For many of us, elevators are staple of our everyday lives. Whether we’re hopping on a lift and heading up to our office or using an elevator in a parking garage to move through the levels quickly, elevators of all kinds make our lives easier and more efficient.

But how do elevators actually work? Sure, you walk in, press a few buttons and wait for the doors to close, but what’s actually going on behind the scenes? Or — in this case — above and below you?

Some of us step on elevators every single day with only a vague understanding of how they work, and that makes any funny noises they make scary. The unknown is always scarier than what you understand, right?

Residential elevators aren’t nearly as complicated (or scary) as you’d imagine. Here’s how they work and how they’re maintained.

Residential Elevators are Just as Safe as Commercial Ones

When it comes to residential elevators, some people are even more suspicious of them than commercial elevators, but there’s really no reason to be.

Residential elevators work in much the same way as the elevators in your office building’s elevator bank, and they go through the same kind of maintenance and inspections that commercial elevators go through.

Roped Hydraulic Drive

Because most residences are fewer than four stories, they mostly use what’s known as a roped hydraulic drive to lift and lower the cab in the elevator shaft. With a roped hydraulic drive, there’s a smooth experience for the riders, all the way from the top to the bottom.

When you hop on a residential elevator and press a button, the roped hydraulic drive is using a basic pulley system, one end attached to the hydraulic jack; the other end is attached to the cab of the elevator.

The next time you get on a residential elevator and barely feel the cab moving, thank the roped hydraulic drive!

Maintenance Contracts for Residential Elevators

Just like everything you use on a day-to-day basis, when it comes to residential elevators — over time — things will break, parts will need to be replaced and adjustments will need to be made.

But that doesn’t make them unsafe. In fact, every residential elevator with a maintenance contract gets a total inspection at least once a year. Usually, maintenance inspections happen once every six months.

Maintenance inspections cover cleaning and lubrication of key components of residential elevators, including the rails, rollers, sills, wheels and guides, header or motor bearings and much more. Inspections usually cover inspections and adjustments of the hardware as well.

If you’re considering adding a residential elevator to your home, make sure you understand what kind of elevator you’re thinking about installing, how it functions and what kind of proper maintenance will need to be done to keep it operating properly.

If you’re in the central Arizona area, Celtic Elevator is the only name you need to remember in residential elevators. The experts at Celtic Elevator will walk you through the entire process of choosing an elevator style, installing it in your home and maintaining it over the years. Give them a call today for a free estimate on your new home elevator installation.