As the weather warms up and spring approaches, it’s time to shake off the winter chill and head outdoors. For those who rely on mobility products such as powerchairs, mobility scooters or wheelchairs, it’s not uncommon to have them stored away in a garage or outhouse during the winter months. Making sure your device is properly maintained after a long winter storage is essential for safety, performance and comfort. To ensure your mobility product is ready for the summer days ahead, explore some of the key maintenance tips.
We caught up with Joanna from our aftercare support team as she explains how to check your product before you start using it this year.
How To Prepare Your Powerchair for Spring/Summer
- Give the product an overall clean if its’ dirty or has become dusty.
- Check your brakes, lights and battery are still working especially if you haven’t used it throughout winter.
- Make sure the tyres and castors have no damage or rust.
- Make sure there is no wear or tear in your seat or backrest.
- Ensure the freewheel lever works and hasn’t seized if the powerchair has been out of use for long periods of time.
- Remove anything that may be caught in front or rear castor motion.
- To properly lubricate the castor wheels, first clean them thoroughly then apply the lubricate removing any excess.
- Check all the power functions on the powerchair to make sure lights, horns, indicators and any other functions like recline, lift and title are all in working order.
How To Prepare Your Mobility Scooter for Spring/Summer
- Check brakes, lights and battery are still working especially if you haven’t used it throughout winter.
- Check tyres for wear and tear, punctures and tyre pressure before you go on your mobility scooter.
- Check the seat and handle are still at the correct heights, are comfortable and not loose.
- Make sure the freewheel lever works and hasn’t seized if the mobility scooter has been out of use for long periods of time.
- Make sure your charger isn’t split or broken at any part of the cable. If your charger is heating up, please replace this straight away.
- If your mobility scooter is road worthy, make sure you have valid insurance and have registered the mobility scooter with the DVLA.
How To Prepare Your Wheelchair for Spring/Summer
- Give the product an overall clean if dirty or it is has become dusty.
- Make sure the tyres and castors have no damage or rust.
- Remove anything that may be caught in front or rear castor motion.
- To properly lubricate the castor wheels, first clean them thoroughly then apply the lubricate removing any excess.
- Make sure there is no wear or tear in your seat or backrest.
- Ensure that screw fixings are tight especially if you have a powered add-on.
- If you have a footrest or any additional features, make sure they are in the correct position and are working properly.
Make sure you’re ready to go! We hope these tips help you get ready for the great outdoors. If you have any questions or would like some support on servicing or repairs from our aftercare support team, call 0800 587 9615.
