The next time you go bounding up a set of stairs, pause at the top to consider how your life might be different if you couldn't climb stairs at all. Millions of individuals around the world are unable to climb or descend stairs. They are forced to get someone to assist them or they may even be required to move to a one-story home. However, it is possible to overcome this problem with the installation of a stair lift.
Stair lifts have a chair, a rail, and an electric motor. Anyone with difficulty climbing the stairs simply has to sit down in the chair and press a button or move a joystick. The chair then smoothly glides from one level to the next, either up or down.
Stair lifts can be relatively expensive. New basic straight stair lifts cost around $2,000. Curved stair lifts can cost much more, depending on the complexity of the installation.
In the event that purchasing a new stair lift is not feasible given your budget, it is often possible to find used stair lifts for sale. Buying a used stair lift is a very workable proposition and should be a more cost effective alternative. Many different stair lift models from various manufacturers are available used or reconditioned.
Used stair lifts are normally as dependable as brand new lifts. You can often get at least a one-year warranty. When evaluating used stair lifts, you should probably avoid any models more than ten years old. Even though most stair lifts will last longer than ten years, manufacturers commonly stop making and stocking spare parts after ten years.
Straight stair lifts are the easiest style to buy used. Most straight stair lifts can be adapted to fit any straight staircase, assuming your stairway is not longer than the previous installation. If it's the same size or shorter in length, then it's usually a simple matter to modify the rail to fit.
If the stairway in your home requires a curved stair lift, then you'll probably need to have a new rail made. Most curved stair lifts are custom-built for each location. Curved staircases often have small variations even if they were meant to be identical. For the sake of safety, lift rails need to fit the stairs tightly and not obstruct the free movement of foot traffic. A custom-built rail also results in much smoother chair movement. If a dealer attempts to refit or re-manufacture old rails to fit a curved staircase, they may actually be violating safety standards or building codes. However, it's possible to purchase just the rail new and get the chair and motor used or reconditioned.
If price is the most important factor in your stair lift decision, then contact some of your local stair lift dealers. There's a good chance they'll have some used or reconditioned models available. Purchasing a used stair lift could save you hundreds of dollars.
Purchasing stair lifts used can provide freedom and mobility for households that may not be able to afford a new lift