Your power wheelchair puts in a lot of work day in, day out. Keeping it well maintained means it keeps up with your life, and means you're far less likely to be caught out by an unexpected breakdown or performance issue when you can least afford it. It might be easy to put off maintenance when your wheelchair seems to be running fine. But small issues that go unaddressed have a way of snowballing into bigger problems that affect your comfort, control, and safety. Staying on top of the basics means fewer disruptions to your daily life and can extend the lifespan of your chair significantly.
So where do you start? Here are the areas worth keeping an eye on to make sure your chair stays in great shape.
Battery care
Your battery is the heart of your power wheelchair, and how you manage it has a big effect on both its daily performance and its long-term lifespan. As a general rule, avoid letting your battery run completely flat before recharging. Regular top-ups are better than full discharge cycles. Charge your chair overnight so it's always ready to go in the morning, and if you're planning to leave it unused for an extended period, check your manufacturer's guidelines for storage recommendations. If you notice your range decreasing noticeably, or the battery indicator dropping more quickly than usual, it could be a sign that the battery is ageing and may need replacing.
Electronics and controls
Keep your joystick and controller clean and free of debris. If your chair is responding unusually, whether that's slower than normal, drifting, or cutting out unexpectedly, don't ignore it. These can be symptoms of a programming issue, a loose connection, or early electronics trouble. Contacting your service team sooner rather than later is always the better approach, as catching electrical issues early is much easier and less costly than dealing with a full breakdown.
Tyres and drive wheels
Check your tyre pressure regularly if your power chair uses pneumatic tyres, and keep them inflated to the recommended PSI printed on the tyre wall. Also check the drive wheels for any significant wear on the tread, as worn tyres reduce traction and can make the chair harder to control, particularly on wet or uneven surfaces.
Seat functions
If your power wheelchair has tilt, recline, elevating legrests, or standing functions, run through them periodically to make sure everything is moving smoothly and without unusual sounds. Any grinding, jerking, or hesitation in the actuators is worth reporting to your service technician before the issue has a chance to develop further.
When to call in the professionals
Not every issue is something you should try to resolve yourself, and that's completely fine. If you notice anything that doesn't seem right with the performance or handling of your chair, or if something just feels off, reach out to a service technician. Power wheelchairs are sophisticated pieces of equipment, and having a qualified technician assess any concerns is always the safest and smartest approach.
The GTK service team and Assistive Technology Consultants are always here to help, whether you have a question about a strange noise, need a part replaced, or simply want peace of mind that your wheelchair is in good shape. Getting in touch sooner is always better than waiting for a small problem to become a big one.
A quick maintenance checklist
As a handy summary, here are the key things to keep an eye on regularly: battery charge and range, joystick and controller condition, drive wheel tyre wear, seat function operation, and any unusual sounds or changes in driving behaviour.
Staying on top of these basics keeps your wheelchair performing the way it should and keeps you moving through your day with as little interruption as possible. We also recommend that most wheelchair users book an annual service with a qualified technician, and if you're a heavy user, more frequent servicing may be beneficial. Your GTK service technician can give you personalised advice on the right service schedule for you. If you have any questions about maintaining your wheelchair or want to book a service check, get in touch with the GTK team today.
