Residential elevators

An elevator at home might sound a bit over the top, but due to radical price drops, residential elevators are actually becoming more and more commonplace these days. Especially in the homes of those that are disabled or elderly, a simple elevator can provide tremendous benefit. Additionally, people that frequently have to carry heavy objects up and down the stairs can easily prevent back problems through installation of an elevator. Some people, due to weight or staircase constraints, cannot be served by a stair lift and thus need a house elevator to carry them to the upper or lower levels of their home. Previously, these people were almost always forced to move away from their trusted homes, causing high levels of stress and depression. An elevator will provide these people with the independence and quality of life that they so dearly seek. There is however another, non-physical, benefit to installing a home elevator: it is a great amenity to your house. Installing a home elevator will significantly increase the net worth of your home. So, despite being a thorough one-time investment, an elevator will easily retain its value through the increase of the value of your house.

Before buying a residential elevator, be advised that not all homes are fit for installation. Therefore, it is wise to always consult a retailer and have your home evaluated before taking the step of purchase. During this evaluation, a skilled technician will determine whether your house can support the elevator and if not, if steps can be taken to ensure it will. Be aware that some of these amendments could potentially have severe consequences; both financially and aesthetically. Therefore, always take your time, get well-informed and -if possible- consult more than one retailer on the possibilities, dos and don'ts.

When purchasing, the most important factors in determining which home elevator is right for you, are capacity and size. The capacity is the maximum weight that the lift can reliably handle. Capacities of home elevators typically range between 400 and 1000lbs. Sizes for the cab are typically around 1600 square inch (40" x 40"). Two other important factors in pricing are travel height and the amount of stops. The height the elevator must travel each journey will typically be around 16 feet, with one stop on ground floor and one stop at upper level. Nowadays, there are several technologies available to drive a lift, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages:

• Chain hydraulic drive
• Cable hydraulic drive
• Screw drive
• Winding drum
• Vacuum

It goes beyond the scope of this article to discuss all these technologies in detail; we recommend consulting a retailer for more information on what is right for you. Additional features you might want to look out for in a home lift include:

• A telephone jack: in case of lift failure, to call for assistance.
• A backup battery: in case of power failure, to allow continued operation.
• An accordion gate: a scissor-type gate can injure one's fingers.