and malfunctions become very common. This significantly affects the downtime, and costly repair work becomes a headache for the lift owner. If reliability issues and malfunctioning become common, you must understand that the home lift elevator requires maintenance or repair.

Home lift elevator requires maintenance or repair 

COMPROMISED SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE CONCERNS

The owner of the home lift elevator is responsible for passengers' safety as they travel and also for ensuring that residential lifts comply with relevant standards. Home lift elevators that have been ignored will fail to meet safety standards, and it will be assumed that they are unsafe for travel. Poor lift performance and erratic stops are critical indicators of compromised safety. Similarly, inconsistent floor levelling is a straightforward sign to understand that residential lifts are risky and need maintenance or modernisation.

Straightforward sign to understand that residential lifts 

REDUCED PERFORMANCE EFFICIENCY AND USER SATISFACTION

The performance of residential elevators in terms of energy efficiency and user satisfaction plays a significant role in determining the machine's overall effectiveness. If it fails to match the expectations regarding energy efficiency, user satisfaction, safety, comfort and quality, it should be assumed that residential lifts need modernisation and upgrading. Similarly, longer waiting and travel times decrease satisfaction levels, and this is a significant sign that tells you that it's time to upgrade your lift.

 

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What Are The Unique Advantages Of Using Residential Lifts?

The upper floors of any property become impossible to access for people with disabilities or old age people or those with heart problems. In such situations, residential elevators come to the rescue, as they allow people to access the upper and lower floors very easily without risking their health or their bodies.

Let us talk about the advantages of residential elevators in this post after understanding what residential elevators are.

Residential Lifts access for disable people - Oldmateelevators

WHAT IS A RESIDENTIAL ELEVATOR?

A residential elevator or a home lift elevator is similar to any other lift in buildings. The only difference is that they operate at a much slower speed and have lower capacity than commercial elevators installed in high-rise buildings. The average speed of residential lifts is somewhere around 0.15 m/second. Residential elevators also differ in design compared to commercial elevators. The former has a design that is exclusively for use within a residence, and hence, they are also called single-person lifts. They are quieter, safer and easier to operate.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF RESIDENTIAL ELEVATORS?

These types of installations come with a whole plethora of advantages for people with reduced mobility, disabilities or those suffering from issues like old age, heart disease and so on.

Residential Lifts reduced mobility - Oldmateelevators   

IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE

Residential elevators play a significant role in improving the overall lives of people who cannot use stairs for various reasons. For these people, residential elevators have become a safe, fast, and practical method of accessing the entire property without assistance.

MOBILITY FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE

People who use canes, crutches or wheelchairs are the biggest beneficiaries of home lift elevators. They can move around quickly on any floor without restrictions. This is all due to the versatile residential lifts installed in their homes.

Crutches or wheelchairs are the biggest beneficiaries - Oldmateelevators

TOTAL SAFETY GUARANTEED

Residential lifts and elevators are entirely safe to use, as they have all the safety features mandated by the government. For example, there are rescue solutions, followed by battery backup to keep the lift moving in power outage situations.

INCREASED PROPERTY VALUE

A home lift elevator installed in your home will act as a prominent USP if you look to sell your property in the near future. These lifts will not just be a helpful solution but also something that people will appreciate and agree to the resale value you quoted.

 

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Easy Maintenance Guide For Home Lift Elevators

Image source: https://www.oldmateelevators.com.au/our-work/

People are becoming more economically prosperous and getting better and more advanced features for life improvement. One of them is a home lift elevator that improves the quality of life for every homeowner. Particularly for those having mobility issues and people with disabilities, these elevators are nothing short of a boon. They can get their liberty back, and not to mention, these elevators add style and luxury to any property and enhance its resale value significantly. However, it is essential to maintain them as per the instructions given by the lift installation company because they have to comply with government rules and regulations.

HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR HOME ELEVATOR?

Some very common steps are taken to maintain any residential elevator and avoid expensive repair work, and some of them are discussed below.

