Ever been stuck in an elevator? That's not an exciting experience at all. According to National Elevator Industry, Inc., a typical elevator carries approximately 20,000 people each year. This results in some wear and tear. As such, it's crucial to get your elevator regularly serviced to avoid breakdowns. Read on to learn more about how often you should service your elevator.

Depends on Elevator Model

Elevators come in different models. Depending on the model you have, there are specific care instructions that you'll need to follow. Moreover, certain types of elevator models have more features than others. As you might imagine, this also means they likely require more maintenance. If you aren't sure how often you should service your particular elevator model, you should get in touch with the company you bought it from. They may be able to provide with you detailed instructions about how to maintain your elevator.

Depends on Location

How often you should get your elevator serviced also depends partly on your location. In some areas of the city, people will need to use the elevator more. On the other hand, some residential dwellings barely use it. If your commercial elevator is being used by many people at once, you should get a permit, and you must follow the regulations of elevator maintenance. If you fail to adhere to these regulations and something goes wrong, you and your company could be sued.

Depends on Your Contract

The frequency of servicing and maintenance also depends on the elevator repair company you're working with. Your contract will state what types of repairs are done and how often they should be carried out. For instance, you can sign a contract with an elevator repair company that comes to check on your elevator two times per year. In such instances, the frequency of service may also depend on the budget. However, you mustn't be so focused on not parting with money that you put everyone's safety at risk. Safety should always come before anything else. Imagine the damage that could come to your brand's reputation or building's reputation if an elevator collapses or falls because of a lack of maintenance.

Depends on Preventative Maintenance

Preventative maintenance involves taking steps to avoid breakdowns and problems before they appear. This type of elevator service includes ensuring that your elevator's safety mechanisms are working as they should. It also involves oiling the elevator machinery and staying on top of inspections, all of which are crucial for the functioning of your elevator. This work is performed by elevator repair services. Inspection and oiling should be done at least once every 12 months. It's important to find a reliable elevator repair service to work with to ensure that your elevator doesn't break down or fail before the end of its life expectancy.

Depends on Reactive Care

If you're experiencing problems with your elevator, you shouldn't have to wait for regular servicing periods. An elevator that's malfunctioning should be repaired as soon as possible. Failure to fix small issues can result in larger issues that are more complicated and costly to fix. Reactive care involves part replacement and any other necessary repairs that are not usually carried out with preventative care. Ignoring elevator problems increases the risk of failing as well.

Depends on a Possible Overhaul

This is the last type of service. Elevator overhauls are done when an elevator has outlived its life expectancy. This can also be done if other types of servicing have failed to correct the mechanical issues you're facing. Sometimes this involves buying a new elevator, depending on the extent of the damage. This means an elevator overhaul could be a chance to upgrade. How often you need to do this depends on many things, including the model, how frequently you service your elevator, and how often it gets used. According to Champion Elevator, the majority of elevators last for about 20 to 25 years.

It's important to get your elevator regularly serviced if you want to avoid costly repairs and unnecessary breakdowns. All you need to do is find reliable elevator repair services to handle the job for you. Get in touch with Stark Elevator today to learn more about how often you should work with elevator repair services.