If you can hear the lift from your sofa
Lift noise and vibration almost always come from the traction machine, the motor that moves the lift car up and down. It's one of the most common complaints from people living next to the lift shaft, and it can be fixed without replacing the whole lift.
The noise is almost always in the motor
An old traction machine has a motor with a geared reduction unit. Over the years, those gears and the mounting points transmit vibration into the building’s structure, and that vibration turns into noise inside the flats. It usually shows up like this:
- You hear it every time the lift starts and stops.
- The wall next to the shaft vibrates.
- At night, when everything is quiet, it’s even more annoying.
- Whoever lives next to the shaft doesn’t sleep well.
The solution is to replace the traction machine with a modern gearless one, which is much quieter and smoother, and to fit anti-vibration mounts at the points where the vibration is transmitted. The constant hum disappears and, as a bonus, the lift rides better.
A gearless motor doesn’t just make less noise: it uses less electricity and needs less maintenance. We’ll inspect yours and tell you whether it can be upgraded.
Frequently asked questions
Is it just a cosmetic improvement?
No. A modern traction machine is quieter, but it also uses less electricity and runs more smoothly. Comfort and savings go hand in hand.
Can it be done on any lift?
On almost all of them. It depends on the shaft and the installation; we’ll confirm it during the inspection.
How much quieter will it be?
The start-and-stop hum, which is the one that gets into people’s homes, practically disappears. You notice the difference most of all at night.