Talk with our experts today, call for a friendly chat on
Dorset & Hampshire Branch: 01202 873730
Head Office: 01249 814528
Talk with our experts today, call for a friendly chat on
Dorset & Hampshire Branch: 01202 873730
Head Office: 01249 814528
A stairlift is designed to give you years of reliable, safe service. But like any mechanical product, it needs a regular check-over to make sure everything is working as it should.
An annual service carried out by one of our qualified engineers keeps your stairlift in excellent condition, identifies any small issues before they become bigger ones, and gives you the confidence that it is safe to use every day.
We service most makes and models, including stairlifts we did not originally install. If your stairlift is due a service or you are not sure when it was last checked, give us a call.
Call us to book a service on:
01249 814528 for Wiltshire, Bath, Bristol, Swindon, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, or Berkshire
01202 873730 for Dorset or Hampshire
(offices open Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5pm excluding bank holidays)
Colin Major has been a qualified stairlift engineer for over 35 years and is Managing Director here at 1st Choice Stairlifts. Here are his six reasons why an annual service matters.
An annual stairlift service is written into the British Safety Standards for stairlifts. The standards set out a 24-point checklist that engineers should follow on every service visit, and we follow it on every one we carry out, with a 25th check of the battery voltages added as standard. If your stairlift is used heavily, or is managed by a housing association, twice-yearly servicing may be recommended.
Think of it the same way you would an MOT. Just as a car needs a regular check to make sure it is safe on the road, a stairlift needs a regular check to make sure it is safe on the stairs. Through normal use, bolts could work loose and moving parts can wear gradually. A service catches these things early, before they cause a problem. Seat bolts and stair fixings are checked and re-tightened during every service as standard.
Every stairlift has a series of built-in safety circuits and sensors. During a service we test all of them, including the safety edges on the carriage and footrest that detect obstructions and stop the stairlift automatically, and the seatbelt. These are the features that protect you if something unexpected happens, and it is important to know they are working correctly.
Sometimes a service will pick up an issue you were not even aware of. Catching it during a routine visit means we can deal with it there and then, at no extra cost, rather than waiting for it to become an emergency callout. Nobody wants to be without their stairlift unexpectedly.
Batteries are a good example. We check battery voltage on every service visit. If they are running low, we can replace them on the spot while we are there, which is far less disruptive than waiting for them to go flat and having to book a separate callout.
A well-maintained stairlift will last longer than one that is left unchecked. Regular servicing, cleaning, and minor adjustments keep everything running smoothly and reduce the likelihood of more significant wear developing over time. It is a small annual investment that can add years to the working life of your lift.
An annual service is only as good as the engineer carrying it out. Some companies treat a service as a quick visit, in and out in 10 minutes with a cursory look over. That is not a service, it is a tick in a box.
Our engineers work through the full 25-point checklist on every visit. That means every safety feature tested, every fixing checked and re-tightened where needed, batteries measured, and the whole unit cleaned before we leave. It takes around an hour because that is how long it takes to do it properly.
When you book a service with us, you know exactly what you are getting.
Not sure when your stairlift was last serviced? Give us a call with your make and model and we will check our records. If you are not an existing customer, we can still help, as we service most makes and models regardless of who installed them.
Call us on 01249 814528 or 01202 873730 to book a service or ask us a question.
Yes. We service and carry out maintenance on most makes and models regardless of who installed them. Our engineers have manufacturer training on over 50 different stairlift models, including many older models dating back more than 35 years. We are also Stannah trained for servicing their range.
If your original installer has gone out of business, or you are simply looking for a more responsive local service, we are happy to help. Just have your stairlift's make and model to hand when you call.
Our engineers have received manufacturer training to carry out stairlift services on the following makes and models:
Access/ThyssenKrupp Flow 2, Flow Apollo, and Flow X curved models, the HomeGlide and HomeGlide Extra, and the now obsolete Cumbria straight models
Brooks/Acorn straight Superglide stairlift. [The curved 180/80 has a restriction on the sale of parts so unfortunately, we will not be able to service or repair this model.]
