Routine elevator maintenance helps prevent costly breakdowns and ensures your elevators and escalators are running smoothly. Without it, performance will be compromised and premature modernization most likely will be required. Finding a competent elevator contractor who is committed to the safety of your passengers and to the integrity of your building shouldn’t be hard for property managers and building owners but, unfortunately, is. We’re here to help provide some insight. Continue reading for tips, traps and trends on elevator maintenance and the industry.

Benefits of Preventative Maintenance Programs
Maintaining your elevators is essential to the smooth and reliable functioning of your building’s elevator system. Here are some benefits your elevator will have with proper maintenance.
Safety: Regular visits reduce liability for accidents and ensure that your elevator is working safely
Reliability: Addressing issues before they result in shutdowns results in a higher level of reliability
Lifespan Extension: Extends the service life of the elevator by repairing or replacing parts before they cause additional wear on other components
Cost-Effective: Provides increased savings for your budget instead of incurring costs for unplanned replacements or repairs

Tailored Solutions
Maintenance solutions are unique to your building and equipment and, in result, your contract should reflect that. Most agreements include monthly maintenance but there is some equipment that includes quarterly maintenance as well. Either way, you should have a contractor that takes time to make sure your elevator or escalator is at optimal performance and running as it should before any maintenance work is even performed. Our team runs diagnostic tests and services any necessary repairs BEFORE we start maintaining your building. The best part? We include all the basic fixes in our maintenance contract at no extra cost to you.

Did You Know?
Many times, contractors do bare minimum maintenance and end up missing potential issues that can ultimately cause breakdowns and safety concerns. Each mechanic is typically assigned to specific buildings and their schedules are called “routes.” Some companies overload their workers to the point where they have 200-300 buildings in their route. They can’t possibly do the necessary maintenance and give your equipment the attention it needs. They tend to make service calls and even their routine maintenance, which is in their contract and what they are being paid to do, seem like an inconvenience. But if anyone is being inconvenienced, it’s the managers who wait hours (sometimes days) for someone to come out and respond to the service call. Be sure to also check your contract for overtime specifications. Many companies take advantage by prolonging their response times until after “working hours” and get away with charging the client with overtime rates and fees. You should take all of these factors into consideration when choosing your elevator maintenance contractor, not just the price. Because often times they’ll give you better pricing but will provide below average service and upcharge you on unnecessary repairs. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.

Issues with Deferred Maintenance
Another troublesome trend in the elevator industry is an increase in deferred maintenance. This involves postponing maintenance activities and repairs in order to save money. Although it could cut costs in the short-term, deferred maintenance reduces the life span of the equipment and speeds up the need for modernization. Proper ongoing maintenance preserves the equipment, reduces service calls, prevents premature replacement and avoids emergency repairs.

Proprietary vs. Non-Proprietary
We install non-proprietary equipment allowing you the option to use a future company for repairs or maintenance. Other companies use computer software and parts that are proprietary to them, which means you’re forced to use them whenever a repair is needed. Here at Smart, we believe you should be free to choose. We want you to stay because you want to, not because you have to.
Learn More (linked to: http://www.element-series.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/non-Proprietary-Philosophy.pdf)