Winter planning is critical for elevators, and most people are unaware of this. As we enter the colder months, be sure your elevator is in operating order. Keep a watch on the elevator door sills, as ice and rock salt from your shoes might clog the door and cause it to jam. When your home’s heating system is turned on during the winter, the shaft may operate like a chimney, drawing warm air via the hoist way and up the shaft. The biggest difficulty with warm air moving up the elevator shaft is that it raises hoist way pressure and pushes elevator doors to part slightly, which can cause the elevator to stop working.
Similarly, the winter season can get an effect on the mechanical sections of traction elevators, particularly dry rails. In addition, when the temperature cools, the elevator may begin to produce noise owing to a lack of lubrication on the guide rails. This issue may be avoided by checking for proper lubrication and doing preventative maintenance.
You will need a variety of elevator equipment to prepare for the chilly season. Otherwise, you may be caught off guard and forced to shut down the elevator while it is being repaired. It will also be more easy and cost effective to address a problem before it becomes out of hand. Here is a list of items to consider when contemplating winter elevator maintenance and how they may protect your facility:
- Consistent Temperatures
In general, the temperature within an elevator and elevator shaft should be the same as the temperature throughout the structure. Condensation can form when the temperature within the elevator differs significantly from the temperature outside the elevator. If this freshly created moisture gets into the elevator’s electrical components, it can cause component failure and system shutdown.
- Slip and Fall Prevention
On each floor, ensure that the elevator doorway is secure. Passengers expect to go out of the elevator safely, thus there should be no puddles in the building. This is significantly more dangerous during the winter season because people drag in ice and snow off their shoes, and the snow melts and forms a pool as they wait for the elevator. This melting snow tends to collect in the elevator’s door sills, causing door equipment failure if the doors do not fully open or close.
- Lubrication
In the winter, dry air can interfere with the operation and efficiency of elevators. As a result, you must ensure that all rails are suitably greased to prevent friction between the rails and the lift as it goes up and down. Maintain the hydraulic at an optimal temperature of 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Climate Controls
If you don’t have a climate-controlled elevator car, park it on climate-controlled floors while it’s not in use. When the elevator is not in use, there are technologies that will automatically take the elevator car to the chosen floor. Furthermore, for buildings in cold climates, elevator machine rooms should be built with additional layers of insulation, particularly for the hoist shaft and tank. Check to ensure that the insulation is adequate and in good condition.
- Emergency Battery
In the winter, it is critical to check the battery backup system of elevators on a regular basis. In the event of a power loss during a snowfall, you should ensure that your elevators will continue to operate normally. As a result, the batteries should be completely charged at all times to avoid service disruption.