Bison Bede Classic and Classic Compact straight stairlift are now obsolete (no parts available).
Bruno Elite and Elan straight stairlifts and Elite Curved model
Handicare/Minivator/Companion/Age UK/Freelift curved models 4000, Van Gogh/Freecurve, and the obsolete 2000 model. The straight model 1100 and 1000 and the obsolete models, 950, 950+, and 930.
Meditek now obsolete straight models E120, D120 (no parts available)
Otolift curved model Oto Smart Air and the obsolete models Oto one and Oto two
Platinum Stairlifts Curve and Ultimate curved stairlifts, the Ergo Straight and the Horizon straight stairlift
Stannah curved model 260 and the obsolete 250 and 229 models. The Stannah 600 straight model and the older models 300, 240, 230, 215. On the obsolete older models some parts are no longer available.
As well as repairing the stairlift models we can also repair the Wessex and Stiltz range of vertical home lifts and steplifts.
If you would rather not think about booking a service every year, a maintenance contract takes care of it for you. Your annual service is included, along with cover for repairs, parts, and callouts, so there are no unexpected bills if something goes wrong. Find out more about our maintenance contracts.
British Safety Standards recommend an annual service for most stairlifts. If your stairlift is used very frequently, or is managed by a housing association, twice-yearly servicing may be more appropriate. If you are not sure, call us and we will advise you based on your specific model and usage.
Service costs start from £145 depending on the lift model you have. Call us on 01249 814528 or 01202 873730 for a clear, upfront price. If you are on one of our maintenance contracts, your annual service is included at no extra charge.
Yes. We service most makes and models regardless of who installed them. Have your stairlift's make and model name to hand when you call and we will confirm whether we cover it.
Our service follows the 24-point checklist set out in the British Safety Standards, plus a 25th check of battery voltages. This covers all safety features, sensors, seat and stair fixings, the seatbelt, and the overall condition of the mechanical components. The service takes around an hour and we leave everything tidy afterwards.
A service can only be carried out on a stairlift that is in working order. If your stairlift has stopped working, you will need a repair first. Call us on 01249 814528 or 01202 873730 and we will sort out the right course of action, whether that is a repair on its own, or a repair followed by a service.
It depends on your warranty or contract terms. If you purchased your stairlift from us with a 1 year warranty a service is not included. For 2 year warranties we include a service. Extended contracts have an annual service. Check your paperwork or give us a call and we can check your records and let you know.
Give us a call and we will get you booked in. We service most makes and models, we are honest about what your lift needs, and we will always give you a clear price before carrying out any work.
Call us on 01249 814528 or 01202 873730 and one of our friendly team will be happy to help you. Routine servicing is usually done in office hours from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Fridays excluding bank holidays. You can also email us on [email protected]m. This email is monitored in office hours only.
For stairlift repairs and stairlift servicing, we cover all of Wiltshire, Bath, Bristol, Swindon and Dorset as well as parts of Somerset, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Berkshire.
If your model is beyond repair or is over 10 years old, you might want to consider upgrading it. You can see the wide range of models we offer on our dedicated pages:
If you can no longer manage transferring onto your stairlift or require extra assistance due to a worsening health condition, you may benefit from a homelift or through the floor lift.
*The British Safety Standards for stairlifts were BS5776:Powered Stairlifts, which have now been replaced by the European Standard EN81-40.
25 Harris Road, Porte Marsh Industrial Estate, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 9PT
Showroom Open: Mon-Fri 08:30 to 17:00
Emergency Out of Hours Repairs: 365 days a year
Unit E6, 9 Nimrod Way, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Ferndown, Dorset, BH21 7UH
Showroom Open: Mon, Tues, Thurs 08.30 to 15.30, Friday 8:30 -13:00
**Please note we currently install and service stairlifts within our coverage area, click here to see our coverage area