Elevator Not Working 5 Major Breakdown Issues

Elevator Not Working - 5 Major Breakdown Issues

The journey of one thousand miles begins with one step. Or, maybe, one elevator ride. 

After an elevator installation, the system can run for 20 to 30 years. But an elevator system requires constant maintenance.

If one part breaks, the entire elevator can stop. Riders can get trapped inside and businesses within a building can suffer from delays. 

There are a few common problems that can cause a breakdown. Identify them and you can repair your elevator in no time. Here is a quick guide.

Elevator bearing malfunction
Elevator Bearing Malfunction

1. Bearing Malfunction

A bearing is a part of your elevator motor. It allows the motor to turn without generating friction or losing energy to heat. 

Bearings can roll loose, straining your motor. Your motor can start to shake, which can damage the motor further. If the bearings themselves get damaged, they can vibrate and wear your motor down. 

To tell how your bearing is malfunctioning, listen to what sound it makes. If it makes a buzz or roar, it can have a number of problems. It may be deformed, or it may not fit over its shaft. 

If it makes a screeching noise, its radial clearance is too large. Clearance is the distance that one ring moves relative to the other. When the distance is too far, the motor may not be able to turn properly. 

If the bearing makes a crunching sound, the bearing is deformed. An elevator maintenance service will need to fix it for your elevator to work. 

Most malfunctions will require replacements. If the bearing rolls loose, you may need to reinstall the entire motor so parts cannot roll free.

Elevator Contamination
Elevator Contamination

2. Contamination

As your motor wears down, it releases small metal particles. These particles enter the motor oil, causing the motor itself to stall. 

Contamination can present in a few different ways. If you notice a sudden and foul odor, it might be from your motor. If the elevator struggles to move up and down, the motor may be contaminated. 

Lubrication can also lead to contamination. If you use the wrong lubricant, particles in it can clog your seals. 

To determine if you have a contamination problem, you need an oil analysis. Test oil samples throughout the elevator system. 

High levels of bronze usually indicate wear in your elevator gears. High levels of aluminum can indicate wear in your elevator pump. 

Determine where contamination could come from. Substances can leak from your elevator shaft into your system. 

A Misaligned Motor Drive
Misaligned Motor Drive

3. A Misaligned Motor Drive

Your motor drive controls the speed of your elevator. Elevator installation companies place the drive directly onto the motor. 

Small misalignments can cause problems. Your drive can knock your bearings loose. Your drive can speed the motor up too fast, increasing wear and tear. 

If your elevator speeds up or slows down, your motor drive may be misaligned. If you cannot change the speed of your elevator, your drive is malfunctioning. 

A misaligned drive is an essential repair. If you let your elevator operate with a misaligned motor, the motor will eventually break. 

Keep a close eye on your drive. Use a straight edge and string to assess if it is aligned with the motor. 

If it is misaligned, stop your elevator immediately. Call a maintenance service that can realign your drive directly onto the motor.

Power Failure
Elevator Power Failure

4. Power Failure

A power failure is perhaps the most distressing elevator problem. Several things can occur when the power to an elevator shuts off. 

Lights can flicker and shut down. Doors can fail to open or close. The elevator can become stuck between floors, trapping passengers inside. 

A power failure can occur as a result of an electrical outage. Some elevators have a battery system, so they can operate while an outage occurs. 

To minimize the risk of getting stuck, encourage employees to take the stairs during an outage. Install signs that tell people what to do in the event of an emergency. 

If your elevator gets stuck, contact emergency services. Go to where the elevator is and communicate with the passengers inside. Keep them calm until personnel arrives. 

A malfunctioning motor can also cause a power failure. A dramatic change in voltage can seize a motor and cause lights to fail. 

Conduct a power survey if your elevator keeps failing. Evaluate electric currents through your elevator system, and make sure surge protectors are functioning. Test your elevator system to ensure that electricity flows through without problems. 

 

Elevator worn sheaves
Elevator Worn Sheaves

5. Worn Sheaves 

Sheaves are pullies with grooved wheels. They hold the ropes and belts that pull and elevator up and down. Sheaves are under a lot of strain, and they wear down with enough use. 

Most sheaves become uneven, which can stall the elevator’s movement. Belts can snap or fall off. 

If you notice the elevator car is uneven, your sheaves may be worn down. If you notice a sudden jerk while the car is moving, the ropes may have fallen off the sheaves. 

Avoid carrying excess weight in your elevator. Heavy loads can strain your sheaves, causing them to break. 

