If you rely on a wheelchair to get around, you might enjoy using a handy electric wheelchair to make mobility easier. The last thing that you probably want to deal with is a mechanical issue with your electric wheelchair, but this can obviously be a problem if you don't take good care of it. Along with following the basic maintenance instructions and having it looked at by a professional when needed, it's also important to handle a few daily care tasks. These are a few things that you should be doing to your electric wheelchair each day so that you can keep it in good condition.
1. Check the Screws
There is a chance that you put your electric wheelchair through a lot during the average day. From wheeling around your home and all of your favorite places to loading it in and out of your van, it's possible that it gets jarred every now and then throughout the day. This can cause the screws to come loose, which can put you in danger and can also make your wheelchair operate at less than its best performance-wise. This is why you should keep a small screwdriver handy; then, you can quickly look over the screws once a day and tighten them as needed.
2. Check Your Tire Pressure
As with the tires on just about anything, the tires on your electric wheelchair can lose some of their pressure with constant use. Plus, things like spending time outdoors in cold weather can cause your electric wheelchair's tires to lose pressure even more than usual. Use a small handheld tire pressure tool, and make sure that your tires have the recommended amount of pressure; you should be able to find this information either in the owner's manual for your electric wheelchair or on the side of one of the tires. A small, handheld air compressor -- such as the ones that people keep in their vehicles for emergencies -- should work just fine for pumping up your tires, if they need it.
3. Check Your Brakes
Your brakes are probably the last thing that you want to go out when you are using your electric wheelchair. Pop them in and out of place a few times each day to ensure that they are operating as they should be. Check to clean any debris away from your brakes that might be impacting their function; then, if necessary, have a technician come and fix them if this does not cause them to work properly.
For more information, contact Jay Hatfield Mobility or a similar company.