FOLLOW THE RULES AND KEEP UP WITH THE REPAIRS

You must remember the following safety tips to prolong the life of your home lift elevator or low rise lift.

• Pay attention to the elevator’s weight limit

• Keep all contents 2 inches away from the cab gate and walls

• Always keep the landing doors closed

• Don’t operate your elevator if the car gate or landing door locking system malfunctions.

• Never tamper, bypass, disable or remove safety features.

• Don’t operate your elevator if you hear strange sounds.

• Make sure the elevator completely stops before entering or exiting.

According to the vendors, you must keep the logbook updated regarding any necessary repairs and maintenance work. This will help you save a good amount of money later by addressing any recurring problem immediately.

FOLLOW SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE

You can keep your home lift elevator and low rise elevators in perfect running condition for years by following regularly scheduled maintenance. There are some DIY steps, but apart from them, other regular maintenance steps should not be ignored at all. Remember, routine maintenance will improve the overall functionality of your home lift elevator and make it smoother, faster and safer.

WHAT DIY INSPECTIONS TO PERFORM?

As mentioned above, there are some DIY steps to take regarding maintenance and inspection. These DIY inspections ensure that you have a complete overview of every significant part of the elevator.

• Visual inspection involves checking the doors for visible damages such as dents, cracks and misalignment

• Inspecting elevator cab for cleanliness and any sign of wear or damage

• Inspecting the control panel for any warning light error message or wear and tear

• Checking the overall functioning for unusual noises and vibration

• Testing the elevator door for smooth opening and closing function

• Ensuring that door sensors are working correctly and nothing is obstructing the doorway

• Ensuring that the doors stay closed when the cab is moving up or down

EMERGENCY FEATURES TO INSPECT

• Test the emergency stop button to ensure it works.

• Check the emergency phone to confirm it is functional.

• Verify that the battery backup is operational by simulating a power outage.

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Different Kind Of Residential Stair Lifts and Their Features

So many different kinds of residential lifts are present in the markets, but for homes that have space related constraints, there could be nothing better than stair lifts.

In stair lifts too, there are different options available to accommodate different types of settings, but all in all, there is no doubt that they are a cost-effective way of enhancing the accessibility at home, where people with limited mobility dwell. 

STRAIGHT STAIRLIFT -

According to the vendors of residential elevators, this happens to be the most economical version of stair lifts and it can be installed along any side of the straight staircase. The top benefits of this version come in the form of quick installation, economical availability and low in maintenance. 

Apart from this, one more fact is that based on the needs of the users, companies involved in the business of residential lifts can customise them to fit any needs or staircase. 

CURVED STAIRLIFT -

The next version available here is given the name of curved stair lifts and the main difference is that this one has to be customised every time before installing in the curved staircase. This version is ideal for areas that have curved staircase, immediate landings or there is unique and complex design to accommodate. 

To get the best out of the residential elevator cost as well as your curved stair lift, it is important that you get the chair customised. 

This is majorly due to the fact that if not built to match the specific set of stairs, it may not be able to give you the best fit or using experience. 

Just like the version discussed above, you will find this version too coming with easy-to-use and intuitive controls and with a foldable seat, footrest, and armrests. 

OUTDOOR STAIR LIFTS -

Another very useful option in terms of stair lifts is the outdoor stair lifts that come in both straight and curved configurations. The main difference that this type has from others is that this one is designed to withstand the blows from nature and outside weather conditions. They’re also equipped with a lock-and-key for added security and a cover to keep the equipment protected.

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TOP FEATURES TO LOOK FOR IN AN INCLINED PLATFORM LIFT

Ever since inclined platform lifts have been launched in the markets, they have become one of the most cost-effective solutions for people with disabilities and even those having mobility related issues. This version is specially designed so that they can tackle stairs with utter ease and without any help. 

These inclined platform lifts come with numerous features related to safety, accessibility, ease of use and so on. 

