Home elevator is a common facility in modern residential buildings, but many homeowners are not clear about the service life and maintenance cycle of the elevator. In fact, the service life of the elevator is affected by a variety of factors, especially the brand, the quality of installation, routine maintenance and so on. In this article, we will analyze in detail the service life of home elevator and how to extend the service life of elevator through reasonable maintenance.

The basic concept of elevator service life

The service life of home elevator is usually 10-15 years, but this is not a fixed standard. The service life of an elevator is affected by a number of factors, including the brand of the elevator, the maintenance situation, the frequency of use, and so on. Generally speaking, elevators in the market are divided into joint venture brands and domestic brands, which differ in terms of service life and failure rate.

Service life of joint venture brand elevators

Turbine worm gear elevators and permanent magnet synchronous elevators are the two more common types of joint venture elevators. Worm gear elevators have a longer service life, but their major components (e.g., traction sheave, wire rope, etc.) need to be replaced within 6-8 years. Without regular overhaul and technical support, turbine-worm elevators enter a period of high-frequency failures in about 8 years, after which maintenance and replacement costs increase every year.

PMST elevators age faster, especially the traction sheaves and ropes, which are important components that usually need to be replaced in about 5 years. While the electrical system of a PMST elevator may last longer, other mechanical components age faster and have a higher failure rate.

Signs of Elevator Aging

The aging of an elevator is not just about cosmetic wear and tear, but more about the deterioration of internal components. Common signs of elevator aging include:

Unsteady operation: the elevator no longer runs smoothly, shaking or stopping.

• Increased noise: the elevator emits large abnormal noises during operation, especially the wear and tear of the traction sheave and wire rope.
• Door machine failure: the elevator door opening and closing is not flexible or there is a jamming phenomenon.
• Frequency converter failure: the elevator cannot start normally or stops frequently, and there is a problem with the frequency converter.
• Elevator vibration: the elevator has a strong vibration feeling, which is more obvious especially when it is running at a high speed.

If the above problems occur, it means that some parts of the elevator have aged and need to be inspected and maintained.

Importance of elevator maintenance

In order to extend the service life of the elevator, regular maintenance is crucial. Maintenance work mainly includes:

Regular inspection: check the condition of key components such as traction sheaves, wire ropes and frequency converters to ensure that there is no obvious wear and tear.

Cleaning and lubrication: Clean all parts of the elevator, especially the mechanical parts, and lubricate them in time to reduce wear and tear.

Replacement of aged parts: Replace aged parts, such as traction sheave, wire rope, frequency converter, etc., regularly according to the usage of the elevator.

Check the electrical system: Regularly check the electrical system of the elevator to ensure that there is no problem with the wiring and control system.

How to determine whether the elevator is over-age?

The service life of an elevator is closely related to its maintenance history. Some elevators may be able to extend their service life if they undergo frequent component replacement and overhaul. However, most elevators become overage in about 15 years, when their performance and safety deteriorate, especially if major components have been replaced several times.

For home elevators, overage does not necessarily mean that the elevator can no longer be used, but it does require additional investment from the owner for large-scale repairs and replacement. Once an elevator reaches the end of its useful life, the cost of repairs can be much higher than the cost of purchasing a new one.

Overall, the service life of a typical residential elevator is about 10-15 years. Joint-venture elevators are of better quality, but require frequent overhaul and replacement of critical components after 6-8 years. Domestic elevators have a shorter service life and usually require more repairs and replacements after 3-5 years. In order to extend the service life of elevators, regular maintenance and timely replacement of components are essential.

For determining the ageing of an elevator, it is important to focus not only on the wear and tear of the components, but also the maintenance history and frequency of use of the elevator. If the elevator is approaching the end of its service life, it is advisable to assess its repair and replacement costs in a timely manner to avoid unnecessary burden due to high repair costs.