Maintenance & Repair

If you think your elevator isn’t working...

Tips to keep service call costs to a minimum

1. Check to see if anyone is trapped and call your elevator company immediately if there is.

2. Verify that the elevator isn’t working by verifying what was reported to you; it could save you a costly service call.

3. Make sure that the elevator isn’t on independent service.
4. Make sure that the elevator isn’t on fire recall (if equipped with this feature).
5. Make sure that the elevator hasn’t been turned off, or the stop switch (if equipped) hasn’t been pushed.
6. Check the door track and the grooves in the track for obstructions. Small pieces of trash, dirt, or salt can cause the doors to malfunction.
7. Verify that you have full power in the building; an elevator is often more sensitive to power fluctuations than most appliances are.
8. Obtain as much information about any reported problems as you can. Things to ask are:
   • Did you press the floor/hall call button?
   • Was the elevator level with the floor?
   • Did you hear anything unusual?
   • What floor is the elevator currently on?
   • Are the doors open or closed?
   • Was the elevator working properly before the problem occurred?

Tips for Building Personnel 

1. Ride your elevator periodically and let somebody know you are testing it. Pay attention to its operation. Does it feel right? Does everything sound right? Stop at every floor and check to see that it’s level. Do the doors work correctly on every floor? If something doesn’t seem right, call your elevator company and speak to them. If needed they can send out a technician.
2. Make a list of any burned out indicator lights or other minor items and leave it in a location that your Elevator One service technician will find on his next regular visit, so that he can address these items.
3. When cleaning the elevator only use the recommended cleaning solutions. Some chemicals can damage the elevator components and cause malfunctions or breakdowns. Check for any scratches to the walls and hand rails. Report all sharp edges or damage to the elevator company and the building owner. Make sure to check the ceiling for damage, misaligned or loose panels, and report it to your elevator company if you find anything broken. Falling ceiling components could injure elevator riders.
4. Regularly vacuum door tracks and grooves, especially in the winter; debris, salt, snow or ice can cause door malfunctions.

5. Before painting your elevators doors, contact your maintenance provider.  Wet paint can cause a problem with the doors and their components if the wrong area is painted.  Ask your elevator company, or service technician, how to safely paint your elevator doors without causing a problem.

6. Maintain proper lighting, both in the elevator and the hallway. Dark areas could cause passengers to stumble, especially if they have a visual impairment.
7. Report any elevator problems as soon as they are reported to you. Waiting a few minutes could make the problem worse.
8. If the elevator is operating in what seems to be an unsafe manner, ensure that the people in your building do not use the elevator until a service technician has investigated the problem.

Notes about the machine room

The machine room is a restricted access area. It should only be entered by TSSA inspectors, and trained elevator technicians. If you think you need to access the machine room, check with your elevator company first. Ontario legislation requires that any work in the elevator machine room must be done under the direct supervision of a licensed elevator mechanic to ensure that neither the worker, nor the elevator users are inadvertently endangered.

The machine room is not to be used for storage. TSSA Inspectors, Elevator Personnel, and if needed, Emergency Services Personnel must have clear access both to the machine room and the equipment in it.

Keep the machine room at the correct temperature (between 10°C and 32°C). Extreme cold or heat and humidity can cause malfunctions. Contact your elevator company for methods of keeping an ideal temperature. Place a thermometer just inside the door of the machine room so that you can monitor it safely.

Notes about work in elevator cabs

Only tasks of a housekeeping nature are permitted in the elevator cab. Ontario legislation requires that any work on the elevator cab must be done under the direct supervision of a licensed elevator mechanic to ensure that neither the worker, nor the elevator users are inadvertently endangered. This supervised work includes among other things, replacement of flooring or finishes, painting or the updating of any components.

Please contact Elevator One for advice if you are considering replacing or updating any of your elevator finishes

Maintenance Programs

Elevator One Inc. offers preventative maintenance programs for passenger elevators, freight elevators, material lifts, wheelchair lifts and all types of code-compliant elevating devices.

From our basic inspection type contract (LOG) to our extended full maintenance (FMX) contracts, we have the maintenance program to suit your elevating devices needs. Elevator One's preventative maintenance programs are carried out by one of our qualified maintenance technicians. These technicians with the support of our in-house experts and top quality suppliers, provide our customers with exceptional service.

Elevator One’s Maintenance Mechanics are some of the best-trained elevator technicians in the country. The majority of our mechanics have a college degree in electrical or related fields. They have four years of apprenticeship, after which they receive an EDM-A certification (Class A Mechanic) through the Technical Standards Safety Authority (TSSA ) - the governing elevator body in Ontario. After this they have numerous years of on-the-job training to hone their skills. Elevator One actively participates in night-school sessions offered to our technicians to keep them abreast of new technology and methods of elevator maintenance and service.

Elevator One is actively involved in Industry associations like CECA, Canadian Elevator Contractor’s Association. Elevator One is also involved at an advisory council capacity with the Technical Standards Safety Authority (TSSA ). This involvement allows us to be well informed and on top of up coming changes to elevator legislation and best practices, so that we can help our customers to be proactive rather than reactive to today’s ever changing elevator environment.

Service District

Elevator One services a central Ontario maintenance route in excess of 400 elevator units out of our office in Barrie, Ontario. We also provide New Construction and Elevator Modernization within this district. Call 1-800-465-7069 or use our contact form.