For lots of people, a through-floor lift is an essential part of their independent lifestyle.
If things ever go wrong, they need to know how to troubleshoot it — so they can get it back up and running as soon as possible (and with as little cost as possible!).
So, if you’re looking for a through-floor lift — or you’re working with someone who needs one — here are the most common lift problems and solutions to look out for:
1. Sounds and vibration
Any equipment with moving parts will come with some sound and vibration when it’s in use.
That’s just the reality of heavy machinery — no matter how good the tech is, or how well it’s installed.
But there are some sounds and vibrations that won’t feel right. And if you can hear and feel them, there’s usually something going on behind the scenes.
When you’re using a through-floor home lift, look out for things like:
- Grinding or scraping sounds
- Unusual clunking or clicking
- Visible vibrations or shaking.
These all go beyond the normal sounds of a healthy lift — and they’re often a symptom of a deeper problem.
So, what’s the solution?
In most cases, these sounds and vibrations are caused by:
- Loose or worn-out parts
- Misaligned parts
- Damaged bearings
- Or a malfunctioning control system.
For loose or misaligned parts, you may be able to tighten the surrounding screws to secure the parts and bring them back into the proper position.
For damaged bearings or a malfunctioning control system: you’ll need to replace or repair the parts that aren’t working — which usually means a callout to an engineer.
We’ve got you covered:
All of our lifts come with a warranty as standard.
You can also choose an optional service contract that comes with two service visits a year – and can even include responsive callouts and repair.
2. Power failure
This one shouldn’t be a surprise — lifts need power if you want them to work!
But it’s also one of the more serious problems that can happen with a through-floor lift:
If you have a power cut or an electronic failure while you’re travelling in the lift, you might get stuck between floors — which could become a real problem if you’re living independently without anyone around to help.
How can you fix it?
In many cases, it’s not the lift itself that’s causing a power problem: it’s the power source.
That means you need to be sure it’s hooked up to a reliable and consistent power supply — something that an experienced installer will already have taken into account.
But the lift you choose can also help to prevent any power problems:
With a through-floor lift that comes with its own backup power system (like our Residential Elevator range), you can keep on using the lift during a power outage — without getting stuck in transit.
3. Contamination
This has nothing to do with hygiene or germs — it’s about the oil or hydraulic fluid that’s used to operate the lift.
As lifts get older or they see heavy use, their parts suffer wear and tear. This continual grinding can strip off small bits of material, which ‘contaminate’ the oil or the hydraulic fluid.
These particles and bits get into the fluid systems of the lift, which affects how well those systems work.
Oil contamination can also happen in the other direction — when the wear and tear of hoses or valves creates leaks that let the oil spill out into places it shouldn’t be. In either case, it’s not good for your lift!
What can you do?
If the oil itself has become contaminated, you’ll need to change the oil inside your lift systems.
(This might be something that’s better handled by a specialist — or as part of the regular checkups that come with a service contract.)
If the oil is contaminating your lift systems through a leak, you’ll need to:
- Find the source of the oil — the damaged components that have sprung a leak
- Repair or replace any damaged components
- Clean the spilled oil from anywhere it shouldn’t be
- And dispose of the oil responsibly.
4. Slow or uneven travel
If you’ve had your lift a long time, you should be used to the normal speed of lifting and lowering.
You should be used to the kinds of movements it makes, too. And if you notice these changing, it’s usually a sign that something’s not right.
When a lift starts to slow down or travel with a jerky motion, that could mean it has:
- Poor lubrication
- Pulleys that are misaligned
- Problems with the motor or drive
- Or parts that are worn out or misaligned.
So, what’s the solution?
Depending on the cause (or causes) of the problem, you’ll need to:
- Lubricate the moving parts
- Repair or replace the worn-out parts
- Set the pulleys in alignment
- Repair or replace the motor or drive.
Most of these issues are better handled by a technician. But if the only problem is lubrication, you might be able to lubricate the moving parts yourself by following the manufacturer’s guidelines.
5. Floor alignment
When a through-floor lift comes to a stop — at either the top or bottom — the floor of the lift should be level with the floor of the room you’re travelling to.
But after damage or wear and tear, the lift can fall out of alignment with the floor of the building.
That can be a big problem for wheelchair users, who might not be able to move smoothly in and out of the lift.
(And at the very least, it won’t be safe for anyone who might trip or fall.)
How can you fix it?
There are lots of reasons for a misaligned floor, including:
- Damage or wear and tear to the floor of the lift
- Bending or warping after continually exceeding the maximum load
- A loss of pressure in a hydraulic system
- Temporary blockages — such as dirt or other substances attached to the lift floor
- Damaged or warped flooring in the rooms of the building.
In most of these cases, you’ll need a qualified engineer to make the right adjustments to your lift and its systems.
But sometimes, it’s a simple case of clearing out blockages or making tweaks to the flooring of the rooms you’re travelling to — which are usually much less expensive than calling out a specialist technician!
Need a lift that’s covered for the future?
A domestic through-floor lift is a big investment for any private residence — and it’s a complex piece of kit that’s not always easy to fix.
So, if you’re looking for a home lift that comes with support, we’ve got you covered:
All of our domestic lifts include a warranty as standard — with options for ongoing service contracts that include:
- 2 service visits per year with tests for LOLER regulations
- Options for included callouts, labour, and repair charges
- And coverage for up to 5 or 10 years.
You can get the full details over on our Servicing and Warranty page — or start a chat with one of our experts to see exactly how we can help.