Here in this post, we will have a look at some of the top features to look for in an inclined platform lift while getting one installed.

The first thing to make sure is that the supplier is fully licensed and following all codes of conduct, safety standards, etc. as well as industry’s best practices not just in manufacturing, but also in the installation process. 

Here are some features to look for in an inclined platform lift:

• The installation should be done according to the industry’s code and standards for safety

• The manufacturing process should also be as per government laws and standards set by the governing agencies

• It should ask for the minimum dedicated space

• The platform range should be from 26.5″ x 36″ to 28.5″ x 44″

• The platform should also be designed and prepared as per safety standards and it should be ideal for public accessibility requirements

• It should be designed for both indoor as well as outdoor usage and compatible to both new and old structures

• It should have all the standard safety features included as well as those requested by the buyer

• Additional features should also be there to ensure that the user is fully assured about safety

• There should also be a provision of custom design and aesthetic options configured to complement need and budget

Other features – 

Over speed Safety

There should be a provision to control the speed and it is called over-speed controller. Ideally, it is found at the lower end of the tube system. Their common inclusions are a mechanical pawl and electrical cut-out switch. 

This is designed to stop the platform from moving at an uncontrolled speed. 

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TIMELY LIFT MAINTENANCE in SYDNEY?

A number of companies that offer lift installation services are known for offering several other services as well. 

This includes lift maintenance Sydney services as well and there is also an option of contacting a lift maintenance company in Sydney for the same. 

The benefits of these companies, as well as these services, are several and here in this post, we take a look at some of them.

Increased Efficiency:

• Because of basic wear and tear that a lift or elevator experiences on a daily basis, the performance as well as the efficiency of the machine go down gradually.

• But with timely maintenance and care, this wear and tear can be tackled really well and this way, the efficiency of the installation can be maintained as it is for longer periods.

Decreased Spending:

• With the help of the services rendered by a lift maintenance company in Sydney, one thing is guaranteed that you will stay immune from spending frequently on repair work o minor wear and tear rectification.

• It is because of timely maintenance Sydney that all the issues and flaws will come into notice in a timely fashion and taken care of by the experts and this way, a lot of money would be saved back in your wallet.

Improved Safety:

• With timely maintenance Sydney, one more benefit is attained, i.e. of improvement of the safety of the machine and this is something that would be beneficial for the users.

• Ensuring that the equipment operates effectively also ensures the safety of everyone using it like family and friends or employees and customers.

Peace of Mind:

• Lastly, not to mention that with timely lift maintenance Sydney, there would be peace of mind for the owner of the lift because the overall functionality, safety as well as machinery would be in a perfect condition. 

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Reduce Electricity of Commercial/Residential Lifts with These Tips

In a commercial building, it is said that an elevator or lift consume only 5-7 percent of the total electricity, but this too can be saved by a number of steps. The best thing about these steps is they work equally on commercial as well as residential elevators and lifts for houses and some important points have been mentioned here.

Hardware Improvements

• With several small and major improvements of the overall mechanism or the hardware, you can make sure that commercial, as well as residential lifts, can be made to consume less electricity.
• The biggest step you could take is replacing the old school hydraulic lift with a traction elevator that travels up and down on a steel rope.
• With traction lifts, you will not require a dedicated machine room because the entire mechanism or machine is kept on the top of the cabin.
• This way, you actually get a more usable space, less heat and consumes less energy.

Other Hardware Improvements you could make include – 

• Motors – Replacing old obsolete DC motors with AC motors
• Lighting – Replacing fluorescent tubes, incandescent and halogen lights with high-efficiency, low-heat LED lighting.
• Doors – Using door drive motors that can go into standby mode when not in use.
• Starters – Replacing old starters with new ones can help in greater energy efficiency.
• Landing systems – Replacing old landing systems that use magnets or tape with new ones.
• Lights & Fans – These can be turned off if the lift is stationary.

