When is it time to modernize a elevator?

Frequently we get the question from buildings, “when should we modernize our elevator?”.  The answer will always be different depending on the traffic, environment, maintenance that has been performed on the elevator system and what a building’s expectations of the elevator system are.   I believe after 20 years a building should be looking into what their elevator company believes is the life expectancy of all the components of the elevator system.

Building traffic – A sleepy 16 unit building’s elevator will last longer than 48 unit building.  In the commercial environment if you have a stairwell in the front of the building it will save the elevator a lot of wear on tear then if everyone uses the elevator.  Every building will be different with their traffic flow.

Environment – If a building’s environment is good, no water or moisture, heated and cooled in winter and summer, treated well by the riders, etc the elevator will last longer.

Performed preventative maintenance – If the company or mechanic who is doing the maintenance is doing their job, the elevator will last a lot longer than if no one is going to the building or people are going to the building and not doing proper maintenance.  If you catch small problems before they turn into large problems you will be in a good position.

Expectations of elevator service – We service buildings that have a 50+ year old elevator and are ok with shut downs.  We service buildings with a 10 year old elevator that are not ok with any shut downs.  If a building’s expectations are to have reliable elevator service 100% of the time, they need to keep an eye on the elevator’s age and have an open dialog with their elevator contractor.

What made me think of this topic was a building we had been maintaining for a very long time choose to modernize their equipment, we had been keeping them in the loop with pricing and equipment conditions for at least 10 years.  Their equipment was 30 years old, well maintained and was reliable but they wanted to make sure their equipment was reliable for years to come.  We also ran into a building where their 15 year old elevator sprung a cylinder leak and they called all hands on deck to get their elevator back to service.  This was very expensive.  One building was prepared and one building was not prepared.  For the building that wasn’t prepared, who would think your elevator cylinder would go out when it is fairly young, but it happened.  The take away is to be prepared and have a dialog with your current elevator contractor, or call us and we can give you our recommendation.

 [This is a modernization we are doing for a building that has been on top of their elevator's life cycle and their expectations for elevator reliability.]

[If you can name the manufacturer of this car station I will be impressed, with that said when we start seeing an elevator's equipment turn obscure[due to age and other similar elevators being replaced] a building needs to be aware that it will be more difficult to work on and they need to plan to modernize]

As always feel free to contact us at www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.