What to Look for in a Homelift Home Elevator

Home elevators have been an overlooked option to living with limited mobility for many years. Even their most manual operated cousins, known as non-motorized stair lifts, came on the scene late in the 1800s, powered by electric engines. Over the decades, improved safety, aesthetics, costs, and efficiency have all greatly improved for residential elevators, which make them accessible to millions of Americans. Today, many manufacturers offer both motorized and non-motorized versions of the elevators. Because these vehicles can be quite complex, it's important to research all of your options before purchasing one.

The first question to answer when choosing a home lift is what kind of platform is needed? There are two main categories of residential elevators: power and non-powered. A power home lift is driven by electrical motors and features a shaft that extends up from the machine room. This shaft then connects to the top of the machine room. Both power and non-electric elevators feature a safety brake that stops the machine when something goes wrong. Both also feature emergency switches and other safety features to prevent serious injuries from occurring.

Non-powered home elevators differ from their powered counterparts in that they are powered by physical force, which requires the use of dual rails. These elevators can only be operated with the assistance of the stairlift itself, meaning that one user must be responsible for the machine room and stairlift at the same time. Unlike power elevators, this type of home elevator cannot reverse. This makes them less safe than most, but they are much easier to use and operate, with better safety features and greater control.

The best feature of all, however, is home elevators for seniors that work with wheelchair lifts. With a wheelchair elevator, seniors can easily move up and down stairs without the help of another person. As a result, those who have greater difficulties getting up and down the stairs can rest easy knowing that their home elevator will take them where they need to go. This gives many seniors the sense of independence that they have been looking for, as well as increased mobility that can't be replaced.

Of course, there are several different options from which to choose when it comes to a home elevator for seniors. You have your choice of a power or non-powered unit, either an electric or a gas-fueled model. Then you have the type of cab that comes with the cab, including a folding platform for ease of storage and transportation, a full complement of safety features, and an emergency stop button. Finally, the cab can feature extra comfort for seniors including extra cup holders, grab handles, reclining seats, and reclined seats.

When it comes to safety features, there are four major areas to look for. First, check to make sure that the lift has a full twenty-four hour monitoring system. This way, should a senior fall or become injured while in the elevator, someone can be immediately reached. Secondly, if you are working with a gas-fueled elevator, make sure the gas fueling mechanism is located between the floor of the cab and the floor of the home lift shaft. This is important because a fire can easily start on the move if the fuel line is exposed to the air, which can cause explosion.