Elevator Q and A

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Elevator Questions and Answers

The purpose of this Q and A column is not to make you an elevator expert, but to give you a little more insight. The best place to get the right answers is from your elevator company. Talk to your elevator mechanic(technician), account representative(salesman), or elevator company service or maintenance superintendent.

Why won't my elevator get to the top floor?
If it is a hydraulic elevator (see the glossary), it is probably because the tank is low on oil.

What type of service contract is best?
That depends on your needs (see also, elevator glossary) Full maintenance contracts cost the most but are the most comprehensive. Oil and Grease contracts cost the least but usually do not include any parts. You pay a la carte for everything including callbacks.

When should I modernize my elevator?
That depends on the age of the equipment and the reliability. If you are experiencing lots of repetitive shutdowns, that could be a good indication of a need to upgrade.

What is normal wear and tear (as listed in most contracts)?
Anything resulting from normal useage of the elevator. This DOES NOT include:
The delivery man who rams the doors and bends or breaks a part.
The guy who shoves the tip of his umbrella into a button and cracks it.(they don't crack from normal usage)
The woman who forces open a door and breaks the edge.
A motor that burns up when the elevator is overloaded.
A lightning strike that damages the elevator.
A pipe that breaks and sends water cascading down the hoistway.

Can I use my passenger elevator to move a heavy piece of equipment?
It depends on the weight of the equipment.
1. Will it fit through the door?
2. Is it a concentrated load? Even if it is within the elevator capacity, you could easily damage the floor unless the load is spread out.
3. If the load is too large to carry inside the elevator, you may be able to carry it under the elevator. Your elevator company will assist you with this. Did you ever wonder how they get grand pianos into apartment buildings with small elevators? They will also ask you to sign a release form.

What phone number should be programmed into my elevator push to talk phone?
The number that a trapped passenger could call 24 hours a day. This could be your security company's phone number. It could be your elevator company's number.

Should I use the same company that installed my elevator to maintain my elevator?
Yes. In many cases. The original equipment manufacturer or their authorized representative usually has the largest supply of parts for your elevator coupled with the highest level of technical training. However, if you are using primarily one company for most of your service needs it may make sense to stick with that company.

Should I replace my mechanical door edges and eyes with the new infrared device?
Yes. If you have been having problems with the edges getting hit and getting damaged. Or, perhaps you have a nursing home and residents seem to be getting bumped by the existing edge too often.

I need some work done in my elevator hoistway. What should I do?
Call your elevator company. And don't wait until the last minute. It can be difficult to schedule a service technician to be at your site at a specific time.

My hydraulic elevator sounds like it's running, but it's not moving. What's wrong?
Everything is just fine. Hydraulic elevators use oil to move the elevator. If it gets too cool, the elevator doesn't operate smoothly. Your elevator has circuitry that allows the motor to run, forcing oil through the pump unit system. This warms up the oil. This feature starts and stops automatically to keep the oil at the correct temperature.

Someone told me that I could get my shutdown elevator running again by cycling the disconnect switch in the elevator equipment room. That is turning off the power, then turning it back on again. Is this ok?
Well, first of all, an elevator equipment room can be a dangerous place to be in. Lots of electrical wiring, sometimes exposed, sometimes moving cables and other machinery. Sometimes, cycling the power will clear out a problem and get your elevator running again. But it will also leave your technician scratching his head wondering what the real problem is. If you want to get your technician annoyed, keep complaining about problems, but don't give him any clues.

I am installing a phone in my elevator, where should the phone line terminate?
Tell your phone company to bring the phone line into the elevator machine room. Your elevator company will then hook up the phone line to the elevator travelling cable-which is a sort of an electrical umbilical cord to the elevator car.

What will happen if my elevator looses power-will it let people out?
If your elevator is tied into an emergency power system, it will operate and let people out, assuming the system works. However, very few elevators are tied into emergency power. If you are uncertain, ask your elevator technician.

Who inspects my elevator?
Your elevator is inspected by a state government agency, usually at least twice a year. Your elevator inspector may be a state employee, or may be employed by a third party inspection agency under contract to the state. Sometimes this inspection agency is paid by your insurance company.

Does the state send a copy of the inspection report to my elevator company?
No. The only way your elevator company will know about the inspection report is if your send them a copy.

I am planning to upgrade my elevators. Do I need to hire an elevator consultant?
An elevator company may say no. An elevator consultant may say--well, you guess. Actually it depends on a number of factors. If you feel comfortable with your elevator company, and they have a capable engineering and modernization department, they would be able to handle it alone. Most elevator consultants get their experience while working at elevator companies, and so have doubtless been on both sides of the fence on this issue. If you require a number of proposals in addition to having detailed specifications prepared, you may do well to get a consultant.