Remote monitoring turns a residential elevator into a connected system. A communications board inside the controller connected to sensors on the elevator streams operating data including run counts, door cycles, battery voltage, fault codes, temperature, and more over a home’s Wi‑Fi or a built‑in cellular modem to a secure cloud portal. Your service company or in some cases the manufacturer receives live notifications when anything drifts out of spec or a safety circuit opens.
The measurable benefits
Remote monitoring can noticeably shrink your service calendar. Elevator companies report that remote monitoring platforms can resolve up to 60 percent of unplanned call‑outs remotely because common issues like a car‑gate that didn’t latch, that can be cleared from the technician’s laptop before anyone calls for service a truck.
Because every run to a floor, door cycle, and motor start is counted, the software also flags parts that are nearing the end of their rated life. When those counters cross a predefined threshold, you and your elevator company receive a predictive‑maintenance e‑mail and can schedule a hose swap or relay change during the next routine visit. With this proactive approach, scheduled changes on wearable parts cut downtime dramatically.
Should the elevator ever stall between floors, the gateway immediately transmits the last several fault codes and the cab’s precise position. Armed with that data, a technician can show up with the correct parts in hand, often turning what would have been a two‑trip ordeal into a single, faster rescue and repair.
From a risk‑management standpoint, every moment of operation is stamped and archived, proving the lift was serviced in line with ASME A17.1/CSA B44. Some insurance carriers recognize that data trail with lower premiums or smoother claims processing should there ever be an incident.
What data is shared
Remote monitoring only transmits elevator telemetry – status codes, run counts, battery voltage, door‑latch signals, and similar technical data. It never captures video, audio, or any other personal identifiers. Reputable providers encrypt that stream with TLS 1.2 or higher and store it on SOC 2–certified cloud servers, putting the information behind the same security standards used for online banking.
Can remote monitoring be added to an existing elevator?
Homeowners ask this all the time, and the answer is often “yes, if the controller is new enough.” Retrofit kits are available for most 2010‑and‑newer hydraulic and machine‑room‑less (MRL) models; they piggy‑back onto the car’s PLC or CAN‑bus and need only a 120 V outlet with surge protection plus reliable Wi‑Fi (or a plug‑in LTE modem). Installation usually runs $1800–$2,500 for hardware and labor on modern elevators but can vary depending on the system, followed by a monthly data plan.
When a retrofit doesn’t make sense is if your elevator is pushing 20 years or still runs on relay logic rather than a solid‑state controller, you may spend almost as much adapting the old electronics as you would on a modern control package that already includes a monitoring gateway.
To confirm compatibility with a remote monitoring upgrade give your elevator company the controller make, model, and year; most manufacturers publish easy‑to‑read compatibility charts online, so you’ll know within minutes whether a retrofit board will plug in cleanly or require extra interface hardware.
Also be sure to compare subscription plans. Data fees vary widely, one company may bundle the first year into a maintenance contract, while another bills month‑to‑month at a flat rate. Understanding those costs up front prevents surprises on your service invoice.
Companies that offer remote monitoring for home elevators
| Manufacturer / System | Connectivity | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Elevating – Smart Remote Monitoring | Wi‑Fi or LTE add‑on module | Real‑time health dashboard; e‑mail alerts with step‑by‑step diagnostics; predictive‑maintenance counters. Dealers handle installation and first‑line support. |
| Savaria – Link (Vuelift Micro‑6, Luma Lift, Eclipse, Delta) | Uses household Wi‑Fi | Dealer app displays live fault list; major faults auto‑notify Savaria’s service center for quicker triage. Frequently bundled by elevator companies with new‑lift purchases. |
| Symmetry‑branded units (Cambridge hardware via regional dealers) | Same hardware & connectivity as Cambridge | Identical dashboard and predictive features; first year of connectivity often included free with a maintenance contract. |