A residential elevator can last for several decades on your property, allowing you to access multiple levels of your home. Consider modernizing it after about 20 years to prevent future injury and costly repairs. It also helps to take care of the unit and have it inspected by an expert technician once a year. The elevator lifespan depends on several factors, including its specific model. Learn about how long your lift system will last so you can take care of it to protect your investment.
Factors That Affect How Long Your Elevator Lasts
A lift system typically has a lifespan of several decades, but several factors affect how soon you’ll have to replace it. Here are some ways to know how long your elevator will last.
- Regular maintenance: Home elevator maintenance helps prolong your elevator’s life expectancy. During a professional inspection, a specialist can look at your unit and replace any worn-out components. When your lift system has updated parts, you’re less likely to need emergency repairs. You can expect your elevator to last much longer when you have it serviced by an expert technician.
- Proper installation: After you’ve found the best lift system for your living space, a reliable elevator contractor will analyze the best location to install it. Your house may already have room for an elevator, or you may need to create space for one. When a technician installs your elevator correctly, its components will suffer less wear and tear, resulting in fewer repairs. It’ll also be safer to use and less likely to have frequent breakdowns.
- Frequency and quality of use: If you continuously operate your elevator throughout the day, you can expect its lifespan to decrease a little more quickly than if you only used it a few times a week. Every time you operate your lift system, you put wear and tear on its components. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining your elevator to keep it in excellent condition.
- Upgraded features: An elevator has several moving parts that transport you safely from one floor to the other. Since those parts have a limited lifespan, you’ll need to have them replaced so your whole system works. However, if your elevator is decades old, it may contain obsolete parts that aren’t up to code. You may also have a challenging time finding a technician who’s qualified to repair your outdated elevator.
What Happens When You Don’t Take Care of Your Home Elevator
Even though scheduling a professional inspection requires spending money, this simple appointment will be a better financial investment than requesting emergency repairs. On the other hand, if you don’t maintain your elevator, its lifespan could reduce dramatically. As a result, you may experience the following issues:
- More recurring repairs: Neglecting to care for your lift will result in spending money to fix it. A home elevator that hasn’t been maintained efficiently typically has more issues that require replacements from a professional. On the other hand, when you take care of your elevator, you can prevent costly problems by having your technician replace broken components.
- Potential breakdowns: If you have an elevator in your home, you need it to work at all times. Unfortunately, any of the elements can stop working when you least expect it. As a result, you’ll need to call for emergency service, which usually costs more money. Making regularly scheduled appointments with a technician can help prevent random system failures.
- Safety risks: You may be putting yourself in danger if you’ve gone a long time without having your elevator inspected. When any of the complex electrical components in your lift system stop working, you could injure yourself while trying to use it. You may want to call an expert to fix your elevator if you notice any strange sounds or jolting motions while operating it. Technicians have the necessary training for safely repairing or replacing your lift system.
How to Maintain Your Home Elevator
Even though repairing your home elevator can be costly, scheduling annual preventative maintenance with a local technician can help prevent issues. You can also do some of your maintenance to keep your lift system up to date. When taking care of your home elevator, follow these tips:
- Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions: The most efficient way to care for your unit depends on its specific model. The manual should have information about what temperature to keep in the room and what cleaners to use on each component.
- Avoid unnecessary wear and tear: Be careful not to exceed your elevator’s weight limit when you’re using it. You may want to keep the door closed to maintain stable pressure for your lift.
- Check your elevator at least once a week: As you operate your lift system, pay attention to any unusual noises or sticking. Clean the light ray unit, car tracks and hall door with a cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Removing debris from your lift system’s components can help prevent future breakdowns. If your buttons get stuck, try tapping them lightly instead of using tools that could damage them.
- Keep a written record of any issues: If you need to call a technician to repair your elevator, write down what’s wrong with it so they know what to check when they arrive.
- Schedule maintenance at least once a year: Besides taking care of your lift system on your own, you should also request an inspection from a professional at least once a year. You may want to get more frequent maintenance if your elevator is older. During the appointment, the technician will replace any obsolete parts, including burnt-out cab lights.
When You Should Replace Your Elevator
Even though regular maintenance of your home elevator can prolong its lifespan, you’ll eventually have to replace it. Here are some warning signs that you’ll need to invest in a brand-new lift.
- The elevator is more than 20 years old: A home elevator is a significant investment, so you’ll probably want to keep it for as long as you can. However, when you neglect to replace it after several decades, using your unit could be unsafe. Schedule an appointment with a technician to replace your elevator and prevent injury or costly repairs. When you update your decades-old lift system, you can be confident that your upgraded elevator will have all the modern technology you need to travel throughout your house.
- You notice an increase in emergency repair calls: A residential elevator technician should be available for emergency repairs, so you can call them if your lift stops working in the middle of the night or on the weekend. Pay attention to how often you have to call to have your lift system fixed. If you notice that you suddenly need to contact the technician more often than before, you may consider replacing your elevator instead of getting it repaired. A brand-new elevator will last for many years on your property.
- The cost of repairs is getting overwhelming: You may think that replacing your elevator will cost more money than making a quick repair, but these little fixes can add up. Look over the last few times you’ve had to call to get your lift fixed. When you consider the upfront cost of a new elevator, you might realize that you can save money by replacing it. If you’re concerned about affording an updated lift system, discuss your options with a local home elevator dealer.
Contact Inclinator for Home Elevator Repair Services
A residential elevator can help modernize your home and make it more convenient to use. Whether you want to install a new elevator in your home or your old one needs a replacement, we’ll help you find the best product for your lifestyle. Reach out to your local elevator dealer or technician to get the assistance you need to make your home safer and more reliable.
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