Many times before a lift stops working there are signs of problems that should not be ignored. Addressing these symptoms can mean lower repair cost and save you downtime by resolving them before your lift stops working altogether. Here’s the list of the top 10 items we have encountered over the years.
Your lift stops while going up the stairs
Your lift seems fine traveling down the stairs but is starting to run slow or stop in the up direction. This is a sign the internal lift batteries need to be replaced soon. This should only be done by an experienced technician who can also check the charging circuit, power supply, and related safety circuits.
Stairlift beeping or making a chirping noise
Designed to get your attention, this useful but annoying sound is your lift telling you the batteries are not charging. The likely cause is no power at the outlet or a faulty power supply. Checking the outlet for power may save you a service call. If the lift continues to beep call for service.
Scraping noise
This can never be good, you’ll want to schedule service as soon as possible to prevent additional damage to the lift. The scraping sound can be several different things depending on your model lift, the most common cause is worn rollers or internal parts out of alignment.
Loose covers
While some covers should move to detect an object they should never be loose, broken, rattle around or have missing fasteners.
Stairlift parts cracked or broken
In some cases, a lift will continue to run with a broken part. This can not only be dangerous but also cause other parts to break. The seat spring is broken here and prevented the lift from moving.
Damage to Track
Damaged track with missing section of gear rack.
Exposed wiring
Exposed wiring will eventually break and stop the lift from moving. In some cases, this wiring can short on metal and cause even more problems resulting in higher repair costs.
Black or grey dust
Typically a sign of a worn part, bushing, fitting, or lift housing that will eventually cause additional problems.
Intermittent operation
The lift runs fine sometimes but can stop randomly. This could be a variety of things including an electrical short, broken wires or a safety adjustment.
Remote Control Malfunctions
If the remote controls aren’t responding consistently, there could be an electrical issue or the need for reprogramming. Its important the remote controls function, they can serve as a backup if the armrst toggle switch should ever stop working.
Unusual operation
Lift jumps, shutters, or hesitates on the track with grinding noise the likely cause is a gearbox going bad.
Random error codes
The diagnostic display flashes new codes while it’s sitting or running. This often happens when a lift controller or circuit board starts to malfunction.
Unusual sounds or movement
The person riding the lift on a daily basis becomes familiar with the normal sounds and feel of how the lift operates. Any unusual movement or new sounds are something that needs to be looked at closer.
Lift Wobbles
Most stairlifts use rollers attached to the carriage that ride on the track and support the weight of the lift. Over time these rollers can become worn and need replaced. In some instances a bad roller can cause your lift to have a wobbling sensation.
Leaking Fluid or Oil
A leak from the gearbox is usually wear and tear on the seals or gaskets designed to keep the oil contained. This wear could be due to age or the natural degradation of these materials over time and should be addressed quickly.
Troubleshooting a stairlift
Has your lift already stopped working? There are several reasons a stairlift can stop working, sometimes it’s possible to troubleshoot basic problems. We’ve also created this guide for troubleshooting common lift problems.
To schedule service in Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland area give us a call at 866-721-6004. For additional locations try our service area map.
