Discover essential maintenance tips and operating guidelines for stair lifts, vertical platform lifts (VPL), dumbwaiters, and shaftless elevators. Our guides ensure the safety and longevity of your home accessibility equipment. Explore the basics to keep your devices running smoothly and safely.
Staying Home Product Support
Stair Lifts
Care Info
- Keep the track free of obstructions – It is important to keep the track free of foreign objects. If something falls onto, or into the track, it must be removed prior to running the lift to assure proper operation. If you are unable to do this, contact someone to assist you.
- The track and metal portions of the lift can be cleaned with any general household cleaner (such as 409). The seat is vinyl and can be cleaned with any off the shelf cleaner meant for use on vinyl. Clean the copper charge strips inside the track at each end with a Scotch-Brite pad, (this ensures a good contact for charging).
- A light coat of lithium grease or all-purpose lubrication should be applied to the gear rack prior to the lift being run. The dealer should do this as part of the installation. Should you hear a “squeal”, a light coat of lubrication can be applied to the outside, vertical portion of the track where the rollers are located. This will reduce the friction created between the track and the glide blocks. This should be done every 6 months in residential use, 3 months in commercial use, or as needed.
- Batteries in user controls – The key fob has a 2032 battery inside. These battery needs to be replaced from time to time.
Operating Safely
- Use the armrests to assist in stabilizing you as you get on and off the seat.
- Sit back on the chair and fasten the seat belt before operating the lift.
- NEVER hang your feet over the edge of the footrest during operation. Keep both feet flat and centered on the footrest during the entire travel of the lift.
- NEVER operate the lift while standing up.
- NEVER operate the lift with more than one person on the lift.
- Keep the staircase clear of obstructions. Do not operate the lift if someone is walking on the stairs. The lift can be stopped at any time by simply releasing the control switch button.
- Do not carry pets or other large items on your lap while operating the lift.
Maintenance
Vertical Platform Lifts
Care Info
- Keep the travel area free of obstructions – It is important to keep the area below the platform free of obstructions.
- Lubricate any hinges on gates, doors or ramps.
- All other cleaning/maintenance should be performed by an authorized SHC dealer.
Operating Safely
- Keep the travel area free of obstructions – It is important to keep the area below the platform free of obstructions.
- Lubricate any hinges on gates, doors, and ramps.
Maintenance
Dumbwaiters
Planning Guide
Shaftless Elevators EZ3, EZ4 and EZ5
Care Info
- Keep the travel area free of obstructions – It is important to keep the area above and below the elevator free of obstructions.
- DO NOT USE PAPER TOWELS OR WINDEX/GLASS CLEANERS on acrylic windows. Use a mild detergent (like dish soap), warm water, and a clean cloth. This will prevent scratches from occurring during cleaning.
- The track and metal portions of the elevator can be cleaned with any general household cleaner.
- No regular lubrication is required with your elevator.
Operating Safely
- Never use the elevator in the event of fire!
- Do not exceed capacity of 400 lbs.
- Do not bypass any control sensors.
- Do not use the elevator to transport freight.
- Do not operate the elevator if it has been damaged.
- The elevator is battery powered. If for any reason the power goes out in your home, the elevator can continue to be operated for a limited number of trips (usually 10 to 15). If the power outage is expected to be lengthy, turn off the reset switch in between trips to maximize battery life.
- To call the elevator, press and hold the call button. The elevator stops automatically upon reaching a landing.
- From inside the elevator, slide the car door closed. Press and hold a floor button on the car operating panel. The elevator will stop if the button is not held. The elevator will stop automatically upon reaching a landing.
- The emergency stop switch can be pressed at any time to stop the elevator’s movement. All controls are disabled, and an alarm sounds while the knob is depressed. Twist the knob clockwise to return to normal operating position.
- The key switch can be used to prevent unauthorized use. This switch only disables the controls, it does not turn the elevator off.
- The circuit breaker (reset switch) is the means of ‘turning the elevator off’. The batteries will continue to charge when the elevator is turned off if the charger is connected to power.
- If the household power is out for an extended period, we recommend turning the circuit breaker off while not in use to conserve battery charge.
- The circuit breaker also provides protection from overloading. If it trips, press and release the reset. Low batteries can also cause the breaker to trip.
- The manual sliding door must be closed for the elevator to run from any control.
- If one of the drive cables becomes slack, the elevator will mechanically lock into the machine housing and electrically terminate power to the drive unit. The device can be reset by an authorized dealer.
