Winter Maintenance Tips and Tricks

Winter is here, with it brings low temperatures and beautiful snowflakes all of which can directly impact the performance of your wheelchair. Whether you use a manual wheelchair or a power wheelchair, proper maintenance is essential for your chair to keep up with the fun winter activities.

Here are some winter maintenance tips from Westpeak Mobility to help you navigate the season with confidence!

1.     Check and maintain Tires

Cold weather causes air pressure to drop inside your tire. With low tire pressure you have decreased traction, increased wear on your rims, and less control of your wheelchair. For every 10°Ftemperature change, 1PSI drops. Denver is known to have cold fronts and fluctuating temperatures, so imagine a change from 50°F to 20°F- that is a 3 PSI drop – which may not seem like much, but your shoulders will feel it!

2.     Battery Care

Pay extra attention to battery life during the winter, as the cold temperatures can drain batters faster and become less efficient. As power wheelchair depend on their battery, manual wheelchair users may be using a power assist device.

a.     If you are not using your power chair as frequently during the winter months, we recommend drive it around for 5-10minutes every week to help prevent battery wear down. AND Always store your batteries fully charged.

b.    Store extra batteries in Dry, warmer location to prevent battery from freezing. A garage is not feasible for storage unless itis properly insulated.

3.     Protect Against Salt + Sand

a.     Have a dry towel or cloth handy when entering indoors to remove any salt and moisture.

b.    If your wheelchair gets wet, allow to dry in a warm environment.

c.     Check wires on power wheelchairs to make sure they properly covered to prevent salt corrosion or moisture breakdown.

d.    If transporting PWC on back of a trailer hitch ,it’s best to cover the unit with a PWC or BBQ cover for protection against road debris and the elements.

4.     Slippery Surface Management

a.     Slightly Lower air pressure can be of benefit for increased traction. Increased surface contact.

b.    Use Anti tippers on manual wheelchair.

5.     Schedule a Check up

a.     If you are starting to notice loose bolts ,sticky joy sticks, inefficient tire rotation- call Westpeak Mobility to schedule a maintenance check up on your wheelchair to best prep you for winter!

Service Department (719) 299-2167 Ext. 1005

Stay warm, enjoy the snow, and hope these tips help your wheelchair keep working its best.

**NOTE: This blog is for an educational purpose only and is not intended as medical advice. Please see seek out a physician for medical concerns or emergency.

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Additional reference information HERE

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