5 Early Warning Signs Your Lift Needs Attention
Lifts are critical infrastructure in any multi-storey building. When they work, no one notices them. When they fail, everyone notices — especially residents with mobility challenges who suddenly can't access their homes.
Lift modernisation or replacement typically costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. Emergency repairs after a major failure can be even more expensive, with extended downtime while parts are sourced.
The key is catching problems early, when you still have options. Here are five warning signs that your lift needs attention.
One breakdown a year might be acceptable. Multiple breakdowns per quarter is a pattern. Track your callout frequency — if it's increasing, the lift is telling you something.
Each callout has a cost, but the bigger concern is what the pattern indicates about overall system condition. Increasing failures usually mean major components are reaching end of life.
What to do: Request callout history from your lift contractor. Look for trends over the past 2-3 years. If breakdowns are accelerating, commission an independent condition assessment.
Lifts should operate smoothly and quietly. Grinding, squealing, clunking, or unusual vibrations indicate something isn't right — worn bearings, misaligned rails, failing door operators, or motor problems.
Residents often notice noise changes before managers do. If people are commenting that the lift 'sounds different', take it seriously.
What to do: Report noise concerns to your lift contractor immediately. Ask them to document findings. Noise issues can often be addressed before they become failures — but only if they're identified.
The lift should stop precisely level with each floor. If it's consistently stopping above or below floor level — even by a few centimetres — there's a control or mechanical issue.
Levelling problems are both a safety risk (trip hazard, especially for elderly residents and wheelchair users) and an indicator of system wear.
What to do: Document instances with photos showing the gap between lift floor and landing. Report to your lift contractor. Persistent levelling issues may require controller or motor work.
Doors that don't close properly, close too fast, close on residents, or require multiple attempts to operate are a common early warning sign. Door systems are high-wear components that often fail before main lift systems.
Door malfunctions also create safety risks — doors that don't close properly may not engage the safety interlock, allowing the lift to move with doors open.
What to do: Test door operation regularly. Report problems immediately. Door repairs are often straightforward if addressed early — but can become expensive if damage spreads to other components.
If your lift is more than 20 years old, parts availability becomes a concern. Manufacturers phase out components. Control systems become obsolete. Finding replacement parts for an old lift can require long delays while components are sourced internationally or custom manufactured.
The average commercial lift has a lifespan of around 25 years before major modernisation is required. If your lift is approaching or exceeding this age, you should be planning proactively.
What to do: Commission a lift condition report that specifically addresses parts obsolescence. Build modernisation into your 10-year capital works plan. Consider energy efficiency gains — modern lifts can be up to 74% more energy efficient than 1990s equipment.
Lift failures are expensive, disruptive, and entirely predictable. Buildings that monitor lift condition and plan for modernisation avoid the worst outcomes — emergency replacements at emergency prices with extended downtime.
The best approach is engaging an independent lift consultant who works for the building, not the lift contractor. They can provide objective assessments and help you plan a modernisation pathway that fits your budget and timeline.
If your lift is showing any of these warning signs, the time to investigate is now — while you still have choices about how to proceed.
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KONE Australia: Elevator Modernisation — https://www.kone.com.au/existing-buildings/elevator-modernisation/elevator-replacement/
Strata Community Australia: Elevator Contracts guidance
LookUpStrata: NSW Lift Maintenance Contract Q&A — https://lookupstrata.com.au/nsw-lift-maintenance-contract/
Netstrata: Keeping Lifts Operational — https://netstrata.com.au/keeping-lifts-operational/
Dino Biordi
Founder & Managing Director, LUNA Management
25+ years in construction | NSW ABMA Independent Review Panel
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