If you have a stairlift installed in your home, it is likely one of the most important mobility tools you have in your arsenal, but if your stairlift stops working correctly, it can drastically interrupt your life. Here at HomeLift, we don’t just focus on installing Stairlifts; we also specialize in stairlift repair and maintenance. If your stairlift isn’t performing as it should, here are three things you can check before deciding if you need to call one of our stairlift repair technicians.
1. Make sure your stairlift is receiving power and the key is turned in the “on” position.
If your stairlift isn’t moving, the first thing you should check is to make sure the key is in the correct position. This may seem obvious, but a great deal of our calls relating to stairlift repair often comes down to a faulty plug or simply a machine that isn’t turned on. Depending on the model of your stairlift, the key switch is located on the top landing chassis side or on the lower front cover of the chair’s armrest. Check to make sure the key is in and turned in the “on” position. Check to make sure the stairlift is receiving power by turning the on/off buttons on the chair arm and on the separate control units to ensure buttons are in the “on” position.
Alternately, if the power supply is transmitted through a spur, verify that the red light is on and wasn’t turned off accidentally.
2. Adjust the Swivel Seat
All stairlift chairs have a standard swivel position. If the seat is swiveled towards the landing, the chair won’t work and will keep alerting you about the problem. Swivel the chair back to its riding position after each use, and the mechanism will lock it back into place. If the position is wrong, an error code will be displayed. Some stairlifts should automatically go back into the correct position automatically. If your stairlift is one of these models and the swivel seat is not going in the correct position, it may be time to contact a stairlift repair technician.
3. Check for Obstructions on the Stairs
Another common problem involves the rack hinge rail. New flooring or carpeting can interfere with this and cause an obstruction stopping the stairlift operating. Even the smallest obstruction can cause a fault so you should check carefully to see if there is one. Toys and other household items can also obstruct the path of the stair lift. Check to see if there are any obstructions in the path or footrest. Tap on both sides to confirm whether the footrest is working properly. The lift will stop working if the underpan sensors detect any obstruction in its path. The display will indicate which sensor was triggered. If it’s safe to do so, see if you can move the stair lift in the opposite direction of the obstruction, and then remove the obstruction.
You can prevent a lot or problems by getting your stairlift serviced regularly. If none of these quick fixes improve the functionality of your stairlift, HomeLift is happy to make a house call and fix your stairlift. We specialize in Stannah, Bruno, and Handicare stairlifts.