Just Moved Into a House With an Elevator? Your First-Week Checklist
Your First-Week Checklist
You closed on the house. Now meet the elevator.
The worry behind this question is honest: “Nobody explained this thing to me, and I do not know what I do not know.” Homeowners on Reddit describe the same moment. The keys are in your hand, the movers are carrying boxes, and there is a door in the hallway that opens onto a small room that goes up and down. The previous owner is gone. The paperwork is a folder of unlabeled papers, or nothing.
That is a normal place to start. A home elevator does not need much from you in the first week, but a few things are worth doing right away, because they cover safety, because they protect your family, and because they set you up for decades of quiet use. This guide is the list we give new owners when they call us.
Advantage Elevator is a licensed California elevator contractor (CSLB C-11 #1027832). We have served San Diego and Orange County for more than 20 years and service every major residential brand, so we can pick up an elevator that someone else installed.
Cab operating panel
Machine room equipment
The Advantage Elevator team
Your first week with a home elevator
The short answer
What we check
What to do next
Step 1: Find the data plate and identify the brand
Every elevator has a nameplate or data plate with the maker and the serial or model number. Where it sits depends on the brand. On many units it is in the controller area, which can be in a closet, a basement or an attic. On others it is on the car or the drive. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) notes, for example, that on Savaria units the model name is on the controller, and on Inclinator units the serial number can be on the controller, stamped on the rails, or on the outside of the drum.
If you cannot find a plate, photograph the cab, the doors and the machine area and send them to us. Our page on how to identify your elevator brand shows what to look for. Once you know the brand, read its page on elevator brands we service. It tells you about the manufacturer’s history, whether it is still in business, and any safety notices that apply.
Step 2: Check the recall list for your brand
Take this step seriously, especially if you have children, grandchildren or visitors with kids. In January 2022 the CPSC announced recalls of residential elevators made by Savaria, Inclinator and Bella, covering roughly 69,000 units. A separate settlement and recall in September 2022 covered TK Access (ThyssenKrupp Access) elevators. The hazard is the gap between the landing door and the car door or gate, where a small child can be trapped. The CPSC also issued a warning on Waupaca elevators, whose manufacturer went into receivership.
The fix is usually a free space guard from the manufacturer, or an electronic monitoring device. Ask the sellers or their agent whether it was ever installed. If you do not know, assume it was not, and ask us to look. Our guide to child safety around home elevators explains the gap and the fix.
Step 3: Book a first safety check
A first visit gives you a baseline. We ride every stop and test the things that matter: that each landing door locks before the car moves, that the stop button and alarm work, that the emergency phone or alarm reaches someone, and that the battery backup brings the car to a landing in a power outage. Batteries are one of the most common surprises in a house that sat vacant during a sale.
You also learn the condition of the drive, the leveling at each floor, and the pit. We write up what is urgent, what can wait a year, and what is simply old. Our residential elevator inspection page has the details. If something does need repair, we quote it in writing before work starts.
Step 4: What the previous owner’s paperwork should include
Ask the sellers, their agent or your escrow officer for the following. Even partial records help.
- The installation company name, the date of installation and the building permit record
- Maintenance and repair invoices, and the name of the last service company
- Any warranty documents, and proof of any recall repair or space guard
- The owner’s manual and the wiring or controller details
- Door release keys, key-switch keys and any codes
If the elevator has no records at all, that is not a disaster. It simply means your first visit has to do more work. Start a folder, put every invoice in it, and keep it with your house documents. That folder is also useful if you ever sell, and it supports insurance conversations, which we cover in our guide to home elevator insurance and liability.
Step 5: Build a maintenance plan
Home elevators run for decades with regular service. They do not run well without it. Drives, controllers, door operators and finishes wear and are replaced in stages, and catching a worn part early is much cheaper than the breakdown that follows. Our annual and bi-annual maintenance plans include a full inspection, safety-device testing and priority scheduling. Some manufacturer warranties require regular maintenance, and a plan helps satisfy that. Homes near the coast in San Diego and Orange County may want twice-yearly visits, because salt air attacks door contacts and relays.
Step 6: Teach the household, and plan for emergencies
Everyone who lives in the house, and every regular visitor, should know how to use the elevator and how to get out of it. Walk through these points together.
- Children. Young children should not ride alone or play in the elevator. Keep landing doors closed and, if your elevator has a key switch, use it when it is not needed.
- Stop and alarm. Show everyone where the stop button, alarm and emergency phone are.
- If it stops. Stay calm, press the alarm, use the phone, and do not try to climb out or pry the doors open. Our guide on what to do if you are stuck in a home elevator or the power goes out has the full steps.
- Who to call. Post our number, (833) 865-7887, next to the landing. We offer 24/7 emergency service.
- Earthquakes. In Southern California, learn what to do after a quake. See home elevators and earthquakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first when I buy a house with an elevator?
Find the data plate to identify the brand, collect any records from the seller, and book a safety check with an elevator technician. Also keep small children away from the doors until the check is done.
How do I know who made my home elevator?
Look for a nameplate on the controller, the car, the drive or the rails. If it is hidden, send us photos. We identify brands every week, including older ones that are out of business.
Does my home elevator need an annual inspection in California?
State law does not require a government inspection for an elevator in a single-unit private home. Even so, annual or twice-yearly service by a qualified contractor keeps it safe and often satisfies warranty terms.
How do I check whether my elevator has been recalled?
Find the brand and model, then compare it with the CPSC recall notices for Savaria, Inclinator, Bella and TK Access, and the CPSC warning about Waupaca. We can do this for you during a first visit.
Is it safe to let kids use a home elevator?
Supervise young children, keep landing doors closed, and make sure the door-gap hazard has been dealt with. Our child safety guide explains each step.
Can I use the elevator while I wait for the first inspection?
If it seems to run normally and you have no young children in the house, many owners do. If you notice odd noises, doors that do not close fully, or an uneven stop, stay off it and call us.
New to your elevator? Let us look it over.
Licensed C-11 contractor, all major brands, 24/7 emergency service. Call (833) 865-7887.
