As we welcome fall and with winter just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about getting your elevators and machine rooms in tip top shape. Extreme heat and extreme cold temperatures outside influence the way your elevator runs, so it is important to stay on top of maintenance to ensure your elevator runs smoothly with minimal error. Winter preparation is just as important for building owners as it is for the servicemen. When we enter the snow months, make sure to keep an eye on door sills as rock salt and ice coming off shoes can jam the sills and prevent door operation. When the heat in the building is on during cold days, the shaft can act as a chimney and force warm air through the hoistway doors and up the shaft. If you see problems, we can adjust door spring pressure to reduce this affect. The machine room should be kept between 60 Degrees and 90 degrees. Colder temperatures for hydraulic elevators can cause hydraulic oil viscosity changes and cause speed and levelling problems. If this is a concern, tank heaters are a good investment to minimize the effect of low oil temperatures. This problem will normally be seen in the morning after periods of low elevator use. For traction elevators, cold weather can have an impact on electronics.
Covid-19 is also on the rise again and may not be going anywhere in the near future, so normal procedures will be a little different this year with adding some safety precautions to ensure that everyone using your elevators are safe from sickness and spreading germs. It is recommended to clean the elevator buttons as often as needed with Lysol Disinfectant sprayed onto a clean, lint free rag and wipe the buttons down. Do not directly spray the buttons with the antibacterial solution, make sure it goes on to the rag first. Also, remember to wipe down any handrails and walls in your elevator to kill germs spread by coughing and in case anyone has touched them. This is a good reminder to also sweep the sills of dust and debris that can hoard germs or even give your elevator doors some trouble. Remember to keep your hands away from your face and wash your hands thoroughly and wipe down other surfaces that may be used daily where germs can live.
Lastly, as a reminder when you are scheduling an alarm test with your alarm company, give us a call to coordinate and assist with testing to ensure there are not issues and testing runs smoothly.
If you run into any problems with your elevator this coming fall and winter and need a reliable repair team to fix the problem, call Pincus Elevator Company at 610-738-4350 or contact Tom Gibson, Sales Representative or Tony Belluscio, Vice President and General Manager at TGibson@PincusElevator.com or TBelluscio@PincusElevator.com to discuss upgrades in your elevator to ensure safety for your tenants or customers. Work with us to create the most convenient and safe experience for your visitors!