Waupaca Elevator Service & Repair in San Diego & Orange County
Read the Safety Warning First
Waupaca elevators: a federal warning, and what we can do about it
If you own a Waupaca elevator, read the next paragraph before anything else. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has warned owners to stop using Waupaca residential elevators until they have been inspected and fitted with an overspeed safety device. We inspect Waupaca elevators and can install an overspeed safety device in line with the CPSC guidance. This page explains the warning, what we know about the company, and what happens on a visit.
The warning exists because the elevators have a history of falls. The CPSC’s 2018 recall covered about 8,000 units, with 12 reported falls and 10 injuries, and the notice said no remedy was available. In 2021 there was a further warning after a death was reported, and on January 11, 2022 the CPSC issued an urgent stop-use warning. We take it seriously, and we want you to as well.
- Licensed California elevator contractor (CSLB C-11 #1027832)
- 24/7 service across San Diego County and Orange County
- Inspection first, with a written explanation of what we find
- 4.9-star rating across more than 300 Google reviews
Elevator controller behind a cabinet door
The Advantage Elevator team
Advantage Elevator crew and service fleet, Carlsbad
What we do for Waupaca owners
Inspect
Install an overspeed device
Repair or modernize
Safety notice: the CPSC stop-use warning
CPSC advises Waupaca owners to stop using the elevator until it has been inspected and an overspeed safety device installed. That is the agency’s guidance, not ours, and we repeat it without softening it. Models named in the 2022 warning are numbered 008, 010, 014, 015, 016, 018, 021, 022, 110, 114, 115, 116, 118 and 210. The 2018 recall covered Custom Lift 450# and 500# models shipped between 1979 and 2008.
CPSC says the serial number is on the front or bottom of the controller box, or on the base of the powerhead. The powerhead may be in an attic, closet, machine room, crawl space, garage or at the bottom of the hoistway. If you cannot find it, our technician can.
The hazard CPSC describes is the elevator falling. If yours has been in daily use, do not wait for it to fail. Call us, and stop using it in the meantime.
What happened to Waupaca Elevator Company
Waupaca Elevator Company was based in Appleton, Wisconsin. It is no longer a going concern. Records we have read show it went through a Wisconsin receivership, and its assets were bought by Wisconsin Elevator Co LLC, which does business as Fox Valley Elevator. The buyers did not take on the old company’s liabilities. In short, there is no manufacturer standing behind the 2018 recall, and the recall notice said no remedy was available. That is why the CPSC guidance falls on the owner and on a qualified elevator contractor.
We have not been able to confirm the date of the sale.
Product lines and what we see
The recalled units are the Custom Lift series, rated 450 and 500 pounds. CPSC refers to a powerhead and an overspeed device, but does not state the drive type, and we do not guess it. When we inspect, we identify the drive and the safety devices directly. Common faults on an older unit of this kind are door and gate switches, leveling and control problems, and wear in the drive. None of these is a reason to skip the safety inspection.
Parts and support
Fox Valley Elevator is the successor that bought Waupaca’s assets. Whether it supports legacy Waupaca parts we have not verified, so we do not promise it. For common wear items such as switches, relays and door hardware we source what we can, and we tell you when a part is a substitute. If a critical component is unavailable, a modernization of that part or a replacement may be the safer course.
Modernization and replacement
An elevator with no manufacturer behind it is a good candidate for a modernization or a replacement. We will give you a straight answer after the inspection. See our San Diego modernization and Orange County modernization pages, and our residential elevator inspection page for what an inspection involves. Pricing depends on the model, number of stops and construction — see what a home elevator costs.
Booking
Call (833) 865-7887 or use online booking. Tell us it is a Waupaca and whether anyone uses it daily. Our brand identification guide may help if you are unsure of the make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I keep using my Waupaca elevator?
CPSC’s warning says to stop using it until it has been inspected and an overspeed safety device installed. That is the agency’s advice, and we repeat it. Call us for an inspection.
Can you install an overspeed safety device?
Yes. We inspect the elevator and can install an overspeed safety device in line with the CPSC guidance. We explain what we find and quote in writing first.
Is Waupaca still in business?
Not as the original company. Its assets were bought out of a Wisconsin receivership by a successor that did not assume the old company’s liabilities.
Where is the serial number?
CPSC says it is on the front or bottom of the controller box, or on the base of the powerhead, which may be in an attic, closet, machine room, crawl space, garage or the bottom of the hoistway.
Do I need to replace it?
Not necessarily. After inspection we tell you whether repair and an overspeed device are enough, or whether modernization or replacement makes more sense.
Own a Waupaca? Get it inspected.
Inspection and overspeed device installation, San Diego and Orange County. (833) 865-7887.
