Hurricane and storm damage service for home elevators.

Storm surge floods pits. Power surges damage controllers. Salt water starts corrosion that shows up months later. Modern Lifts prepares home elevators before a storm, assesses them afterwards and restores the ones that took damage.

Call 239.499.4749 Request an assessment

Florida registered elevator company
All major residential brands
Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm

Three stages

Before, after and back in service.

Before the storm
A pre-season service visit checks battery backup, door locks, the pit and any sump pump, and leaves you with a clear shutdown routine for when a storm is named.
After the storm
We inspect the pit, hoistway, wiring, drive and controller for water, surge and wind damage before the elevator goes back into use, and tell you plainly what we found.
Restoration
We dry out and clean what can be saved, replace what can’t, and test every safety device before handing the elevator back. Where the damage is severe, we’ll price a modernization alongside the repair.

When a storm is coming

What to do with your elevator.

Work through the buttons in order once a storm is named.

1. Send it up

Run the cab to the highest landing so it sits above any flood water. Close the gate and the landing doors.

2. Power it down

Switch off the elevator at its disconnect or breaker. This protects the controller from surges when power drops and returns.

3. Leave it off

Don’t use the elevator during the storm, and don’t run it on a generator unless we’ve confirmed your equipment is set up for that.

4. Check before restarting

If water reached the garage level or the pit, leave the power off and call us. Running a flooded elevator can turn a repair into a replacement.

Call 239.499.4749

What storm damage looks like

Signs you need an assessment

Water, mud or a tide line in the pit or the lowest landing
The elevator is dead, or trips its breaker, after power returns
Error codes or a cab that stops between floors
Rust on rails, brackets or the cab frame in the weeks after
New grinding, scraping or jerking during travel
Landing doors or gates that no longer latch cleanly

Salt water damage is often delayed. An elevator that runs the day after a storm can still fail later if the pit took on water, so it’s worth a look even when everything seems fine.

Request an assessment

How restoration works

From flooded pit to safe to ride.

Make it safe
Power is isolated and the elevator is locked out so nobody uses it while it’s damaged.
Assess
We inspect the pit, rails, drive, wiring, controller and cab and list what’s damaged and what’s sound.
Quote
You get a written scope and price for the repair, and for an upgrade where that makes more sense.
Restore and test
Parts are replaced, the system is cleaned and adjusted, and every safety device is tested before handover.

Common questions

Storm damage FAQ

My elevator pit flooded. Is the elevator ruined?

Not necessarily. It depends on how high the water came, how long it sat and whether it was salt water. Equipment at the bottom of the hoistway is the most exposed. Leave the power off and have it assessed before deciding anything.

Do you work on elevators you didn’t install?

Yes. We assess and restore all major residential makes and models, whoever installed them.

Can you help with my insurance claim?

We can give you a written description of the damage and the work needed, which you can pass to your insurer or adjuster. Coverage itself is between you and your insurance company.

Should I repair or replace after storm damage?

If the structure and rails are sound, repair or a partial modernization is usually enough. If the controller, drive and wiring were all submerged on an older elevator, replacing those systems together is often the better value. We’ll price both so you can compare.

How do I reduce the damage next time?

Park the cab at the top floor, cut the power before the storm arrives and keep up with maintenance so seals, pumps and batteries are working when you need them. Our hurricane guide in Resources covers this step by step.