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How To Avoid The Pitfalls Of Buying A Used Stair Lift
from:A seemingly simple thing as walking up and down stairs can be
impossible for those who are disabled or handicapped. Installing
a handicap stair lift can give a person a real sense of
independence - perhaps for the first time in years. But they are
very expensive. It is possible to save hundreds of dollars by
installing a used stair lift however before doing so, you should
first be sure that the second hand one is going to be right for
you.
There are two types of stair lift; straight and curved. Both
types can be powered by either mains electricity or by
rechargeable batteries. Before you consider buying a used stair
lift you should be aware of the issues in installing and using
an electric or battery model for both straight and curved chair
lifts.
A curved lift is for stairways that have turns or mid-level
landings. Curved models are custom made and can take anything up
to 3 months to install. They are also considerably more
expensive than straight models. If your stairs require a curved
lift you should think long and hard about buying a used model. A
used one will have been custom made for another staircase and
will almost certainly not fit yours. Therefore a used curved
stair lift will require that the track - on which the chair
travels - be modified substantially; in fact, you may not be
able to modify it at all and have to buy a new track for your
stairs.
Buying and installing a used curved chair lift is a specialized
skill. Unless you are very experienced at this sort of work, you
will need to buy this sort of lift from a supplier, who will
install and provide a warranty. The suppliers are not hard to
find, a quick look on the web will quickly help you locate a
dealer near you.
To buy and install a used straight stair lift is less
problematic. There's no need to modify the track; you simply
have to fit it to your stairs. However, there are one or two
things to check before you buy this type of second hand chair
lift. If your stairs require that the rail be fitted on the
right-hand-side then make sure the used model you buy is
suitable for the right and not the left side. If you're going to
install it yourself you should make sure that the track is the
right size for your stairs. Tracks come in various lengths -
usually between 16 and 20 feet - so make sure the track length
is long enough for your stairs.
Most new models are battered operated - makes like Stannah and
Bruno Stair Lift - and there are many advantages with battery
powered models. Ones that use rechargeable batteries generally
have a smoother ride, are easy to install - requiring no wiring
and the stair lift can be used during power outages.
Many older models are powered from mains supply. One or two
manufacturers like the Summit Stair Lift still make a mains
powered model. If you are going to buy a used stair lift that is
mains powered you will need to do some wiring; unless you're a
qualified electrician you will need a professional to do this
work. Also, it was quite common for these types to have the
electric cable trail behind the chair, which does present the
possibility of someone tripping over it.
Other things you should check before you buy a second hand stair
lift are the general condition of the chair; does it swing out
smoothly; does it have a seatbelt - if you need to wear one you
will have the problem of trying to buy a seatbelt for a model of
stair lift that may no longer be made. If it's a battery powered
model check that the batteries and charger are in good working
order. The same applies to all the controls.
Finally, you should think about a warranty. If you buy a used
model and fit it yourself you won't have any guarantee that it
will be safe and work properly. If you buy from a specialist
supplier then you should get some guarantee about safety and
will get after sales support. As stated, there are many
reputable suppliers of used stair lifts - you can find many of
them online - and they sell many leading brands like Acorn,
Stannah and Bruno stair lifts.
About the author: Robin OBrien
Follow the links for used stair lifts and get stair lift reviewson leading brands like the Bruno stair lift.
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