The sheaves may need regrooving, allowing them to grip the ropes better. If the sheaves break often, a repair service may need to replace the sheaves entirely. This will require a temporary shutdown of your elevator so the service can make repairs.  

Elevator Installation and Repair Professionals
Elevator Installation and Repair Professionals

Go to the Elevator Installation and Repair Professionals

Elevator installation is complicated and technical. Elevator repair is a little more difficult. You can help the repair process by identifying some common problems. 

If your motor makes strange noises, your bearings are malfunctioning. If your motor stops working, metal particles may have entered into your oil. 

When you cannot control the speed of your elevator, your motor drive is failing. An electrical outage or broken motor can cause a power failure. If your elevator is uneven, your sheaves may have worn down. 

When you need help, get it from the professionals. Island Elevator is Long Island’s leading elevator repair company

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Island Elevator is Ready to Help

Island Elevator is here to help you understand all facets of your Elevator Repair, Maintenance, & Modernization costs in the new year.  Our team is here to help ensure your home and business vertical transportation equipment receive the regularly scheduled maintenance necessary to help you avoid a major catastrophe, reduce the possibility of a costly repair, and ensure the safety of your passengers, tenants, and family.

Call For Your Free Estimate Today! 631-491-3392

Click Here For More Information On Home Elevators

The 6 Different Types of Elevators

The 6 Different Types of Elevators

Elevators are complicated systems and we can help to explain the different types of commercial elevators and their respective operations.

Looking back into history it used to be dangerous to ride an elevator. During the mid 1800’s several buildings and structures were being constructed with higher levels and elevators became a common item. Elevators gained significant design safety with a device that could prevent a passenger elevator from falling if its rope broke with a mechanism created by Elisha Otis. Soon, nearly all building designs were expected to have more than a single access point to a floor of a building. This became a standard to have access to building floors along with a standard staircase. 

ong Island's Full Service Elevator Company Commercial Service
Modern Elevator Design

The six variations of elevators utilized in many buildings are as follows:

  • Traction Elevators
  • Hydraulic Elevators
  • MRL Elevators
  • Pneumatic Elevators
  • Climbing Elevators
  • Industrial Elevators

Gearless and Geared Traction Elevators with Machine Rooms

Broken elevators closed for repair or maintenance long island NY
Gearless and Geared Traction Elevators

These types of elevators such as geared and gearless traction use ropes to lift them. The rope passes over a sheave attached to an electric motor that is located on top of the elevator shaft. These are common in midrise to high rise elevators and typically have faster travel times than hydraulic elevators.

The elevators will utilize a counter weight to help them run more efficiently by offsetting the load inside the elevator car that may consist of passengers weight or equipment. The elevators utilizing geared traction will use a gearbox that is attached to a motor. The gearbox purpose is to drive the sheave and operate the ropes. The geared traction elevators may have the ability to move up to 500 feet per minute. Travel distance for a geared traction elevator is around 250 feet. 

Gearless traction elevators have a sheave that is directly attached to the motor. The gearless traction elevators may have the ability to travel up to 2000 feet per minute. Maximum travel distance for a gearless elevator is around 2000 feet which is optimal for high rise buildings. Typically gearless traction elevators have a higher price point for the initial cost of installation. Maintenance cost on a gearless traction elevator may stay consistent since they are often more efficient than geared traction elevators. 

Inspecting traction of the elevator sheaves and ropes for wear and tear on a regular basis is vital. These items such as cables and sheave may wear down and cause slipping and reduce traction of the elevator components. This can reduce the efficiency of the elevator and increase the danger of using the elevator. 

There is a restriction on height with traction elevators since they are designed with a specific length of rope, cable, and weight. New materials such as carbon fiber used with traction elevators help make them stronger and lighter and achieve new heights. 

Machine Room-Less Elevators
Machine Room-Less Elevators

MRL Elevators (No Machine Room)

Machine Room-Less Elevators is a traction elevator that does not have a machine room over the elevator shaft. The machine room is typically located in another space and can be accessed through the cab near the top of the elevator for repairs. The control room hosts the control boxes and is typically on the highest landing adjacent to the elevator shaft. 

Machine room less elevators have a maximum travel distance of 250 feet that may boast speeds up to 500 feet per minute. The MRL elevator has similar startup and maintenance cost as with geared traction elevators, but the MRL elevator will have lower energy cost than a geared elevator. MRL elevators are very popular for mid-rise buildings which require travel distances of 250 feet or less. 

