A patient lift moves a person who cannot bear their own weight, so a lift that fails mid-transfer is a safety emergency, not an inconvenience. Nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies and families all depend on lifts working every time. This guide covers the faults we see most on hydraulic and electric patient lifts, quick checks your staff can make, and how inspection and repair keep lifts safe. For repairs on other equipment, see our medical equipment repair services.
Types of patient lifts we service
- Hydraulic (manual) floor lifts: a pump handle raises the boom and a release valve lowers it. Many people call these Hoyer lifts. See our overview of hydraulic patient lifts.
- Electric (battery) floor lifts: an actuator raises and lowers the boom from a hand control, powered by a rechargeable battery.
- Sit-to-stand lifts: help a patient with some weight-bearing ability rise from sitting. Read more about stand-up lifts.
- Ceiling and wall lifts: a motor unit travels on a track, used in patient rooms and bathrooms.
- Bariatric lifts: higher-capacity floor or ceiling lifts for larger patients.
Common patient lift problems
Lift will not raise
On electric lifts, the usual causes are a flat or failing battery, an emergency stop button that is still pressed, a loose hand control plug or a failed actuator. On hydraulic lifts, the release valve may be open, the fluid level may be low or the pump seals may be worn.
Boom drifts down under load
A boom that slowly sinks with a patient in the sling is a serious fault. On hydraulic lifts it usually means a leaking seal or a release valve that does not close fully. On electric lifts, it can point to a worn actuator brake. Take the lift out of service immediately.
Hydraulic fluid leaks
Oil on the floor under the mast or on the cylinder points to worn seals or a loose fitting. Do not top up with any oil at hand; lifts use specific fluids.
Base legs will not open or lock
Spreading legs give the lift a stable base around a chair or bed. Bent linkages, worn pedals or debris can stop them opening fully, which reduces stability.
Casters and brakes
Hair and debris wrapped around casters make a lift hard to steer, and worn rear brakes let it roll when it should not.
Battery and charger faults
Batteries wear out over time. A lift that runs fewer transfers per charge, a charger that never shows full, or a battery that swells or gets hot needs attention.
Quick checks before you call
- Release the emergency stop and confirm the battery is seated and charged.
- Check that the hand control plug is fully inserted and the cable is not damaged.
- On hydraulic lifts, make sure the release valve is fully closed before pumping.
- Clear debris from the casters and check that the legs open fully.
- Inspect the sling, its loops or clips, and the spreader bar hooks.
If a lift still does not work as expected, remove it from service, tag it with the problem, and use another lift or a different transfer method.
Slings are part of the lift
Many lift incidents involve the sling rather than the lift itself. The FDA's patient lift page has safety information for caregivers and facilities on using lifts and slings correctly. Use slings that the manufacturer approves for that lift and the patient's size, check them for fraying, stretched loops and worn clips before each use, and launder them as directed. Replace any sling that shows damage.
Inspection and preventive maintenance
Lifts should be inspected on a regular schedule set by the manufacturer's instructions and your equipment program, and after any drop, overload or repair. A typical inspection includes:
- A load test to confirm the lift raises, holds and lowers safely.
- Checks of the mast, boom, spreader bar and all pivot bolts for wear, cracks and correct torque.
- Hydraulic seal and fluid checks, or actuator and battery checks on electric lifts.
- Emergency lowering and emergency stop function.
- Casters, brakes and base leg operation.
- Electrical safety testing of chargers and wall-powered units.
- A dated label and a record for your files.
Our biomedical equipment inspection service can add lifts to your inspection schedule and keep the records survey-ready.
Repair, replace or rent
Most lift faults are repairable: seals, valves, actuators, batteries, hand controls and casters are all replaceable parts. Replacement makes sense when the mast or boom is cracked or bent, parts are no longer available, or the lift's capacity no longer fits your patients. If a lift will be out of service, our rental services can cover the gap.
Patient lift repair across Texas
Across Dallas–Fort Worth, on-site support can usually be provided the same day from our Garland headquarters. Elsewhere in Texas, we provide on-site repair and inspection with visits scheduled in advance. Service requests receive a response in under 8 business hours, Monday through Friday, and our CBET-certified engineers handle the work. For nursing homes and home care, see our home health equipment services.
Mr. Biomed Tech Services is an independent service provider and is not affiliated with any patient lift manufacturer. Brand names such as Hoyer are used only to describe equipment.
To book a lift repair or inspection, call (469) 767-8853 or contact us.
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