Proper stairlift maintenance will help you promote the lifespan of your lift. Stairlifts are generally very reliable so it’s unlikely that you will encounter any issues, especially if you get your stairlift serviced regularly.
However as with all electrical devices, problems can occasionally occur. Undertaking some preventative maintenance can prolong the lifespan of your product and help you avoid problems – well maintained products tend to last longer.
As a general rule, where possible your product should be:
- Serviced annually by a qualified engineer
- Only lubricated by a qualified engineer
- Cleaned weekly – paying particular attention to the rail
- Only ever repaired by a qualified engineer for safety reasons – See stairlift repairs and servicing.
Stairlift Maintenance – Cleaning The Rail
One of the best things you can do for your stairlift is to regularly clean the rail. If your rail gathers dust, this can get into the workings of the lift. This can slow it down or even disrupt the electrical connections inside the unit. This can make it work less efficiently over time.
If you see black marks on the rail of your lift, they can be caused by dust and pet hair that get dragged and compacted under the carriage. They can be easily cleaned to ensure your lift continues to work in peak condition. If they are left uncleaned they can, over time clog up the carriage and cause some damage.
Your product should ideally be cleaned once a week as this will help your stairlift last longer and run more efficiently. Of course not everyone will be able to do this, depending on the mobility issues they might have. If you have a cleaner or home help that comes to see you, they might be able to help.
- Use a duster or rag (or just a damp cloth), wipe down the rail of your stairlift while being careful not to touch either the teeth or rack. If you do this you could remove the lubrication that is essential for allowing the chair to travel up and down.
- Very gently, clean the charge strips on your rail. If these are too dusty they can limit the recharging of the batteries in your lift.
- Wipe down the chair and outside of the carriage to keep it clean and dust free.
Stairlift Maintenance – Should I Lubricate My Stairlift?
You won’t need to lubricate the rail or any parts as this is done on a service, by an engineer, and only if it is needed.
Occasionally there are problems where someone has tried to lubricate the stairlift themselves. This should be avoided and particularly using petroleum-based lubricants like WD-40 or 3 in 1 can damage the rubber components of your stairlift. You should also avoid using cleaning solvents, as they can damage the chair, carriage, and tracks.
There is no need to do this job yourself, simply leave it for us to check on the annual service. Your product should only be maintained by a qualified engineer who has been trained to do this job professionally.
Annual Servicing Of Your Stairlift
You should have an annual service of your stairlift to make sure it’s safe and working as efficiently as possible. This is recommended by safety standards and should be carried out by a trained and qualified engineer.
This includes all the safety circuits, bolts, batteries and so on (there are 25 checklist points we use altogether).
Your stairlift is an important part of your life so it’s important that you know it is safe and running as efficiently as possible. A yearly safety check and service also gives you that peace of mind that it’s not going to give you any hiccups, and that any potential future problems can be avoided.
If you need to book in a service, contact our team on 0800 046 3438!
Maintaining Your Stairlift Batteries
- Under normal use (6-10 times a day) you shouldn’t encounter any issues with your stairlift batteries. However, if you need to use your stairlift a lot more frequently, it’s a good idea to leave your lift on it’s charge point to recharge your batteries. A couple of hours is recommended to top them up!
- If you don’t use your lift very often, keep it switched on. Modern stairlifts use batteries to operate but the mains to charge the batteries. So if you switch off your stairlift at the mains, the batteries will run down.
- Don’t forget to change your remote control batteries when you need to. They run on standard household batteries and will probably need replacing once a year or more regularly if they are used frequently.
We offer servicing and repairs of stairlifts around the UK. Have a look at our reviews on CheckATrade.com or speak to someone on the team on 0800 046 3438.