One of the major factors in the US is the slow adoption of MRL elevators is due to building codes. The provisions are in regards to the motor and location within the hoist way of the elevator. The building codes are changing and best practice is to check with your local code enforcement regarding MRL types of elevators. 

Hydraulic Elevator

Hydraulic Elevators

  • Holed Elevators
  • Hole-less Elevators
  • Telescopic Elevators
  • Non-Telescoping Elevators
  • Roped Elevators

The design of a hydraulic elevator includes a piston that is found at the base to support it. The piston utilizes hydraulic pressure to push the elevator upwards in sync with a motor that manages oil (hydraulic fluid) within the piston. There is a speed valve that operates to relieve pressure inside the piston when the elevator descends.

Typically these elevators are only used in buildings that are limited to 8 floors or less and travel speeds average 150 feet per minute.

The machine room will typically be on the lowest level across from the elevator. The hydraulic elevator will have a piston that extends underneath the elevator floor inside the pit. When the elevator descends the piston retracts. There are different variations but most will have a telescoping piston that will collapse and requires only a shallow hole within the pit.

The hydraulic elevator travel distance is approximately 60 feet and may have a piston on either side of the cab if it is designed without a hole in the pit. Telescoping pistons may allow the elevator to travel 50 feet, whereas a non-telescoping piston may only rise up to 20 feet. 

Sometimes combinations of a rope hydraulic elevator and piston operate the cab but have a limitation of around 60 feet.

Compared to other elevators the initial cost and maintenance cost may be lower but the hydraulic energy cost can be higher. This is due to the electric motor operating heavily against gravity while forcing hydraulic fluid into the piston. One of the downsides to hydraulic elevators is the potential for fluid to leak and hazards to the environment.

Pneumatic Elevators

Pneumatic elevators are raised and lowered by air pressure within the shaft. The air pressure difference is created between the above area and below area of the elevator cab. This creates a vacuum that transports the elevators by air physics. The elevator is operated by turbines or a vacuum pump which pulls the elevator up and releases pressure to allow the elevator to descend. Pneumatic elevators are compact by designed and good fit for residential elevator applications. There is no need for a hoist way or excavate pit to install pneumatic elevators.

Climbing Elevators

This type of elevator is commonly used within construction or commercial work areas. Most of these elevators are driven under its own power device, which are electric or combustion powered. Temporary climbing elevators are commonly used within construction of high-rise buildings to move personnel and material before a permanent elevator is installed.

Industrial Elevators

  • Hoist Elevators
  • Incline Elevators

The industrial elevator is designed to hoist/lift extremely heavy weight and is typically used in construction, warehouses, and shipyards. They are designed to withstand extreme conditions in some of the world’s most hostile environments. Custom height requirements and quality material are used to construct industrial elevators to withstand heavy-duty usage.

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Island Elevator is Ready to Help

Island Elevator is here to help you understand all facets of your Elevator Repair, Maintenance, & Modernization costs in the new year.  Our team is here to help ensure your home and business vertical transportation equipment receive the regularly scheduled maintenance necessary to help you avoid a major catastrophe, reduce the possibility of a costly repair, and ensure the safety of your passengers, tenants, and family.

Call For Your Free Estimate Today! 631-491-3392

Click Here For More Information On Home Elevators

Top 6 Tips for Commercial Elevator Maintenance

Top 6 Tips for Commercial Elevator Maintenance

The elevator industry regulators take health and safety extremely serious and explains why commercial elevators are undoubtedly the one of the safest forms of mechanical transportation. Owners should keep a schedule for maintenance and plan on elevator maintenance servicing to maintain safety standards, extend the life of elevators, and reduce commercial elevator downtime.

Our company elevator Installers on routine maintenance.
Elevator contractors facilitate routine maintenance for passenger safety

Always Keep Up with National Elevator Regulations

Elevator rules and regulations are constantly evolving to improve the commercial elevator industry and its help owners to focus on safe maintenance practices. The strict code enforcement and effective commercial elevator guidelines allow facilities managers to maintain safe commercial elevator systems across the nation, adhering to not only current protocol, but also new and developing standards. New government legislation continually increases commercial elevator safety for passengers and employees.

Commercial elevators installed after the year (2001) require features such as improved strength and durability of elevator car walls, roofs, and doors plus higher requirements for fire resistance material of car interiors and mandatory elevator control panels including a “Stop” button in the lower pit. New commercial standards will further uphold the elevator and its reputation for excellent safety practice and regulations.

