April showers may bring May flowers, but the heavy rain can also bring flooding and potential water damage to your building.
Most people know the elevator pit as the place where unlucky passengers drop their keys and phones to. It’s also part of the shaft that extends below the level of the lowest landing and it houses the elevator rails, the jack hole and the piston, as well as the impact equipment for the cab. If neglected, the pit can experience water damage and require much needed work that could have most likely been prevented. Continue reading below for more information on how to keep your elevator pit clean.
Debris Removal
Giving mechanics time to clean and make sure your elevators are free from dust and grime is important to operations and should be included in the maintenance visits to your building. With a clean pit and car top, it’s much easier for the mechanic to look at parts of the machinery including door belts and lubricated rails. This ensures nothing is amiss and is crucial to a smooth, quiet ride. Without proper cleaning and maintenance, premature modernization is likely and unfortunately sticks you with unnecessary costs that could have been avoided.
Keeping Your Pits Clean
Not only is it common for trash and dust to accumulate over time, but it’s also common for rust and mold to develop. Having an elevator company that puts in the work to prevent and restore your pit makes a huge difference. Rust restoration and mold mediation should be a priority to establish a clean and safe pit environment. Yours should look similar to this picture.
Did You Know?
Licensed elevator personnel are required when accessing the elevator pit or hoistway. Have a building worker trying to retrieve keys or a fire alarm contractor looking to fix a smoke detector? You need your licensed elevator mechanic there to facilitate. This ensures everyone’s safety and prevents fatal accidents.
The Sump Pump
It’s incredibly important for your elevator technician to periodically check your sump pump and make sure it’s working properly. Although a plumber is responsible for doing the repairs, as mentioned above, your mechanic is the only one who has access to first identify and inform you of the issue. Identifying water concerns early on can prevent small problems from becoming large expensive ones.
Waterproofing
The biggest challenge with elevator pits is keeping water out when it rains and floods. Your pit should be waterproofed to prevent any water damage and to keep water from reaching any electrical connection that runs the elevator. Standard industry practice in elevator pit waterproofing involves applying several coats of reinforced epoxy sealant around the entire pit. The same epoxy is used for minor moisture and humidity control on walls that are sweating in standard foundation waterproofing. Identifying areas of water intrusion and tailoring responses to address each concern will help fix leaks and stop seepage for good.
