A Tale of Triumph: How We Rescued Our Customer from Unnecessary Frustration, Downtime, and Expenses.
Recently, we received a call from a building owner and they were experiencing consistent shutdowns with their elevator. Their maintenance provider had all but thrown their hands up and told the owner the only option was to modernize. A modernization would be a large expense for any building, especially if unbudgeted. After listening to the owners concerns, we set up a survey of the equipment and reviewed the maintenance logs. We found his problems could be resolved for significantly less than the quoted price and suggested modernization. We were able to provide a quicker and more cost-effective upgrade, proudly resulting in the following customer testimonial.
“Our old hydraulic elevator was on its last legs, and we needed a solution. While our existing company at the time could only suggest replacing the entire guts of the unit for close to $200k, Washington Elevator took a look and was able to save us over $100k. Imagine how pleased ownership was with that figure. The job was done efficiently with excellent communication throughout the process and as a result Washington Elevator now handles the monthly maintenance as well. I highly recommend Washington Elevator.” -Norman Ives
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Here are a few key components during the upgrade. The elevator, with a dry power unit, showed clear signs of leaking hydraulic fluid. The drip pan was full and there were absorbent pads on the floor. Further, the service provider’s record within the Maintenance Control Program (MCP) confirmed that the drip pan had been emptied nine times in six months!
The Power Unit
The old (dry) power unit had many leaking joints and fittings. The new (submersible) MEI Power Unit which includes the tank, motor, pump, valve and muffler was installed along with new oil. This improved reliability, the elimination of leaks, quieter operation and overall performance. A huge shout out to the MEI team who worked diligently to expedite the equipment and shared in our customer’s sense of urgency.
The Oil Line
In the machine room on the oil line, all gaskets and seals were replaced. A shut-off valve was added as required by code including necessary pipe stands.
The Pit
While working in the pit, all gaskets were replaced, including installation of code compliant shut-off and rupture valves and we installed a new (3) hydraulic cylinder packing. All that is left is to clean and paint the pit floor!
The Starter
Replacing the original cross the line starter with a new solid-state starter, protects the new motor from any incoming power issues.
Norman’s frustration gave us yet another opportunity to provide a mutually successful solution. As a result, we are thrilled to have him as a new customer and we are proud to have saved the building time and money.
Please note: a large upgrade, repair or modernization does take time when making this important decision. Things to consider: elevator down time, executing agreements, procuring materials, permits, potential engineering plus actual installation time. Be sure to have an open dialogue with a professional that you trust.
If you do need to prepare for a full modernization, our budgeting blog post might be helpful to you.
Are you a building owner or representative in the greater Everett, Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma Puget Sound areas who could benefit from a second opinion? Reach out to our Chief Problem Solver, Sean at (206) 482-5119 or sean@waelevator.com today. We would love to have you as our next testimonial!