Stairlifts are also known as stair chairs, stair glides, or chair lifts.
These machines are a wonderful addition to a home or business for people who may have difficulty negotiating stairs safely due to a physical limitation.
Most often, stairlifts are installed in residential setting for people who are handicapped or elderly, providing them a safe means to get from one floor of their home to another.
Stair lifts are definitely more budget friendly than a room addition or a nursing home.
There are three styles of stair lifts available on the market today: outdoor stair lifts, straight stair lifts, and curved stair lifts.
The feature most appreciated by people who look at stair lifts as an option is that any home can be outfitted with one, including homes with spiral staircases.
It runs on a track that is secured to the steps and follows the incline of your staircase, customizing the lift to not only provide mobility for you, but to compliment your home as well.
Outdoor stair lifts are ideal for those homes that may have several stairs going up to the entrance door and may be more economical in the long run compared to building a ramp.
Most stairlifts are operated using battery power (DC power).
This way, if a power outage occurs in your neighborhood, rendering you without power, your stair lift will not be affected.
Batteries for your stair chair are recharged after the lift is used and then is ready for the next time it's needed.
There are stair lifts operated via an electric current, but these models often have a backup battery just in case of a power outage.
One advantage of a stair lift with AC power is that it can be recharged anywhere along the track.
A stair lift powered via DC power must be recharged either at the very top or the bottom of the track.
Stair chairs utilize one of four drive types: a cable drive type, a chain drive type, a rack and pinion drive type or one that uses a screw driven actuator (powered by a rechargeable battery).
Customer reviews have revealed that the rack and pinion drive type is the one that is the quietest and runs the smoothest overall.
Some chair lifts have exposed working parts, so if you have children in the home on a regular basis, you'll want to make sure your chair is one with the working parts safely secured.
Stairlifts are easy to operate using the toggle switch located on the arm of the chair.
With one simple, gentle push on the toggle, the chair will smoothly move up or down the stairs without jarring or jerking.
Once the toggle switch is released, the chair will stop moving.
These mobile devices are very quiet and will deliver a smooth ride all the way up or down your stairs.
Family members who are concerned about their elderly loved ones living alone and negotiating stairs feel much more at peace when a stair lift is installed and utilized.
Stairlifts allow many people with physical limitations to be safe within their own home and enjoy the freedom of continuing to live independently.