The sight of a grandfather clock evokes value, antiquity, and legacy, which allows the piece to elevate any rooms or hallway in your home. If this stately piece of furniture suddenly stops working, you may assume that age finally caught up with its time-honored parts. However, according to Tic Top Shop of Mason, OH, a successful grandfather clock repair is entirely possible. The most important thing to remember is that the fix should only be performed by professionals. Here, they list three signs your grandfather clock needs expert attention.

3 Signs You Need Grandfather Clock Repair

1. The Pendulum Is Still

One of the signature characteristics of grandfather clocks is a swinging pendulum, but if something goes wrong inside the timepiece, this limb will eventually come to a standstill. In most cases, it will take about 10 to 20 minutes for the pendulum to come to a halt. At this point, there may be an issue with the weights inside the clock, the minute and hour hands might be touching, or the entire structure may not be level  on the ground. In more serious cases, a professional will have to fix the delicate suspension spring inside the clock, which allows the pendulum to rock back and forth.

2. The Weights Don’t Fall

Most grandfather clocks feature two to three weights, and when they fall, the momentum powers the timepiece. For example, one weight may signal the chimes, while the others may turn the hands. While all the weights should drop at equal distances, your clock may encounter irregularities, or the weights may refuse to drop at all. In this case, a professional repair technician will determine whether dirt, a lack of lubrication, or a more serious mechanical issue is to blame.

3. The Chimes Are Out of Time

Traditional grandfather clocks will chime in a structured pattern to alert guests and family members of the time without them having to look at the hands. Typically, four notes are heard at 15 minutes past the hour, eight notes are heard at the half-hour mark, 12 notes are heard at 45 minutes past the hour, and 16 notes are heard at the hour mark. If the clock doesn’t produce this pattern correctly, it just may need to catch up to itself after an adjustment. If it’s still out of sync in a few hours, call a technician who can re-calibrate the hands.

The next time your grandfather clock starts acting up, stay calm and contact a professional team instead of breaking out the toolbox. Tic Toc Shop happily performs clock repairs on everything from vintage wall clocks to Atmos clocks, and they will come to you to conduct in-home grandfather clock repairs. For more information on their capabilities, call (513) 922-0315 or visit the website today.