Wheelchair maintenance is important for wheelchair safety. A wheelchair in need of repair can cause an accident that can injure the wheelchair user.
Most experts believe that wheelchair maintenance should be done on a regular basis. Routine maintenance every month is often recommended.
Not only can regular maintenance help prevent accidents, but it can reduce the need for costly, major repairs by catching problems early.
The routine wheelchair maintenance begins with inspecting the entire wheelchair for any problems such as loose bolts. Any loose screws or bolts can be tightened during this inspection.
The wheelchair should be cleaned with a damp cloth. Some people apply car wax to manual wheelchairs to make it easier to keep the wheelchair clean.
The pivot points of the wheelchair should be lubricated during the routine maintenance. The folding mechanism of a folding, manual wheelchair may need lubricating if the wheelchair does not fold as easily as it should.
The wheelchair user should check the wheels for cracks and wearing of the tread. The alignment of the wheels and condition of the spokes and rims should be checked. The removable parts of the wheelchair such as the leg rests and quick-release axles need to be tested to make sure they can be removed easily.
The wheels on a manual wheelchair should spin freely. If not, there may be trapped dirt or debris. The brakes on electric wheelchairs should be tested to make sure they hold on a slope and stop the wheelchair without difficulty.
Any cracks in the wheelchair frame or other problems that cannot be fixed by the wheelchair user needs professional repair. These repairs should be done promptly to avoid accidents caused by neglected repairs.
The air pressure of the wheelchair tires needs to be checked every week. Improperly inflated tires on a manual wheelchair can have a negative impact on the functioning of the brakes. A bicycle pump or hand pump can be used to inflate the tires as needed.