Category: Elevator Repair

Are you searching Google for “Elevator Problems and Solutions” while looking for the most common elevator problems and solutions to repair your elevator.

There are various reasons elevators start to malfunction, from worn sheaves to old operating systems. At Arizona Elevator Solutions, our team is always ready to assist you.

There are various elevator equipment failures that can be avoided using the correct preventative maintenance and inspections. Regular maintenance does not simply enhance the productivity with reduced down times, but it can also decrease your energy consumption as much as 15%.

When your elevator begins to breakdown often, or there are longer than usual wait times, it can be a sign of wear. High energy use, overheating, lower power factors are not always the obvious issue, but can lead to hidden costs. By implementing some simple maintenance practices to the elevator motor, the downtime and expenses can be decreased.

Common Elevator Problems

The following are some of the more common elevator issues and solutions on how they can be prevented:

1. Elevator Issue: Worn Sheaves

Repair Solution: Sheave Regrooving

Extra wear is placed on the ropes by worn sheaves, which results in more wear on the sheaves. This leads to more wear and destruction on both components.

To help prevent premature hoist rope failure, the sheaves can be replaced or regrooved. You should ensure the grooves are checked and verify the proper fit between the sheave and ropes. There are simple tools available that use magnetic standards with a straight edge for visually checking the sheave grooves to ensure they wear evenly.

2. Elevator Issue: Power failure

Repair Solution: Infrared inspection

When it comes to commercial elevators, a large amount of power is needed. When the system’s voltage is upgraded, this can affect the elevator’s motor operation or even lead to damaging the elevator system. If there is a history of motor problems or failures with an elevator, a power quality survey should be conducted.

Using infrared thermography can measure any drastic temperature changes while being able to identify potential spots for trouble prior to becoming a costly system failure. The common faults like under or over voltage can easily be found using power quality surveys as well as fuses which run hot, these can be detected using infrared imaging prior to motor failure.

3. Elevator Issue: Contamination

Repair Solution: Oil & Lubrication analysis

Once wear begins to occur, smaller particles of metal get released into the oil which can interfere with correct functions of the elevator system. In a similar manner, using improper lubrication or if the seals become worn, it can lead to contamination issues. Conducting oil analysis is able to check for different types ofproperties which could show contamination or even wear to the motor.

4. Elevator Issue: Noisy Bearing or Bearings Malfunctions

Repair Solution: Inductive absorbers

Over half of motor failures occur due to bearing malfunctions. A noisy bearing is frequently attributed to the motor vibrations. As variable frequency drives can be helpful in lowering motor energy, it can also introduce common mode current, which is a damaging byproduct which increases the vibrations to levels that can be dangerous and lead to premature wear on the bearings which is caused form stray currents.

The solution for this, is considering the use of inductive absorbers, like CoolBLUE that can absorb currents while protecting the system from possible breakdowns. In addition, you should make sure that the grounds are all connected and secured to minimize issues that can be caused by electrical noise from the ground that could trip the system or lead to false counts within the system.

5. Elevator Issue: Misaligned Motor Drive

Repair Solution: Motor alignment

When coupling an electric motor with another piece of equipment, it is important to pay attention to shaft alignment. With improper alignment, motor bearings start to wear down. The use of advanced laser measuring equipment can detect proper shaft alignment, or misalignment. Another method is employing a string and straightedge.

As an alternative, the consideration of buying geared machines which employ a flange mounted motor which doesn’t require alignment in the event disassembly occurs to the machine.

Troubleshooting Elevator Malfunctions

With so many different moving parts an elevator has it can make troubleshooting them very difficult, not to mention all of the knowledge needed, and the experience that is required in order to know how all the parts work together. It will depend on the manufacturer of the buildings elevator system, and the size of the building in question. Troubleshooting the root of the problem could be a lot like running through an area where they are practicing shooting handguns.

Here are several of the more common complaints by passengers, and also elevator problems that the Arizona Elevator Solutions Team have seen:

Slower Waiting Times:

When elevators have been in use for years their relays eventually begin to wear down, and their performance will also begin to get slower, to sum things up, they become less efficient. You will need an experienced elevator technician to check it out and let you know if it is time to replace the relays, or if you are in need of a total replacement.

When An Elevator Starts Making Sudden Stops Or Begins To Have Abrupt Landings

This could be due to timing issues, faulty electronics, and/or electrical failures. All of these is going to make landings rougher, or traveling up and down may be a jerky trip, and shifty.

Elevator Is Overheating

The chance of an elevator breaking down are increased during the summer months, as the drives, as well as the control systems may not be cooling adequately, in this case the temperature may be exceeding 100 degrees.

Elevator Sensor Problems & Power Failures

When an elevator has sensor failures or backup generator problems it can keep the elevators doors from opening, and it can prevent the elevator from working at all. It is important to have elevators inspected on a regular basis, which is the first step to take in maintaining a smooth ride and the efficiency of your elevator systems.

Minimize the safety risks involved, and the down time of your elevators, including having to replace your entire elevator systems cost. Are in need of some assistance to troubleshoot your elevators problems?  If so, give us a call today.

Other Elevator Repair Solutions

Thank you for reading “Elevator Problems & Solutions 2018“! Stay tuned for more from the expert elevator specialist at Arizona Elevator Solutions.

Here are Arizona Elevator Solutions, our team provides on-site elevator repair and preventative elevator maintenance services to elevator customers in various industries.