Navigating the Life Expectancy of Your Commercial Elevator

Elevators with regular maintenance can last from 20-30 years. However, different environmental and mechanical factors can affect its lifespan. Discover how you can maximize the life expectancy of your commercial elevator. 

What Affects Life Expectancy of an Elevator

Elevator life expectancy depends on the type of elevator, usage, maintenance frequency, and the elevator’s physical environment. For example, traction elevators usually have a longer lifespan than hydraulic elevators due to lower component wear.

Moisture is one environmental factor that can affect elevator life expectancy. Water can leak into your elevator shaft which can wear down metal structures or ruin electrical devices. If riders are overloading, slamming doors, or improperly using an elevator according to its guidelines, they could greatly harm the elevator.

General Timeframe of Lifespan for General Elevator Parts

While it’s important to consult your elevator technician about your elevator, here are some general lifespan expectations of certain elevator equipment. 

• Equipment that lasts 15 years: 
  • Cab 
  • Call Station

• Equipment that lasts 20 years:
  • Controller 
  • Dispatcher
  • Shaft doors
  • Cables
  • Traveling cables
  • Opening panel 
  • Electrical wiring

• Equipment that lasts 25 years: 
  • Hydraulic elevator machinery
  • Traction elevator machinery 

• Equipment that lasts 30 years: 
  • Hoist rails
  • Hydraulic Piston 

Once each piece of equipment hits its life expectancy, it is time for a repair.

How to Increase Elevator Life Expectancy 

It’s important to always take care of your elevator to ensure it has a long life expectancy. Here are just a few ways to maximize the use of elevators under your care:

Have Elevator Loads within the Limit

If an elevator is carrying loads over its weight limit, it can cause the elevator to gradually wear down over time. Have regular checkups with an elevator inspector to make sure it is always operating within the weight limit. 

Clean Elevators Regularly

A commercial elevator should keep its aesthetic appearance along with its functionality. If interior panels are peeling, buttons aren’t working, or guide rails look damaged it’s time for a cosmetic repair. By replacing wall paneling, sanitizing guide rails, and replacing broken buttons, you can lengthen the time of an elevator’s life expectancy. It’s also always essential to keep elevators clean with different purification and disinfectant options.  

Perform Regular Maintenance 

The most essential way to keep an elevator operating longer is to perform routine maintenance checkups. Annual inspections from a full-service commercial elevator company will ensure that every aspect of your elevator is running smoothly and properly. If an elevator technician discovers that something is wrong with the elevator or equipment is broken, they can provide elevator repair services. 

Enlist Buckley Elevator for Modernization Services

Elevator modernization is one tool to keep your elevators running smoothly. At Buckley Elevator we offer elevator modernization services that focus on providing modern, up-to-date, and maintained elevators. When you upgrade your elevator, you are implementing a cost-efficient solution, as you’re incorporating new high-quality parts to your elevator that will have cheaper maintenance costs in the long run. 

We make sure your elevator will stay up to date with ADA and safety standards. Simultaneously, we’ll ensure that your elevator looks aesthetically pleasing. 

Contact Buckley for more information on our reliable and effectively efficient elevator services.