01905 29950How To Maintain Your Wheelchair; A Quick Guide
Having a wheelchair is a great benefit to your mobility, allowing you to manoeuvre freely or with assistance, without any hassle. This is why your wheelchair maintenance is paramount to your continued freedom. Ensuring the chair remains efficient and in safe working order should be top of your priority list, especially during the cold weather and with the summer months ahead.
Also, a wheelchair can be a big investment so doing what you can to increase the life span of your chair is what matters the most.
Here at Countrywide Mobility, we have lots of wheelchairs for sale and know a thing or two about how to keep them in tip-top condition. So, to help you, we have created a quick guide that will cover all of the bases needed for a continued smooth ride.
How Often Should I Check My Wheelchair?
As we mentioned, the health of your wheelchair can be crucial to your freedom and is vital for both the durability and the comfort of the chair. Therefore, it is crucial that you run routine checks on your chair. We recommend that you check your tyre pressure and braking systems on a monthly basis as these are vital to the safety of the chair. We also recommend that you book your chair in for an annual MOT. Much like a car, your chair should undergo a thorough and detailed service to ensure the overall safety and longevity of your model.
If you're looking for wheelchairs for sale, we have a fantastic range online or in-store.
The Wheelchair Maintenance Checklist
Front Wheels
The front wheels on a wheelchair are very important to ensure a smooth journey. As the smaller wheels are nimbler, they are vital to the manoeuvrability of the chair and can help with direction. Ensure you wash these down on a regular basis so that debris doesn’t cause the wheel to get jammed, or force the wheels to wear unevenly.
In some instances, a bump in the road or pothole can cause the wheel to come loose or lose alignment. In this case, we would recommend bringing your chair in for a service appointment to be fixed by a specialist.
Rear Tyres
Your rear tyres are perhaps the most important part of your chair to check as they promote a smooth ride and is where power is generated if using a self-propelled chair. Be sure to check the tyre pressure; if you are unsure what your tyre pressure, you will most likely be able to find it printed on the side of the tyres. Also, check the quality of both the inner tube for any punctures and the outer part of the tyre for good grip, no bald spots and even wear.
Brakes
When testing the brakes on your chair we recommend this is done by the person who uses the chair most frequently as this is the user who will be most familiar with the system and how it feels. If you notice it doesn’t feel right during the test, or at any time, be sure to investigate them quickly as they are vital to your safety.
Frame
Whether your wheelchair is in storage or daily use, ensuring it is stored correctly could make a big difference to its performance. Keeping it warm and dry will help to maintain the raw materials the chair is made of and prevent them from rusting or gathering mould. We would recommend cleaning and polishing your chair once every couple of months to keep it in tip-top shape.
We also recommend that you tighten any screws or bolts that are on the chair at least once per month as they can become loose, causing parts to jolt and break if they are not tight. This is something that generally happens over time or after a hitting a large bump in the road.
Wheelchairs for Sale, Service and Repair
If you’re looking for a reliable and trusted supplier to service & repair your wheelchair, get in touch with us today. We have a team of expert engineers who will be able to give your chair a thorough check and repair any issues that may crop up during its testing. We also have a great range of wheelchairs for sale, and we can advise you on the best one for you. To find out more about our service & repair service, or to enquire about a new wheelchair, call us today on 01905 29950.
