Avoiding stairlift problems can be as simple as keeping up with a good maintenance and cleaning. Stairlifts are mechanical and electrical devices so they don’t altogether come without their issues. But there are ways to avoid some of the common stairlift problems. Having your stairlift regularly maintained with a yearly service, for example, is a good idea.
Problems tend to occur as your stairlift ages. Battery faults are often the most common problem and lack of power. This is averted by keeping your stairlift plugged in at the mains. If you’re worried about electricity bills, don’t! Stairlifts only use a tiny amount of power. They are mains charged, not powered. The mains electric trickle charges the battery, so your stairlift will still work in a power cut.
Read your stairlift guide. This will tell you the best tips for upkeep and maintenance. In this post we share some of the more common issues which are faced by stairlift users, and how to keep them to a minimum. Occasionally there may be a fault you can’t solve yourself. That’s why we are on hand to help with those issues.
If you’re having a stairlift problem – give us a call on 0800 046 3438.
Stairlift Problems – Pet Hair And Dust
Avoiding stairlift problems can be done by keeping up on your stairlift maintenance. Over time, a stairlift rail, for example, can gather dust. You can keep on top of this by regularly cleaning your rail with a damp cloth. Make sure you dry it completely once you have cleaned it.
A common problem as stairlifts age are mechanical issues. Pet hair and dust can gather on the rail, and with certain lifts this is more of a problem. For example, if the “teeth” of your rail mechanism face upwards, this can cause more clogging over time as they collect dust and pet hair. This eventually works its way into the mechanics of the motor which can cause slowing and eventually the machine to stop working.
Stairlift Problems – Using Your Stairlift For Washing!
Recently we have had a couple of problems where our customers have been using their stairlift to carry washing upstairs! See our post on alternative uses for stairlifts! Using a stairlift for washing isn’t usually a problem! Just make sure nothing falls from the stairlift as it moves.
If something falls off your “clothes rail” – such as a sock, mid-journey, it can easily fall onto the rail and/or get caught up in the moving parts. This is exactly what happened to a couple of our most recent call-outs.
So if you’re going to use your stairlift for carrying clothes, do be very careful. A piece of clothing stuck in the mechanism will likely bring your stairlift to a halt! You won’t be able to use it until we can get it out!
Avoiding Stairlift Problems – Regular Servicing
We recommend getting your stairlift serviced at least yearly. Keeping on top of the servicing will keep your stairlift in good fettle! Your stairlift engineer will usually correct any existing problems with a service, and make sure the rail is well lubricated. Avoid doing this yourself because certain types of lubricant will cause more problems for a stairlift.
An engineer will also know what to look for in terms of loose wires, mechanical problems and any movement which may have happened during use.
Stairlift Problems – Rail Movement
A common problem is movement of the rail. Over time, rails can “sit” into the wood (of the stairs), especially if the user is heavy and/or the stairlift gets a lot of use. This can effect the position of the stairlift relative to the stairs.
In certain cases this can cause a blockage if the stairlift chair drops and starts colliding with a step. It’s also useful to nip these issues early if you spot them. Give us a call if you have an issues which might need attention.
The above picture was a call-out where the stairlift was colliding the top step. The rail had to be lifted up slightly to give more clearance. This happens over time where the rail feet ebed themselves more deeply into the stairs, lowing the position of the stairlift seat.
Here’s another example of this problem. In this one we had a folding rail. Again, the stairlift rail had “settled” into a lower riding position which had effected the folding rail. It had begun to touch the floor, stopping it from properly closing. This meant the stairlift rail position wasn’t fully closed as the chair moved over it, causing the chair to clash with the rail.
Stairlift Problems – Power
One of the most common issues we get with customers is stairlift power. This can be as simple as a battery needs replacing. We have also had issues where a fuse box has tripped (from a power surge) and the circuit breakers have stopped the battery being charged from the mains power. This issue can easily be overlooked; especially if the circuit breakers trip power to the stairlift, but leave other lighting and power sources unaffected.
If you have had a stairlift for some time, the batteries are more likely to become a problem. Leave the stairlift plugged in continuously, even if you are going away.
We’ve had certain customers turn the stairlift off when they went away, only to return and find the stairlift not working! This is a common issue because the battery will run flat when it is no longer being charged. If left too long, it may not hold the charge at all, and will fail to recharge.
Avoiding Stairlift Problems – Summary
There’s a few issues which are very common with stairlifts:
- Loss of power – check the batteries and the power source
- Clothing getting stuck in the workings – make sure you clear any obstacles and don’t allow anything to fall from the stairlift while it’s travelling
- Movement of the rail/stairlift over time – if your rail drops it can cause problems with the proper functioning of the stairlift
- Build up of dirt and pet hair causing power issues and mechanical issues – regularly clean the rail to avoid build up of dust
Stairlift not working? See also our post on stairlift troubleshooting.
See some of our installations and problem fixes on our YouTube channel.