Once a month: vacuum all upholstered surfaces with a low-suction upholstery attachment to remove dust, crumbs, and pet hair. Check the mains cable for any visible damage, fraying, or kinks. Test both motor functions through their full range of travel — head to maximum rise, fully reclined, fully upright — and listen for any new sounds (clicking, grinding, or hesitation) that were not present previously. Wipe the remote control with a slightly damp cloth and inspect the battery contacts.

Book a professional service visit once a year — or at 6-month intervals if the chair has LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) coverage under a commercial or care-at-home service plan. A service visit includes: inspection and tightening of all mechanical joints and pivot points; lubrication of drive components and mechanism bearings with the correct lubricants; check and test of all electrical connections; test of battery backup (if fitted); inspection of upholstery and frame condition; and a full operational test. Annual servicing catches developing issues before they progress to failure — a stuck mechanism discovered during a service visit costs much less to rectify than an emergency repair after complete failure.

If the chair has battery backup, test it every 6 months. Unplug the chair from the mains and attempt to operate the rise/lower function — the battery backup should allow the chair to return to flat. If the battery backup fails this test, the battery needs replacing. Battery backup failure discovered during a power cut is both inconvenient and potentially dangerous for the user — regular testing is the only way to confirm it is working before it is needed.

In autumn, before the heating season begins: condition genuine leather upholstery and check for any cracking that may have developed over summer. In spring: vacuum all surfaces thoroughly after winter, when dust and debris accumulate more than in lighter-use summer months. Clean or replace any washable covers used for winter protection.