Servicing, Brampton and the GTA
A lift that gets serviced is a lift that does not strand anyone
We service stairlifts, ceiling lifts, patient lifts, scooters and power wheelchairs, whether we supplied them or not. Our own technicians, a written report of what they found, and a straight answer about what actually needs doing rather than a list of everything that could be sold.
Already stopped working?
- This page is about planned servicing
- For a fault or a breakdown, go to repairs and service
- For a flat battery, see battery replacement
- Or just call and we will sort out which it is
Straight answer first
No law in Ontario makes you service a stairlift
We would rather say that than imply an inspection you are legally obliged to buy. Elevators are a different matter and are governed separately. A domestic stairlift, a ceiling lift or a patient lift in a private home is not something the province comes to inspect.
What is true is that every manufacturer we carry recommends a service once a year, warranty terms generally assume one has happened, and the failures we get called out to are overwhelmingly the ones a yearly check would have caught early. A worn safety edge, a frayed charge contact and a seized swivel all give plenty of warning to someone looking for them, and none at all to someone who is not.
How often
Sensible service intervals by machine
These are the intervals we work to. Heavier use pulls them shorter, and a machine used by several people should always be on the shorter figure.
| Equipment | Normal home use | Heavy or shared use | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stairlift | Once a year | Twice a year | Safety edges, the seat belt, charge contacts and the drive all wear with every trip |
| Ceiling track lift | Once a year | Twice a year | The sling hooks, the strap and the emergency lowering must be proved, not assumed |
| Floor patient lift | Once a year | Twice a year | Castors, the mast pivot and the actuator carry the whole load of every transfer |
| Slings | Check every use | Formal check twice a year | Fabric and stitching fail gradually, and a sling is the only thing between the person and the floor |
| Scooter or power chair | Once a year | Twice a year | Tyres, brakes and batteries are wear items, and the batteries set the real service life |
| Homecare bed | Once a year | Twice a year | Side rail catches, the hand control and the backup battery |
What a service covers
What the technician actually does
A service is not a look and a wipe. On a stairlift it runs roughly like this, and the same shape applies to the other machines.
Safety first
- Every safety edge triggered and proved
- Seat belt, buckle and webbing
- Emergency stop and manual lowering
- Footrest and swivel interlocks
Then the wear items
- Battery voltage under load, not at rest
- Charge contacts cleaned and checked
- Rail cleaned, drive gear inspected
- Fixings into the treads re-torqued
Then you get told
- A written note of what was found
- What was fixed on the visit
- What will need doing, and roughly when
- What we would leave alone for now
Between visits
What you can do yourself, safely
None of this needs a tool or a technician, and doing it will extend the life of the machine more than anything else on this page.
What a service costs
A service is a callout plus the technician's time, and parts only if something genuinely needs replacing. We quote the figure before we come out, and evenings, weekends and statutory holidays cost more than a weekday appointment because the technician is paid more for them.
We do not sell a maintenance contract that bills whether we visit or not. If a machine is fine, the honest outcome is a short visit and a note saying so.
We service what we did not sell
You do not have to have bought the equipment from us. We carry parts for Handicare, Savaria, Access, Acorn, Invacare, Drive, Joerns, Span America and Hoyer, and we will tell you honestly when a machine has reached the point where parts are no longer worth chasing.
If we cannot get a part, we will say so rather than keep charging you to look for it.
Questions we get asked
Servicing, answered
How often should a stairlift be serviced?
Once a year for a normal household, twice a year where several people use it or where it runs many trips a day. That is the manufacturer's recommendation for every brand we carry, and it is what warranty terms generally assume. It is a recommendation rather than a legal requirement in Ontario.
Is a stairlift service a legal requirement in Ontario?
No. A domestic stairlift in a private home is not inspected by the province the way a passenger elevator is. We would rather tell you that than sell a service by implying an obligation that does not exist. The case for servicing is that it catches wear early, not that the law demands it.
Do you service equipment you did not supply?
Yes. We hold parts for Handicare, Savaria, Access, Acorn, Invacare, Drive, Joerns, Span America and Hoyer. Tell us the make and model when you book and we will bring the parts that machine usually needs, so a service does not turn into two visits.
What does a service cost?
A callout charge plus the technician's time, with parts only if something needs replacing. We give you the figure before the visit is booked. Evenings, weekends and statutory holidays are charged at a higher rate than a weekday appointment.
How long does a service take?
A straight stairlift is usually under an hour. A curved rail takes longer because there is more track to inspect. Ceiling and floor patient lifts depend on how many slings are being checked at the same time. We will give you a window rather than make you wait in all day.
My stairlift beeps or flashes. Does it need a service?
Usually it needs parking properly first. Most stairlifts warn when the carriage is not sitting on a charge point. Park it fully at the top or bottom and leave it a few hours. If it still complains, the carriage batteries are the next most likely cause and that is a quick change rather than a full service.
How often should slings be checked?
Look at a sling before every single transfer: the stitching, the edges and the loops. Beyond that, have them formally inspected at least twice a year, and take any sling out of service immediately if the fabric is thinning, the stitching has pulled, or a label is no longer readable. A sling is the only thing between the person and the floor.
Can I service it myself?
You can and should do the simple things: park it on charge, keep the rail clear, wipe it with a dry cloth, check tyre pressures and look at slings. Do not open a carriage, adjust a safety edge, or work on a battery pack. Those are the parts that stop the machine hurting somebody, and they need testing rather than guessing.
Which areas do you cover?
Brampton, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Milton, Caledon and the wider GTA. Our technicians are ours, not a courier or a subcontractor, so the person who arrives can actually fix the machine.
Book it
Book a service
Tell us the machine and roughly when it was last looked at. We will come back with a window and the cost before anything is committed.