As people age, climbing stairs can become more and more difficult. Eventually, it may be nearly impossible to negotiate a stairway safely. This may bring people to a heartbreaking decision: will they be able to keep living in the home where they've lived their whole lives?
An electric stair lift can restore your ability to climb and descend stairs. Stair lifts consist of a chair that moves up and down the stairway on a track. Individuals simply sit on the chair and ride upstairs or down. All stair lifts use electricity to power the chair's movement. Some are plugged into the home's electrical supply, while others rely on battery power.
Stair lift models powered by your home electricity are very reliable, or at least as reliable as your electrical supply. Think about the last few months at your home. Did the power go off very often? If your electricity tends to go off frequently, then any electric stair lift that you buy should have a battery backup. However, if you can't remember the last time your electricity went off, then a battery backup system for the lift may not be necessary, especially if including it puts the price of the stair lift out of your reach. By the way, the electrical cost of operating a stair lift is very small. Chances are you won't notice a difference in your electricity bill.
Electric stair lifts that operate on battery power all of the time might be less reliable depending on how you use them. How well they operate will depend on the condition and strength of the battery at the time of use. Of course, even electric stair chair lifts that operate primarily on battery require an electrical connection to recharge the battery. A stair lift that's powered by your electrical supply with a battery backup gives you the best of both worlds in terms of reliability.
If you're considering purchasing and installing an electric stair lift, then you should review some of the following installation recommendations. You'll need a grounded (three-prong) plug receptacle within a few feet of the stair lift. Your local government may have something to say about your electric stair lift. Local building codes might require an electric plug that is dedicated to the lift alone. The building codes may also have other specifications that must be met in your stair lift installation. When you check on building code requirements, find out if a permit is required to install a stair lift.
Individuals who suffer from low back pain should pay particular attention to the smoothness of any electric stair chair lift they are considering. Some models may start or stop abruptly. Smoother operation is more beneficial and less painful for your lower back.
If cost is a major barrier to owning an electric stair lift, you should know that you can often find a recycled or used electric stair lift at a lower cost than a new model. In fact, used stair lifts are even available on Ebay.
An electric stair chair lift could allow you to keep living in your two-story home