Is Your Elevator Making a Creaking Sound? 3 Sounds That Call for Immediate Action

Having an elevator in your home or business can be incredibly convenient. However, to continue enjoying that convenience and to keep everyone safe, it’s important that all elevators be properly cared for. This means regular maintenance, as well as inspections as required by law, should be performed. 

On top of that, however, elevator owners should also pay close attention to their elevators and take note of any irregularities, such as strange operating behavior or odd noises. Issues like these can signal a serious problem and should never be ignored. Instead, the issue should be reported to a professional service that can investigate the matter. In particular, if you notice any of these three dangerous sounds, you’ll want to seek outside help as soon as possible.

Table of Contents

• Warning Sound #1: A Clanging or Rattling Sound
• Warning Sound #2: A Squealing Sound
• Warning Sound #3: A Grinding Noise

Warning Sound #1: A Clanging or Rattling Sound

The last thing anyone wants is for an elevator to malfunction and to cause an accident. That’s why it’s important not to ignore even the most innocuous of odd elevator sounds, including clanging or rattling noises.

Often elevators will make this type of sound even when they’re functioning perfectly. What you may be hearing could be something as simple as a counterweight lifting or a brake doing its job. In fact, in some cases, these types of sounds can actually signal that the elevator is working correctly. But, if you can’t pinpoint the cause of the sound, or if an elevator suddenly starts making this new noise out of nowhere, prompt, professional investigation is recommended. In some cases, this sound could be due to a failing brake, which is a serious problem that would need to be addressed immediately. So, the first time you hear it or someone reports the noise, look into lift maintenance services from Hin Chong.

Also Read: A skyscraper of 47 floors without an elevator or life in spain

Warning Sound #2: A Squealing Sound

An elevator that is working correctly will generally be fairly quiet as it moves from floor to floor. And, while hearing some faint mechanical sounds is normal, loud squealing sounds are definitely not. These types of noises often indicate that the elevator has some kind of issue with its pulleys. Since pulleys are vital for allowing an elevator to safely travel from floor to floor, that’s definitely not a sound to take lightly.

Warning Sound #3: A Grinding Noise

One final sound to listen for is a grinding noise. Typically, any noise that sounds like metal on metal is probably exactly that. Most modern elevators feature many metal parts and mechanisms that require regular lubrication to work properly. The grinding sound is typically the elevator’s way of letting people know that more lubrication is required. And, while this problem may not be as serious or as dangerous as some of the others mentioned here, it can become serious if left unattended for too long. Improper lubrication can lead to increased wear and tear of various parts of the elevator, which could eventually cause it to fail or to fail prematurely.

While these are some of the most common “warning sounds” an elevator will send out, they are not the only ones. Sometimes, an elevator may hum or vibrate when it has an issue. Other times, it might make a squeaking noise. Whatever the case may be, any new sound from an elevator should be considered a potentially bad sound and should be investigated as soon as possible.

Further Read: Why You Should Hire An Experienced And Licensed HVAC Contractor?