Software Improvements

According to the sellers of commercial and residential lifts, the biggest change here is switching to software that can accommodate any kind of hardware or software based changes.

Some important changes to make in the software to decrease the energy consumption of lifts for houses – 

• Use Standby Mode – Automatically powers down lighting and all non-essential operations.
• Destination Despatch Control – Groups elevator stop requests, creating fewer stops, minimising wait time.
• Data Logging – Provides tools that allow for traffic studies to be performed. 

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Cost of Installation of Different Kinds of Residential Lifts

When we talk about lifts for houses, we need to keep one thing in mind that they are a must have thing for people having mobility issues. Keeping this point in mind, manufacturers of these mobility solutions have devised a number of options in terms of residential lifts and all are totally different from each other. Their functionality is different and so is their cost. The cost is something that potential buyers are more concerned about and this is why, we have decided to discuss this topic and know the expenses of installation of three different kinds of residential lifts. The names are – 

• Hydraulic Lifts

• Traction Lifts

• Non-Hydraulic Lifts

Let us discuss the cost of installation and other expenses here.

Hydraulic lifts

• This version is powered by an electronic pump that transmits hydraulic fluids in to the jack and with its help; the elevator gets pushed above and below.

• The space consumed by this version is somewhere around 15 sq feet and for this, a separate machine room would be required.

• The typical home elevators price for a basic hydraulic home lift, based on a standard installation, is between $40,000 and $50,000.

Traction lifts for houses

• This version of residential lifts moves up and down a shaft using cables with a counterweight to balance the weight load. 

• There is no requirement of any separate room for this but space would definitely be required to house the elevator.

• The residential lifts cost for a basic traction home elevator, based on a standard installation, would be $55,000 plus.

Non-hydraulic lifts for houses

• Then, at last, we have this non-hydraulic version that requires no supporting wall and no hydraulics or vacuum systems.

• The best thing is that this version can be plugged straight into a regular power outlet with no additional external power packs.

• The cost of standard installation of this version is way economical then the two 

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Why Seek Services Of Professionals For Residential Lifts Service And Maintenance?

Home or residential lifts/elevators have become a standard addition in modern-day homes. Architects and builders accommodate them not just for added comfort of the entire family, but to enhance the looks and luxury as well as the resale value of the property. 

But one thing more that they add is that these installations work the best only in the presence of time based maintenance and servicing. In this post, we take a look at the top methods to use in the maintenance of lift for houses.

Only Professionals Should Be Used

• Right at the time of getting residential lifts installed, one thing is made clear by the vendors that DIY servicing and maintenance would void the guarantee/warranty, etc. 

• Therefore, the best step is to seek the services of professionals who can carry out the process in a step-by-step manner to generate expected results.

• Other than these services, from these companies, you can even get assistance to get the right thing installed at a valid residential elevator cost.

• They are all certified and trained professionals who carefully evaluate your site and consider user requirements before starting the process. 

• They can even cater installation services and make sure that the residential traction lift fits to the configurations of your building.

• They make sure that no structural modifications are required and if some are required, they are kept to the minimum.

• These experts work in coordination with builders, architects and contractors.

Residential Elevator Maintenance Services Include Processes Such As:

• Assessment 

• Adjustment 

• Lubrication 

• Replacement of faulty parts 

• Repair 

• Checking for creaks, squeaks, other noises or vibrations 

• Checking bolts 

• Checking emergency alarm and other safety devices

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Types of Commercial Lifts and Their Features

Ever since they came into existence, they have continued to be the most convenient option for travelling up and down. Amongst several types present in the markets, there are commercial lifts that we use in commercially used high-rise buildings such as hospitals, offices, hotels, shopping malls, hospitals and so on. Because they are used at so many places, you will find this version in a whole variety or range and some of them are really stylish. Here is a classification of the different types present in the markets.

