A number of elevator problems, including slow operation and system downtime, are rather obvious. However, others, including electrical noise generation and high-energy use, are not. Their effects, conversely, may be experienced all over the building. More often than not, old elevator systems experience many problems that necessitate the need for an upgrade. Here are some of the common elevator problems that facility managers should be conscious of, as they point towards the need for elevator upgrade.

Long wait times

Lengthy wait times are often a nuisance for building inhabitants, and are a telltale sign that the elevator control mechanism is developing complications. Both wait times as well as elevator speed ought to be assessed on a routine basis. Time how long it takes to travel from the ground floor to the highest floor. Measure the time spent waiting for a lift during both peak and off-peak hours. Document the times and compare them with the manufacturer's conditions.

One of the major causes of long wait times and sluggish performance is the age and general condition of the lift. Although repairs may improve performance at times, elevators that employ old motorized relay control systems may basically require a new control system. In fact, motorized relay-based systems are sluggish by today's standards, and the best option is to upgrade to a novel microprocessor control system. This upgrade may ease average wait-time significantly.

High-energy use

As mentioned earlier, not all typical elevator problems are as evident as long wait times and constant breakdowns. For instance, elevators are a somewhat significant user of energy inside a building; however, without a detached meter to break out the lift's energy use, facility managers may not realize the amount of energy elevators really consume. Over time, the amount of energy consumed by a facility's elevators, especially a building characterized by high traffic volume, could be considerable. New generation control and drive systems function more efficiently compared to older systems. Although the energy savings alone may not justify the expense of upgrading the elevator system, it may provide an extra motivation for a new elevator installation.

Constant breakdowns

One of the clearest signs of a system that needs modernization is the issue of frequent breakdowns. As components deteriorate and age, they easily go out of tuning, either interfering with or shutting down the elevator system. This is especially true as far as door operators are concerned. Door operators suffer significant wear and tear in everyday operation. In fact, many elevator service companies claim that a huge chunk of service calls are based on faulty door operators. Facility managers should analyze the elevator's service log to ascertain the regularity of service calls for various faulty parts. A high number of service calls dictates the need for an elevator upgrade.

Contact a professional lift service company, like Forte Lift Services, to have them come and check your elevator's performance.