Stairlift Basics for First-time Buyers
If you haven’t had a home stairlift in your life before and don’t know about it. Below are a few stairlift basics to help you decide on the best stairlift.
If you haven’t had a home stairlift in your life before and don’t know much about them, it helps to start with the basics. There’s not that much to know, and you’ll get a chance to ask lots more in-depth questions during your ‘home survey’ (more on that below).
- What’s the purpose of a stairlift? There are many reasons why you might find it difficult or dangerous to use the stairs in your home. Reduced mobility can be caused by an accident, underlying medical condition, illness or simply getting older. Whatever the reason, a stairlift removes the obstacle of stairs and lets you ride smoothly between the levels in your home at the touch of a button.
- Main benefits of a stairlift. By far the biggest benefit of a home stairlift is that it keeps you safe on the stairs. In doing so, it enables you to remain living independently at home, will full access to upstairs and downstairs. Remote controls mean you can also use the stairlift to move other items, such as laundry, up and down the stairs instead of struggling to carry them. Not having to climb the stairs means you’ll have the energy for other more enjoyable stuff. Loved ones concerned for your safety on the stairs will also share in the peace of mind a stairlift brings.
- Types of Stairlift. Three main types of stairlift are available – Straight, Curved, and Outdoor – with smaller variations within those types. A straight stairlift is the simplest and lowest-price type, using a standard mass-produced straight rail cut to the right length. It is for stairs that go straight up, with no bends or turns. A curved stairlift is for a staircase with bends, twists, or turns. A bespoke curved rail has to be fabricated, so the cost goes up. An outdoor stairlift is a fully weatherproofed version that can be installed on outdoor steps and withstand the elements.
- How do stairlifts work? They have two main elements – the rail and the carriage. The rail is secured to the stairs and the carriage is mounted on the rail and moves up and down it carrying the passenger. Most stairlifts use a ‘rack and pinion’ system in which a toothed gear wheel (the pinion) rotates along a similarly toothed rail (the rack), driven by an electric motor. The pinion is part of the carriage assembly and the rack is located in the stairlift rail. In modern stairlifts, the electric motor is powered by large batteries in the stairlift carriage. They are recharged when the carriage is ‘parked’ at the top or bottom of the stairs. The stairlift rail is plugged into your home’s domestic power supply to feed the recharging points. Battery power means the stairlift will keep working even if the mains power cuts out. Once installed, the stairlift will need routine maintenance such as an annual service by a stairlift engineer.
- How to buy a stairlift. The best advice for a stairlift newbie is to buy direct from the manufacturer. It means the manufacturer’s own stairlift engineers will install your stairlift and maintain it going forward, initially under warranty. Only buy after having a ‘home survey’ to measure your stairs and assess your needs. The survey will also be able to answer any more detailed questions you might have, including those specific to your home. Having a survey and discussion with the surveyor means you’ll get the right stairlift, tailor-made for you and your home. You’ll be quoted an all-inclusive price based on the survey, and providing the survey and quote process is free, you can get more than one from different suppliers. A reputable supplier will also give you plenty of time to make up your mind.