How to Keep Your Stairlift in Good Working Order
When you’ve had your stairlift installed, it’s important to maintain it so that it gives many years’ reliable and trouble-free service. Routine servicing and maintenance are essential for a stairlift just like any machine. Check out these general tips to assist in maintaining your product.
When you’ve had your stairlift installed, it’s important to maintain it so that it gives many years’ reliable and trouble-free service. But remember, any mechanical or electrical work on your stairlift must be left to the experts.
A brand new stairlift should be supplied with a manufacturer’s warranty which covers it against any fault or breakdown, typically for one or two years. The warranty should also include at least one annual service for the stairlift, carried out by a trained engineer. Stairlift manufacturers recommend their products are regularly serviced – usually once a year. This ensures they are working well and that any damaged or worn parts can be identified and replaced.
The first service is usually covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and included in the stairlift purchase price – check before you buy. Beyond that, most manufacturers offer extended warranties or ‘annual service agreements’ to ensure your stairlift gets the routine expert care it needs. This is an extra ongoing cost, but it’s the best way to make sure your stairlift remains in a good, safe condition, and to prolong its working life.
A standard service agreement should cover the cost of a stairlift service at the interval recommended by the manufacturer (usually annually). More comprehensive agreements might also cover the cost of any callouts, replacement parts, and labor, as well as the routine service. These deals are more expensive but guard against the unexpected.
Although technical maintenance should always be left to the experts, there are some simple things you can do to help keep your stairlift in good clean condition. Refer to the care and maintenance section of the user manual supplied with your stairlift for advice specific to that make and model. Some general tips include:
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Most stairlift carriages have surfaces that can be cleaned with a damp cloth or disinfectant wipe, especially the seat, backrest, armrests, and footrest. Refer to your user manual to be sure, and clean very gently around any control switches.
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Dust and clean the stairlift rail once a week with a dry cloth. You can apply a little household polish to the cloth, but do not use a damp or wet cloth on the rail, or any abrasive cleaner.
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If you can easily access the toothed metal rack within the stairlift rail it’s a good idea to vacuum it regularly to prevent a build-up of dust.
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Remote control handsets should be regularly cleaned with a damp cloth or disinfectant wipe. You should also check the batteries regularly and change when necessary.
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Don’t unplug or switch off the power supply to the stairlift rail. This will result in the batteries inside the stairlift carriage losing their charge so the stairlift won’t work.
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Make sure the stairlift carriage is always ‘parked’ on its charging point at the top or bottom of the stairs when the stairlift is not in use. If you’re not sure how to do this, refer to your user manual.
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If other people in your household use the stairs in the normal way, make sure the arms, seat, and footrest of the stairlift carriage are folded up when not needed. That way. Other people are less likely to bump into and damage it.
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If the stairlift isn’t in regular use, you should still run it up and down the stairs at least once a week to keep everything moving.
Above all else, do not attempt any cleaning, dusting, or vacuuming operation on the stairs if it puts your safety at risk! The purpose of a stairlift is to keep you safe on the stairs, so it would be mad to go climbing on the stairs with a vacuum cleaner in tow. If you can’t do it safely, get someone to do it for you.