Tips to Keeping Your New Stairlift in the Best Condition

Stairlift manufacturers recommend it's regularly serviced. There are some basic things you can do to help keep your stairlift in good clean condition.

With your new stairlift installed, it’s important to keep it in good condition so it will give many years of reliable and trouble-free service. A home stairlift, like any machine, benefits from routine servicing and maintenance. Yet, any mechanical or electrical work on your stairlift must be left to the experts. A brand new stairlift should be supplied with a manufacturer’s warranty. This covers it against any fault or breakdown, but any unauthorized ‘DIY’ work on the stairlift will invalidate the warranty.  

The manufacturer’s warranty should also include at least one annual service for the stairlift. And it should be carried out by a trained stairlift engineer. Stairlift manufacturers recommend their products are regularly serviced – usually once a year – to ensure they are working well and that any damaged or worn parts can be identified and replaced.   

The first one or two services will usually be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty (depending on how long it runs for) and included in the purchase price. Beyond that, most manufacturers offer extended warranties or annual service agreements so that your stairlift continues to receive the routine expert care it needs after the initial warranty expires.  

A basic service agreement should cover the cost of a stairlift service at the interval recommended by the manufacturer (usually once a year). Higher levels of protection might cover the cost of all callouts, replacement parts, and labor, as well as the routine service. These deals cost more but provide peace of mind from knowing you’re insured against any eventuality.  

While technical maintenance must be left to the experts, there are some basic things you can do to help keep your stairlift clean and in good condition. Refer to the user manual supplied with your stairlift for any advice specific to that make and model. Some general tips include:  

• Clean the outer surface of the stairlift rail once a week with a dry cloth. You can apply a little household polish to the cloth, but don’t use a wet cloth or abrasive cleaner on the rail.  

• If you can easily access the toothed metal rack part of the stairlift rail you should vacuum it regularly to prevent a build-up of dust. You’ll need to use one of the tool attachments for your vacuum cleaner.  

• Most stairlift carriages have surfaces that can be cleaned with a damp (not wet) cloth or disinfectant wipe, especially the seat, backrest, armrests, and footrest. Make sure you clean very carefully around any control switches.  

• Remote control handsets should be regularly cleaned with a damp cloth or disinfectant wipe. You should also check the batteries regularly and change them when necessary.  

• Do not unplug or switch off the power supply to the stairlift rail. Doing so will cause the batteries inside the stairlift carriage to lose their charge.  

• Make sure the stairlift carriage is always ‘parked’ on its charging point at the top or bottom of the stairs when the stairlift is not in use, so the rechargeable batteries are topped up. If you’re not sure how to do this, refer to your user manual.  

• If the stairlift is not needed for a while, you should run it up and down the stairs at least once a week to keep everything moving. Make sure it is properly parked for recharging.  

• If other people in your household use the stairs in the normal way, make sure the arms, seat, and footrest of the stairlift carriage are folded up when not in use. This will prevent damage from people bumping into it as they use the stairs, and also make it safer.  

 
WARNING: Never attempt any cleaning, dusting, or vacuuming on the stairs if it puts your personal safety at risk! The whole point of a stairlift is to keep you safe on the stairs, so it would be foolish to risk your safety to clean it. If you can’t do it safely yourself, get someone else to do it for you.