Repair Company Elevator Installers
Regular maintenance on elevators and equipment can keep your business running smoothly

Be Proactive with Commercial Elevator Repairs and Upgrades

One of the main goals of elevator repairs is to provide a facilities manager with a commercial system they can rely on. The commercial elevator service and consumer safety should be priority number on. As with nearly every aspect of facilities management, one of the most important actions to take in keeping elevators in prime condition is to inspect them regularly. Not many owners realize that elevator maintenance is mandatory for their building; in addition to an inspector reviewing an elevator system once every six months so the owners are covered by law.

Recommended practice is to have a elevator system serviced every month. Neglected elevators can result in long delays while waiting for repairs, lead to premature aging, create huge financial expense and, worse still, become a danger to both passengers and service personnel.

Planning Routine Commercial Elevator Maintenance
Planning routine commercial elevator maintenance is vital for safety of passengers

Planning Routine Commercial Elevator Maintenance

Facilities managers should always have a planned preventative maintenance schedule in place with their chosen elevator service provider. This takes into account issues such as elevator-system peak times, impossible dates for servicing and so on. A mobilization plan should also be crafted to cover any risk assessments, method statements and health and safety procedures in relation to elevator maintenance.

The age of a elevator system and size of the building are both factors that need to be taken into consideration when planning maintenance, as older systems with more floors to cover may require a more thorough service, which will take more time. Also, the amount of usage an elevator endures may mean the system wears faster, so there will need to be a discussion about the level of predicted elevator use with the service provider. It is important that a facilities manager is able to rely on the elevator service provider and trust it implicitly. A strong partnership should be made during the planning stage to ensure the contractor will deliver excellent ongoing service and support.

Commercial & Residential Elevator Modernization
Commercial & residential elevator modernization of cabs

Commercial & Residential Elevator Modernization

Technological advancements in the elevator industry are vastly improving health and safety for both passengers and engineers. Facilities managers should embrace fast-changing trends to take advantage of the many benefits. Modernizing an elevator system will result in a faster elevator with a smoother ride, reduce overall costs and make an elevator more reliable and less prone to breakdowns.

For elevator maintenance specifically, customer-management portals (new online tools growing in popularity with many elevator servicing companies) offer a bespoke and reliable service, which both reduces downtime and improves communication between clients and servicers. Online systems deliver clients detailed elevator-portfolio information, including real-time updates, electronic exchange of orders and proactive maintenance reporting. The booking of engineers for maintenance, viewing of arrival times and specific work undertaken is now easily accessible, allowing facilities managers to plan elevator maintenance well in advance and alert people using the elevators.

Commercial & Residential Elevator Thermal Image
Commercial elevator maintenance and inspection plans

New thermal-imaging technology, for example, provides engineers with the ability to locate, troubleshoot and fix impending issues to prevent costly shutdowns. Furthermore, there are several technological developments that can drastically reduce an elevator system’s energy consumption. It is vital that service providers notify clients of changing environmental legislation and offer advice on product innovation and environmentally efficient technologies during the term of their contract.

New thermal-imaging technology provides engineers with the ability to locate, troubleshoot and fix impending issues to prevent costly shutdowns.

Elevator Company Elevator Installers and Repairers Long Island New York User Push
Elevator installers can help educate owners on maintenance and repair

Education of Commercial Elevator Operations and Procedures

It goes without saying that, despite a facilities manager’s best efforts, accidents can still occasionally happen. For passengers, a common hazard is being struck by closing elevator doors, and, although it is essential to ensure your elevator system’s detection system is updated, this type of accident is largely the result of user error — for instance, a passenger may attempt to run for a elevator and stick his or her hand or arm between the doors to prevent them from closing.

Early education for elevator passengers by providing visible signs and aids will detail elevator best practices and is a facilities manager’s best hope for the prevention of accidents.

Long Island Elevator Company Elevator Installers and Repairers Long Island New York logo

Island Elevator is Ready to Help

Island Elevator is here to help you understand all facets of your Elevator Repair, Maintenance, & Modernization costs in the new year.  Our team is here to help ensure your home and business vertical transportation equipment receive the regularly scheduled maintenance necessary to help you avoid a major catastrophe, reduce the possibility of a costly repair, and ensure the safety of your passengers, tenants, and family.

Call For Your Free Estimate Today! 631-491-3392

Click Here For More Information On Home Elevators