“How often should a stairlift be serviced?”
If you’ve recently had a stairlift installed or are considering purchasing one, one of the most common questions we hear is:
“How often should a stairlift be serviced?”
The simple answer is every 12 months.
Just like your car needs an annual service to keep it running safely and reliably, your stairlift should also be professionally serviced once a year. Regular servicing helps to ensure your stairlift continues to operate smoothly, safely and efficiently while reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns.
At Midland Stairlifts, we recommend an annual stairlift service for every customer, whether your stairlift is brand new or reconditioned.
Why Is Annual Stairlift Servicing So Important?
Your stairlift is one of the most important pieces of equipment in your home. Many people rely on it every single day to safely travel between floors.
Over the course of a year, your stairlift could complete thousands of journeys, so regular maintenance is essential.
Here are the biggest reasons why you should have your stairlift serviced every year.
1. Keeps You Safe
Safety is always our number one priority.
During a service, our engineers inspect every major safety feature including:
* Seat belt operation
* Safety sensors
* Footrest safety edges
* Swivel seat mechanism
* Emergency stop functions
* Charging system
* Final limit switches
* Speed monitoring systems
These checks ensure your stairlift continues to operate exactly as the manufacturer intended.
2. Prevents Unexpected Breakdowns
Nobody wants their stairlift to stop working unexpectedly, especially if it’s their main way of accessing the upstairs of their home.
Many faults can be prevented by spotting small problems before they become expensive repairs.
During a yearly service, we can often identify:
* Worn components
* Loose fixings
* Charging issues
* Roller wear
* Rail contamination
* Minor electrical faults
Fixing these early can prevent inconvenient breakdowns later.
3. Extends the Life of Your Stairlift
A stairlift is an investment.
Just like any mechanical equipment, regular maintenance helps it last much longer.
A well-maintained stairlift can continue providing reliable service for many years.
Routine servicing reduces unnecessary wear and keeps everything operating efficiently.
4. Ensures Smooth and Quiet Operation
Over time you may notice your stairlift becoming slightly noisier or less smooth than when it was first installed.
This is often caused by:
* Dirt on the rail
* Normal wear
* Loose components
* Parts needing adjustment
A professional service restores smooth operation and helps keep your stairlift running quietly.
5. Keeps the Batteries Charging Correctly
One of the most common causes of stairlift call-outs involves batteries.
During a service we check:
* Battery condition
* Charging contacts
* Charging voltage
* Charger performance
* Power supply
Most modern stairlifts run on rechargeable batteries.
Even if there’s a power cut, your stairlift should continue operating because of its batteries—but only if they’re being charged correctly.
6. Detects Wear Before It Becomes Expensive
Every stairlift contains moving parts.
As these components wear naturally over time, replacing them early is often much cheaper than waiting until they fail completely.
Annual servicing allows us to replace worn components before they cause bigger problems.
7. Keeps Your Stairlift Looking Its Best
A service isn’t just about mechanics.
Our engineers also:
* Clean the rail
* Remove dirt and dust
* Check plastic covers
* Inspect the seat
* Examine armrests
* Inspect the footplate
A clean stairlift not only looks better but often performs better too.
8. Gives You Complete Peace of Mind
Many of our customers tell us that simply knowing their stairlift has been professionally checked each year gives them confidence to use it every day.
Your annual service provides reassurance that everything is working correctly.
What Happens During a Stairlift Service?
At Midland Stairlifts, our engineers carry out a comprehensive inspection that includes:
✅ Full safety inspection
✅ Rail inspection
✅ Lubrication where required
✅ Battery health check
✅ Charger testing
✅ Motor performance checks
✅ Seat swivel inspection
✅ Safety sensor testing
✅ Footrest inspection
✅ Armrest checks
✅ Diagnostic testing
✅ Tightening fixings
✅ Cleaning the rail
✅ Operational testing
Before leaving, we’ll ensure everything is operating safely and answer any questions you may have.
Can I Service My Own Stairlift?
We always recommend using a qualified stairlift engineer.
While it’s perfectly fine to keep the rail clean and free from dust, servicing involves electrical systems, safety features and specialist adjustments that require professional knowledge and equipment.
Attempting repairs yourself could affect the safe operation of your stairlift.
What Happens If I Don’t Service My Stairlift?
Skipping annual servicing can increase the likelihood of:
* Unexpected breakdowns
* Reduced reliability
* Increased wear
* Shorter lifespan
* Higher repair costs
* Battery problems
* Safety issues developing unnoticed
Regular servicing is a simple way to reduce these risks and keep your stairlift dependable.
We service all major stairlift brands
Our experienced engineers service many leading stairlift manufacturers, including:
* Homeglide
* Handicare
* Access BDD Flow X
* Acorn
* Brooks
* Platinum
* Stannah
* Thyssenkrupp
* Companion
Whether you purchased your stairlift from us or another supplier, we’ll be happy to help.
Why Choose Midland Stairlifts?
We’re a proud family-run business with over 30 years of industry experience, helping customers throughout Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the East Midlands.
Our customers choose us because we offer:
* Friendly, honest advice
* Experienced local engineers
* Competitive servicing prices
* Fast response times
* Professional workmanship
* 24 hours a day, 7 days a week emergency call-out service—something very few independent stairlift companies provide
* Outstanding customer care from a trusted local team
Areas We Cover
We provide stairlift servicing across:
* Nottingham
* Derby
* Ilkeston
* Long Eaton
* Beeston
* Stapleford
* West Bridgford
* Arnold
* Carlton
* Hucknall
* Mansfield
* Sutton-in-Ashfield
* Kirkby-in-Ashfield
* Newark-on-Trent
* Heanor
* Ripley
* Belper
* Alfreton
* Chesterfield
* Matlock
* Ashbourne
* Burton upon Trent
* Loughborough
* Leicester
* Melton Mowbray
* Grantham
* Coventry
* Nottinghamshire
* Derbyshire
* The wider East Midlands.
Book Your Annual Stairlift Service Today
If it’s been around 12 months since your last stairlift service, now is the ideal time to book your annual maintenance visit.
A yearly service helps keep your stairlift safe, reliable
and comfortable to use while reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns and extending its working life.
Whether you own a new, reconditioned or rental stairlift, our experienced engineers are here to help.
At Midland Stairlifts, we’re committed to keeping you moving safely in your own home for many years to come. We look forward to helping you with your next annual stairlift service.
