Keeping your wheelchair running: 5 Maintenance tips.

It is essential to take care of your wheelchair, it is both
an investment, and it provides you with mobile freedom. If your wheelchair
breaks down, it can cause an inconvenience for you, but more importantly, it
can put you in danger. In order to keep your wheelchair maintained and
operating, be knowledgeable about your wheelchair. So here are some tips on how
to have a long-lasting and safe wheelchair.

• 
  Organise your equipment
  Organise your equipment so you have a set of tools that you will need to have
  on hand for maintenance and emergencies. Keep your Owner’s manual and do not
  lose track of it at home. It is handy for when an emergency arises because it contains
  valuable information. Tips, keep it in the pocket at the back of the
  wheelchair, so you can consult it whenever an issue comes up. Lastly, always
  keep your equipment and wheelchair dry and clean to avoid damages and
  corrosion. Tips, at Patient Handling we have accesories to keep your wheelchair dry an clean, such as our Karma Wheelchair Travel bag, to check out more of our products and our manual wheelchairs click here.
• Regular
  monitoring
  Your regular monitoring can ensure that your wheelchair is operating
  safely. Check your wheels to make sure
  they function, such as tire pressure, or if they are solidly tired, make sure
  they have good tread. Wheels can be worn out, so make sure you look out for
  cracks in the spokes that may eventually cause the wheels to collapse. Check
  your wheel lock to make sure it engages and releases properly. As well as the
  frame for any cracks and breaks in the metal, and all nuts and bolts to verify
  that they are tightened.
• Charge
  your batteries
  If your wheelchair is a power wheelchair, it will need regular charging. The
  batteries charge time can reduce if left unused for longer periods of time, so
  consider regularly charging to avoid that. Another tip is, try not to let the
  batteries die entirely before recharging them and keep your batteries at room
  temperature.
• Understand
  the cost of repairs and maintenance
  It is good to understand the cost of repairs and maintenance and what is
  covered by your health plan. To avoid unexpected expenses and misunderstandings.
  It is best to understand the services that are paid for by your health plan and
  which you will be expected to pay for yourself. As a general rule, Medicare
  and/or Medicaid will not pay for routine cleaning, testing, or regular check-ups
  of your equipment. However, your medical equipment dealer will know what
  charges can be billed to Medicare and Medicaid and what services charges will
  be your responsibility. 
• Regular
  services
  It is recommended that your service your wheelchair every 6-12 months depending
  on how frequently you use it. To get a professional service will help maintain
  the life of your wheelchair. Tips, if you are planning a trip, it is worth
  getting your wheelchair serviced before taking your wheelchair on holidays or a
  long trip.
  Patient Handling offers service and repairs for power wheelchairs, doing annual
  services, repairs to custom seating setup and battery testing and replacement.
  Patient handling also offers services and repairs on Patient Lifter and Ceiling
  Hoist and Hospital Beds. Read more about our service and repairs here.The Patient Handling Team