WHAT'S INVOLVED IN
A STANDARD
LIFT SERVICE?
What’s Included in a Standard Lift Service?
Your Guide to Elevator Maintenance
Hydraulic lifts are essential for seamless transportation in both residential and commercial spaces. Regular servicing not only ensures smooth operation but also improves safety, prolongs the equipment’s lifespan, and keeps everything compliant with local codes and standards. While residential and commercial lifts have similar maintenance needs, commercial lifts typically require more detailed inspections due to higher usage levels.
Here’s an optimised breakdown of what to
expect in a standard lift service:
📖 1. Booking In a Date & Time
The first step in any lift service is booking in an appointment time with us. You can give us a call on (03) 8725 1025 or email us at service@shottonlifts.com.au to schedule in a suitable time for our qualified technicians to come out and visit your home or building.
🔍 2. Visual Inspection
After booking in a service with us, our technicians will arrive to the site, where a detailed inspection of key
components are carried out to address any concerns.
Key areas checked during a standard visual inspection:
Car and landing stations: Ensure buttons, indicators, and lights are working.
Car interior: Check lights, ceiling panels, wall panels, handrails, and flooring for wear or damage.
Landing & car doors: Inspect alignment, speed, and sensor operation for proper performance.
Hydraulic components: Look for oil leaks, corrosion, or other signs of wear.
Pit & shaft: Make sure the area is free of debris, well-lit, and moisture-free.
Electrical cabinet: Confirm ventilation, access, and general condition.
3. Checks & Adjustments
Ensuring all static and moving components are in good shape is critical for the lift’s operation.
Key tasks include:
Hydraulic pump & motor: Monitor noise levels, secure mounts, and check for seamless operation during lift cycles.
Hydraulic oil: Assess for appropriate levels, clarity (checking for contamination), and temperature stability.
Hydraulic valve system: Test control, check, and shutoff valves to ensure flow rates are correctly adjusted.
Door operator mechanisms: Clean, lubricate, and adjust doors for smooth opening and closing.
Buffers and limit switches: Inspect functionality and replace worn components if necessary.
Cylinder seals & operation: Check for leaks, scoring, or visible signs of wear. Ensure correct calibration of direct acting cylinder (where applicable).
Rollers & rails: Ensure free movement of rollers along rails and inspect for wear. Ensure smooth transition over any rail joins.
4. Lubrication & Cleaning
Proper lubrication and routine cleaning reduce wear, prolong component life, and ensure the lift
operates quietly and effectively.
Maintenance tasks include:
Lubricating door tracks, guide shoes and suspension ropes.
Cleaning hydraulic lines and valve blocks to prevent debris interference.
Removing debris and wiping down the pit area and door sill tracks.
Inspecting the hydraulic system, particularly in commercial lifts.
5. Electrical System & Testing
Ensuring the electrical system is functioning properly is essential for reliability and safety.
This includes:
Testing the main control panel, cleaning contactors and relays for optimal performance.
Inspecting wiring, terminal connections, and circuit boards for damage or wear.
Verifying call buttons to ensure dispatch logic is fully operational.
Testing emergency systems, such as the telephone, stop button, alarm bell, emergency lowering system, and cab lighting.
Ensuring door lock sensors and fire service systems are functioning as intended.
6. Safety Tests & Compliance
Safety checks are crucial, especially for commercial lifts where compliance requirements may be more stringent.
Typical safety tests include:
Verifying door sensors for reopening functionality.
Testing the manual lowering system to ensure it works in case of an emergency.
Checking that the car stops level at each floor within acceptable tolerances.
Ensuring the lift telephone is active and functional in case of an emergency.
7. Documentation & Advice
After completing the maintenance tasks, technicians provide essential records and recommendations.
Post-service steps include:
Recording service points in a maintenance report. This report should also include any works completed to rectify issues found during the service.
Highlighting any wear or issues that could require attention during the next service.
Suggesting modernisation or upgrades required.
Why Regular Maintenance Matters
Routine servicing of hydraulic lifts is not just about ticking boxes. It ensures the safety of everyone using the lift, helps to identify issues early before they escalate, and keeps your lift running smoothly for years to come. Regular maintenance also helps businesses avoid costly downtime and maintain compliance with safety regulations.
If you’re managing a hydraulic lift, whether in a residential or commercial setting, make sure you stick to regular maintenance schedules for optimal performance and peace of mind. A professionally serviced lift is a safe lift.
