Maintaining your pool lift
A regular maintenance plan is needed to keep your pool lift in top condition.. Maintenance applies to all types of lift: manual, electric or hydraulic. Certain points, such as batteries, water leaks, winch cables and jacks, are obviously specific to a single type of lift.
Cleaning
The maintenance plan includes thorough cleaning of all pool lift components. Insufficient cleaning leads to the build-up of chlorine and other aggressive chemicals that will exceed the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel and other materials used in the pool lift. For more details on cleaning pool lifts, see our advice sheet on cleaning your pool lift.
Battery and control box maintenance (and/or remote control)
Keeping the pool lift’s battery charged is essential for the PMR launch to work properly.. Fully discharging the battery may damage it. The battery must be kept charged when the pool lift is not in use, or when the pool is closed. It can be useful to have a spare battery, to charge one when the other is in use, or in the event of a battery failure. In this case, the batteries need to be changed on a daily basis, with a permanently charged battery.
Extreme temperatures have a detrimental effect on battery life and charge capacity.. In areas where extreme temperatures are encountered, it is recommended that batteries are stored in a temperature-controlled environment when not in use, or while being charged. It is important that the battery, its housing and the control box (and/or remote control) are kept clean and dry to ensure good electrical contact. It is advisable to use a protective cover (cover, tarpaulin, etc.) to cover the pool lift battery, its housing and the control box (and/or remote control) during the night and in bad weather.
Even if rain does not penetrate these elements, condensation will form and can lead to corrosion.
The battery, its housing and the remote control (or control box) should be checked weekly for stains or corrosion. To clean the battery contacts and casings, use a small nylon brush or a nylon scouring pad to remove any stains or oxidation. If there are signs of oxidation, apply dielectric grease to these components to prevent future oxidation.
Gear maintenance
For pool lifts where the arm moves sideways as well as vertically (PAL, Splash and aXs among others), it is important to check that the gears are in good working order and show no signs of excessive oxidation. The gears should be checked monthly. If necessary, use a nylon brush to remove any rust or dirt build-up and use a corrosion inhibitor such as LPS® 3 or similar to prevent future oxidation.
General maintenance
The pool lifter should be inspected daily to check that there are no missing or loose components, that it is working properly and that the battery is fully charged. A monthly inspection of the pool lift will be carried out to ensure that there are no traces of corrosion affecting the structure of the PMR lift. For parts protected by plastic covers, these covers will be removed to inspect the hidden parts of the lift (ballast, motor, etc.). If any components are excessively oxidised, contact your dealer or our after-sales service for replacement parts.
Lift storage
If the pool lift is to be stored and not used for several weeks, clean, dry and protect it before storing it or ceasing to use it. Ideally, it should be stored in a dry area not exposed to extreme temperatures and, above all, free from chlorinated, chemical or salty products. If stored outside, it should be covered with a tarpaulin and inspected monthly to prevent any oxidation.
Any noticeable oxidation means that the maintenance plan has not been followed. It is essential to keep the battery charged. Hydraulic pool lifts must be drained of water before storage. Compliance with these precautions will ensure many years of satisfactory use of your PRM boat launch and is a condition of its guarantee.
Table – Recommended maintenance and safety checks for swimming pool lifts (PDF)