How to Troubleshoot Your Stairlift? A Beginner’s Guide
So, you bought a new stairlift, and you couldn’t be happier. It’s working as expected, and you’re enjoying more mobility around the house.
Suddenly, the lift stops working. Now, you’re full of questions: Why is this happening? How can I fix it? What other problems will I face in the future?
Well, that’s what this post is for. We’ll show you how to troubleshoot your stairlift to fix the common problems you might face without needing a professional.
1. Turn the Key Switch On
Like with any other electrical device, when your stairlift stops working, your first instinct should be to check the key switch and ensure it’s on. Unfortunately, we can’t tell you the location of that switch, as it differs from one model to another.
It could be on the underside of your chair’s armrest, underneath the chair itself, or on the top landing chassis side. It’s usually red, black or white.
Helpful tip: Some stairlift models come with an extra key switch. You want both to be in the “on” position.
Even if your key switch is on, try to turn it off and then on again. That usually works if your lift needs a reboot.
2. Lock the Lift in Place
When you take your lift up the stairs, the chair usually swivels at the top to help you land safely. In some cases, the seat might stay tilted.
Stairlift manufacturers program these machines to stop moving if the chair is tilted. After all, moving on a tilted chair is a recipe for injury.
Here’s the thing: When the seat remains in a swiveled position, it’ll keep beeping uncontrollably to let you know that it’s not standing upright.
If you hear that beep, just readjust the chair’s angle, and you should be able to enjoy your sweet ride. You’ll hear a “click” when you set it in position.
Note: Not all stairlifts beep when they’re parked incorrectly. It differs from one model to another.
3. Lower the Armrests
So, your stairlift stopped working all of a sudden. You try to turn the key switch off and on, but it’s still not working. Now what? That’s when you want to check your armrest.
Some lifts won’t work unless the armrests are folded down. Most stairlift users think armrests are there for comfort only. That’s not true.
They help you stay balanced while the seat is moving up and down, ensuring a safe ride. So, if your armrests are folded up, the lift will not move for safety reasons.
In that case, all you have to do is put them down, and the lift should work as usual.
4. Plug Your Battery Charger
You’d be surprised how many stairlift users forget to plug their battery chargers. Leaving your lift unplugged for too long prompts its batteries to drain quickly.
It’d be like running a 24-hour marathon with no breaks in the middle. Eventually, your lift will stop working, and you won’t be able to move freely.
So, always make sure your battery is charged. If you’re facing trouble charging it, call a professional technician to do it for you.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to troubleshoot your stairlift and fix the most common problems users face with that machine. As you can see, these fixes are as simple as they get.
You don’t have to be a tech genius to try them. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can fix every malfunction you face, but it won’t hurt to try any of these solutions before calling a professional.
Over 1000 Stairlifts Installed In GTA
Mark & the team have installed over 1000 Stairlifts, so you can count on us to do the job right. We understand the difficulty of this transition, so we go the extra mile to show that we care. Always transparent about our process and pricing, we’re here to answer any questions about your new mobility solution.