Keep Your Family Safe: 7 Must-Know Home Elevator Safety Guidelines

Understanding fundamental home elevator safety is essential for any household that owns a domestic elevator. While house elevators are safe and functional, they must be used with caution. It's critical that you, your family, and any visitors understand how to use the elevator appropriately. This is especially true for children, who are fascinated by homes with elevators. 

With that in mind, here are seven safety guidelines for residential elevators. The majority are straightforward, easy-to-follow suggestions to keep you safe and your elevator in good working order.

1. Consider elevator safety from the beginning

The choice of elevator model and installation company has a significant impact on elevator performance and safety. Elevators installed by inexperienced companies are more likely to have mechanical issues and necessitate additional visits from residential elevator repair professionals. It is well worth the investment to have a high-quality product installed by elevator professionals with a track record of developing and installing house elevators.

2. Deal with maintenance issues immediately

Home elevators, like any other mechanical device, require periodic maintenance. It is ideal to schedule maintenance twice a year; however, if you hear screaming or squeaking noises during operation, if the elevator trip appears less smooth, if you smell strange odors in the car, or if you suspect a mechanical problem, schedule a home elevator repair appointment. Home elevators include numerous safety safeguards, but it never hurts to be cautious. Furthermore, correcting minor faults before they become major difficulties will save you money over the life of the elevator.

3. Familiarize yourself with your elevator’s emergency features

When you initially obtain your elevator, read the instruction booklet and familiarize yourself with all of the emergency functions. For example, you should know what to do if you are on an elevator during a power outage. Make sure all family members understand what to do if they are in the elevator during an emergency.

4. Know what to do if you’re stuck in a home elevator

It can be frightening if an elevator stops between levels. If this occurs, do not panic. While Hollywood frequently depicts action heroes breaking open elevator doors in such situations, this is not a safe approach because the elevator may begin to move while you're attempting to exit. Instead, place an emergency phone in your home elevator. Call an emergency operator, and they will dispatch a home elevator repair technician to get you out. It is also a good idea to speak with the firm building your elevator to ensure you have any after-hours emergency contact information you may require.

5. Pay attention to elevator weight requirements

One of the most significant elevator safety features is the car's weight limit. While business elevators can hold 1,500 to 6,000 pounds, house elevators normally only hold 400 to 1,000 pounds, with certain versions capable of handling up to 1,400 pounds with considerable variation. Overloading an elevator might cause cables to fail and the doors to remain open. Understand your elevator's weight restrictions and pass that information on to anyone who may use it.

6. Enter and exit carefully

It is usually advisable to use caution when entering or departing an elevator, especially if you have mobility limitations. Take care not to trip, and keep a safe distance from the closing doors. Hold the elevator's handrail while you move between floors, and wait until the doors fully open before exiting the car.

7. Talk to kids about proper elevator use

To an adult, a home elevator is a practical and stylish means to go between floors. To kids, it looks like a fun toy, similar to having a fairground ride right in the house. Some children, especially those who are just visiting the house, find it difficult to resist the temptation to play in an elevator.

one is critical to teach children that an elevator is not a toy and that there are proper and incorrect ways to ride one. Exhibit correct elevator usage and explain that roughhousing or jumping in the elevator might cause mechanical issues.

Choosing a residential elevator

The best approach to assure your house elevator's safety is to purchase the highest-quality equipment available and have it installed and maintained by a reputable, skilled elevator installation firm. The ideal elevator for you is determined by your needs, living space, and budget. Check out the many varieties of elevators today, and then call an experienced Symmetry Elevator authorized dealer to assist you in selecting the best solution for your lifestyle and house.