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A Stair Lift Guide
from:There are three ways of providing access between floors for the
handicapped or disabled; residential elevators, stair lifts and
platform lifts. By far the most popular method of residential
lift is the home chair stair lift.
The reasons why they are preferred by the majority is because of
ease of installation and price. Residential elevators and
platform lifts start at around 10k to 16k. The price of a home
stair lift will depend on its type. A straight type will range
in price from 2.5k - 4k, whereas a curved model is custom made
and will cost anything between 5k to 20k. The complexity of the
installation ultimately dictates the cost of installing a curved
lift. The cost is impossible to know before the supplier carries
out an onsite inspection.
Drive Type
There are four types of drive types. However, the vast majority
of new stair lifts use the rack and pinion system.
Most cable drive systems use a strong steel cable - aircraft
cable is the norm. The main disadvantage of this type of drive
system is that the ride can be less than perfectly smooth.
However, technology has moved on and those companies that still
use this drive system say that the ride is as smooth as any
other type. Summit and Ameriglide stair lifts both use this
drive type.
Chain drive systems are used only for heavy duty models. They
are loud and not really used in residential stair lifts.
The screw drive uses a lifting mechanism with a screw driven
actuator. This is powered by a rechargeable battery. Again, this
type is not used in home models.
The rack and pinion drive system is by far the most popular type
for residential stair lifts. Rack and pinion systems - meaning
gear and teeth - used to have to require regular cleaning and
replacement of gear oil. However today's home units have sealed
drive systems that require no maintenance at all.
The Track or Rail
This is the base along which the carriage travels. The track is
always fitted to the stairs and never to the wall. This means
that a track can be fitted to either side of the stairs. Tracks
used in straight stair lifts are made of extruded aluminum
whereas curved ones usually use a mixture of both steel and
aluminum.
Power
With early designs the power source was AC mains. But today,
most stair chair lifts are powered by DC 12 volt rechargeable
batteries. Batteries are preferred because a trailing cable is
used with AC mains powered stairlifts. The cable is reeled out
and reeled back in each and every time the chair travels up and
down the stairway, which causes wear and tear. Also, battery
powered units can still be used during power outages. Some
states prohibit the installation of any appliance unless it is
installed by a qualified technician.
Swivel Seats
All makes of stair chair lifts offer this option. There are two
types; 90 degree and 180 degree swivel seats. A 90 degree swivel
seat is mounted on the upstairs side of the chassis and fold in
one direction. A 180 degree swivel seat folds in both
directions. One manufacturer, Stannah, makes a motorized swivel
seat.
Self Diagnosing
Many brands like the Acorn Superglide and the Stannah stair lift
have integrated circuit boards that can help diagnose problems
with your lift and decrease maintenance costs.
Accessories
All manufacturers offer a mixture of accessories either as
standard or optional. What you choose will affect the cost of
the stair lift.
Perch stair lifts allow the passenger to remain standing. This
is excellent for those who have problems bending at the knee.
The Acorn Superglide Perch is one such example.
Just about all home units come with safety belts. Some brands
come with retractable lap inertia belts, while others offer
3-point fixed shoulder belts.
Installation
Installation of today's straight models is quite easy. Many
manufacturers and dealers encourage customers to self-install.
However, a customer should never self install and the
Accessibility Equipment Manufacturer's Association strongly
advises against it.
The installation of a residential lift really can allow someone
to regain their home and independence. The chair stair lift that
is best for a customer will depend on their requirements and
budget.
About the author: Robin OBrien
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