There are roughly a million elevators in the United States taking about 18 billion trips a year. Each one is serving around 20,000 people. They aren’t just convenient; they are essential to high-density urban living in high-rise developments. It isn’t enough to have an elevator or two in the building either. However, they must be in safe, working order for a number of reasons. Here are 4 reasons why high-rise developments need well-maintained elevators.
It Saves You Money
Elevators are complex pieces of machinery. Furthermore, many of these components need regular maintenance. It is worthwhile to pay for regular inspections and preventative maintenance. Building owners or managers should check the elevator periodically, looking for faulty lights or door problems. However, they aren’t qualified to inspect or repair working parts.
Elevator inspection services like ATIS are able to identify and fix issues that can contribute to expensive malfunctions. For example, power quality surveys can identify under-voltage and over-voltage faults that could cause the system to fail to work properly after a power failure or damage the elevator in other ways. Inspection of parts can identify contamination due to improper lubrication and worn-out seals. Then the seals or bearings get replaced before they malfunction.
It Minimizes Your Liability
Property owners and property managers are legally required to ensure that elevators and other equipment meet all safety requirements on an annual basis. Inspections and regular maintenance reduce the risk of unplanned outages and accidents, while accidents can lead to costly lawsuits. For example, you are likely to be sued if alarm bells don’t work or the door closes on a rider.
Furthermore, you want people to take the elevator instead of the stairs. Statistically, elevators are safer than stairs.
It Saves You Time
Slow elevators take longer to get from one floor to another. Keeping elevators in good working order saves everyone time. This isn’t a big problem in a two-story building, but it could be a major inconvenience in a twenty-story building or in an emergency. On the other hand, scheduled maintenance is always easier to deal with than emergency service calls because an elevator with tenants is trapped between floors.
It Ensures That You Won’t Lose Tenants
If the elevators aren’t working, tenants will have to take the stairs if they are able to do so. For example, elderly or disabled individuals cannot take the stairs. People carrying groceries or young children won’t appreciate being asked to take the stairs regularly either.
If the elevators aren’t working, you’ll lose prospective tenants touring the property. If the elevators have a reputation for poor reliability, you’ll lose potential tenants once they learn about it. After all, potential tenants are advised to ask if the elevators are in good working condition before they sign a lease. Furthermore, they may notice the malfunctioning buttons and minor door problems and wonder what else is not properly maintained.
Consider periodic inspections and regular maintenance of your building’s elevators an investment. It has many more benefits than ensuring that you’re in compliance with the state’s building code.
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