Automated Passenger Lifts

• According to the sellers and suppliers of commercial and residential lifts, this version is mostly used in an office, mall or any kind of commercial space.
• A very remarkable factor about this version is that they may and may not be inside the complex only and can run through different ways like electric, vacuum, cable or hydraulic lifts.
• Usually, they can carry 10-12 passengers at a time safely and comfortably.

Hospital Passenger Lifts

• Sellers of home lift elevators, etc. say that as the name depicts, this version is mostly used in hospitals or nursing homes for moving patients.
• These are wide for accommodating the stretchers and also a couple or more people.

Glass Passenger Lifts

• The biggest feature of this variant is that the riders can have full visibility outside the lift.
• From outside, this version looks really stylish and the residential elevator cost is also not that high.
• With its appearance, it is sure to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the area where is has been installed.

These were some of the most popular versions used, but there are some other names too, that deserve a mention here and they are –

• Stairway Elevator
• Dumbwaiters commercial Lifts
• In-Ground Lifts
• Twin Jack Roped Hydro Lifts
• Cantilever Roped Hydraulic Lifts

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Types of Wheelchair Lifts for Houses

A wheelchair can make life easier for those facing a disability or unable to move because of the age factor. Even better than wheelchairs is the wheelchair lift that allows these people to live without boundaries or worries of going upstairs. There are several versions present in the markets that can be used as residential lifts, but it is important to pick the right one based on your needs. To be very precise, there are two most popular types present that can be used as wheelchair lifts for houses and here is the brief information of them all.

 

 

Vertical platform lift

• The first one is called vertical platform lift that has a huge plethora of features to cite here.
• In most cases, you will find this version being installed near a stairway, but not on it.
• It resembles almost an elevator and raises and lowers the person in a wheelchair straight up and down.
• One more feature that needs a mention here is that it can hold at least 500 pounds.
• As far as the installation is concerned, there is nothing very fancy required and can be installed by an expert installation team.
• The last thing to describe here is that they are sometimes also used for public buildings.

Inclined platform lift

• The next version is the inclined platform lift and this one is basically the largest and most stable style.
• It is available at very justified residential elevator cost and can be installed inside the stair railing of a flight of stairs.
• Other than this, it can also be installed indoors or out.
• According to the suppliers of traction lifts, this version happens to be the most commonly used in most of the places like government offices and public schools.
• The biggest feature is that it is very reliable and stable and comes with extraordinary features and extra heavy weight lifting capacity.
• However, a drawback associated with version is that they usually take up a lot of space.
• Because of this drawback, you will not find it practical for smaller homes or narrow hallways.

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Etiquettes to Follow in Commercial and Residential Lifts

No matter, it’s an office lift or residential lifts, if you are using it, this means that you’ll definitely have to be aware of some common etiquettes that you need to follow. In this post, we have chosen this topic because not many people are aware of the fact that there are lift etiquettes as well that can make them hugely popular in their building.

 

Remember where to stand

• While waiting for the lift to arrive, the best step is to stand on the right side of the entry/exit point.
• This will give enough space to exit to those coming via lift and evacuating on the same floor.
• Other than this, you should allow everyone who are getting off, a chance to exit before you board the elevator.
• Similarly, while inside the hydraulic lift, make sure that you continue stepping backwards and stand as close as possible to the wall.
• In this regards, experts say that the first places to be filled are the four corners and then, people should fill in the middle of the elevator.
• If you are going to a higher floor, try to stand near the back of the elevator so other people who are getting off before you can exit easily.
• Suppliers of different kinds of lifts for houses say that if you are standing near the buttons, help out your fellow passengers.
• Hold the “door open” button until everyone has boarded.
• You should even play the role of a lift boy and ask people, which floors they are going to as they enter.

 

Managing the luggage 

• Suppliers of hydraulic lift carts say that in case, you have a large bag or package with you, try and adjust in between your legs.
• This way, it will not occupy the space of at least two persons in that elevator.
• Stay as polite as possible to your fellow passengers and use words like “Please” and “Thank You” to everyone.

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