- The elevator is designed with safety devices located both above and below the elevator car to prevent any obstruction or person from being harmed. Should an obstruction be struck causing the car to stop, return to the landing from where you originated. Exit the car and do not operate the elevator until someone has cleared the obstruction either above or below the elevator car.
EZ6 Elevators
Care Info
- DO NOT USE PAPER TOWELS OR WINDEX/GLASS CLEANERS on acrylic windows. Use a mild detergent (like dish soap), warm water, and a clean cloth. This will prevent scratches from occurring during cleaning.
- The track and metal portions of the elevator can be cleaned with any general household cleaner.
- No regular lubrication is required with your elevator.
Operating Safely
- Never use the elevator in the event of fire!
- Do not exceed capacity of 500 lbs.
- Do not bypass any control sensors.
- Do not use the elevator to transport freight.
- Do not operate the elevator if it has been damaged.
- The elevator is battery powered. If for any reason the power goes out in your home, the elevator can continue to be operated for a limited number of trips (usually 10 to 15). If the power outage is expected to be lengthy, turn off the reset switch in between trips to maximize battery life.
- To call the elevator, momentarily press the appropriate call button. The elevator stops automatically up-on reaching a landing.
- From inside the elevator, slide the car door closed. Momentarily press a floor button on the car operating panel. The elevator will run automatically and stop upon reaching a landing.
- The emergency stop switch can be pressed at any time to stop the elevator’s movement. All controls are disabled, and an alarm sounds while the knob is depressed. Twist the knob clockwise to return to normal operating position.
- The key switch can be used to prevent unauthorized use. This switch only disables the controls, it does not turn the elevator off.
- The circuit breaker (reset switch) is the means of ‘turning the elevator off’. The batteries will continue to charge when the elevator is turned off if the charger is connected to power.
- The circuit breaker also provides protection from overloading. If it trips, press and release the reset. Low batteries can also cause the breaker to trip.
- If the household power is out for an extended period, we recommend turning the circuit breaker off while not in use to conserve battery charge.
- The manual sliding door must be closed for the elevator to run from any control.
- If one of the drive cables becomes slack, the elevator will mechanically lock into the machine housing and electrically terminate power to the drive unit. The device can be reset by an authorized dealer.
Outdoor Elevators
Planning Guide
Operating Safely
- Never use the elevator in the event of fire!
- Do not exceed capacity of 400 lbs.
- Do not bypass any control sensors.
- Do not use the elevator to transport freight.
- Do not operate the elevator if it has been damaged.
- The elevator is battery powered. If for any reason the power goes out in your home, the elevator can continue to be operated for a limited number of trips (usually 10 to 15). If the power outage is expected to be lengthy, turn off the reset switch in between trips to maximize battery life.
- To call the elevator, press and hold the call button. The elevator stops automatically upon reaching a landing.
- From inside the elevator, slide the car door closed. Press and hold a floor button on the car operating panel. The elevator will stop if the button is not held. The elevator will stop automatically upon reaching a landing.
- The emergency stop switch can be pressed at any time to stop the elevator’s movement. All controls are disabled, and an alarm sounds while the knob is depressed. Twist the knob clockwise to return to normal operating position.
- The key switch can be used to prevent unauthorized use. This switch only disables the controls, it does not turn the elevator off.
- The circuit breaker (reset switch) is the means of ‘turning the elevator off’. The batteries will continue to charge when the elevator is turned off if the charger is connected to power.
- If the household power is out for an extended period, we recommend turning the circuit breaker off while not in use to conserve battery charge.
- The circuit breaker also provides protection from overloading. If it trips, press and release the reset. Low batteries can also cause the breaker to trip.
- The manual sliding door must be closed for the elevator to run from any control.
- If one of the drive cables becomes slack, the elevator will mechanically lock into the machine housing and electrically terminate power to the drive unit. The device can be reset by an authorized dealer.
- The elevator is designed with safety devices located both above and below the elevator car to prevent any obstruction or person from being harmed. Should an obstruction be struck causing the car to stop, return to the landing from where you originated. Exit the car and do not operate the elevator until someone has cleared the obstruction either above or below the elevator car.
Typical Drawings
Storm Shelters
Operating Safely
- Never use shelter in the event of fire!
- Never use shelter when flooding is present.
- Safeguard children from playing on or in the shelter when not in use.
- Any electrical supply to the shelter must be properly grounded and meet NEC requirements.
- Never use cooking heat / cooking stoves inside the shelter due to inadequate ventilation.
- Never use a generator inside the shelter.
- Do not store non-emergency items inside the shelter as this may prevent you from being able to use all the inside space during a storm.