Stair Lift Safety

A stair lift is a device that helps those with disabilities or people who have trouble walking go up and down the stairs. These units work by sending a chair or small platform up and down the stairs along an attached track. Stair lifts are generally very safe, but there are some things you should keep in mind when using one of these devices.

Stair lifts are very helpful pieces of medical equipment; unfortunately to children they may look like toys. It is very important that you do not let young children use these devices unsupervised or in any manner other than the way that is recommended by the manufacturer. If your stair lift is in a public area, or if you will not always be there to supervise your unit you may consider purchasing a stair lift that can be locked with a key. This is the best way to guarantee that your stair lift will only be used in the way it was intended.

Make sure that the stair lift you purchase has a seat belt or other restraining device. This is a very important safety feature and, just like the seat belt in your car, it works better if you use it. Stair lifts are designed in such a way that they move slowly and very smoothly, but it is always better to air on the side of caution. By using the seat belt you guarantee that you will not fall or slip out of the chair.

Another safety consideration is the weight capacity of the unit. It is always important to honestly access your weight, or that of a loved one, and consider any expected growth when you purchase a stair lift. If you are just at the maximum weight limit, it is almost always better to get the next size up. This ensures that you will always be able to use the unit and that you can use your stair lift to carry your belongings up and down the stairs without worrying about exceeding the weight requirements.

By following these simple guidelines you will get many years of trustworthy and safe service.

Curved Stair Lifts

A stair lift is a piece of home medical equipment that is used to carry people up and down the stairs. They are often called stair chairs because they frequently use a chair that is attached to a set of rails in order to transport a seated individual across the distance of the stairs. They do however make some models that utilize a small platform instead of a chair. The units themselves typically attach to the steps, and are found in several different shapes and sizes. For people with straight staircases, the installation is fairly straight forward and simple. Curved stair cases prevent a much more complicated installation and are much more expensive.

When you purchase a stair lift for a straight stair case, the rail system is cut to fit your specific stair case length. As long as you do not have abnormally narrow stairs, this is really the only custom part of your stair lift. When dealing with curved stairs, however, the whole track must be custom built to fit your specific stair case. Since there is no standard when it comes to curved stair cases, you will have to have a professional installer come and measure your stairs. The turn around time to build the custom track is usually anywhere from 1 ½ months to 3 months.

The fact that your track must be custom built translates into much higher costs for the consumer. A curved stair lift can easily cost in excess of $15,000. In addition they have little or no resale value. This is because every stair case is a little different; it is incredibly unlikely that you will be able to use it on any stair case with the exception of the one it was built for. This means that if you decide to move, in addition to not being able to sell it, you will not be able to put it in your new home.

In some instances it is actually possible to install 2 straight stair lifts in the place of 1 curved stair lift. This will save the consumer tremendous amounts of money, but is only possible on some types of stair cases. If your stair case features a landing halfway down, and if the stair case is 'L' shaped then it may be possible to use two stair lifts. If the curved stair case can be divided into 2 straight staircases, then it is possible to get away from the large costs associated with a curved stair lift.

If you have no other recourse than to get a curved stair lift, you will want to do a good deal of research before you commit to a specific model. Since you can expect to wait at least 6 weeks from the time you order it to the time they finish building it, you should resist the urge to purchase one just to get the ball rolling. Instead it is better to take your time and carefully find a company that has good reviews, both in the quality of their product, but also their responsiveness to customer needs. Curved stair lifts have notoriously been prone to mechanical problems, so ensure that you have found a dealer that provides a very good warranty as well.

Stair Lift Maintenance

Stair lifts are devices that are used to help individuals with mobility problems ascend and descend the stairs. Using a small platform, called a perch, or a chair, these devices carry the individual up and down the stairs using a track system. Quality brands like Acorn, Summit, and Ameriglide are all thoroughly tested so that they will provide you many years of dependable service. These quality stair lifts are engineered in such a way that they will need very little maintenance. There are a few things however that you should keep an eye on. It is often said that an ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure. This is almost always true because most big problems started out as relatively small and benign things that could have been fixed if they had been caught. This is why it is important to pay attention to your stair lift. If you ever notice any movement or wobble to the track, then it is a good idea to inspect the braces and ensure that it is properly secured to the stairs. Most stair lifts require that the track be greased periodically. Check your owner’s manual and make sure you apply the proper type of grease at the frequency prescribed by the manual. This is probably the most maintenance you will ever have to do. There is also a fuse that may need to be replaced once in a blue moon. Otherwise, though, your unit should always move slowly and steadily. Some stair lifts are engineered in such a manner that they need no actual maintenance for several years. These quality stair lifts are made to run and function for a very long time. Make sure you read and follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, however, because it will guarantee your equipments long life. You should also always pay attention to how your stair lift runs and functions so you can spot anything out of the ordinary.

The History of Acorn Stair Lifts

Stair lifts have increased in popularity over the last few years. This is in part because of reductions in manufacturing costs that have been passed down to the consumer. A stair chair, or stair lift, is a device that is used to allow people to easily traverse a set of stairs. It consists of a chair or small platform that travels up and down the stairs via a track that is secured to the stairs or walls. There are several companies that sell stair lifts, and one of the more popular companies is Acorn Stair Lifts. Acorn Stair Lifts is an international company that employs over 800 people worldwide . Created in 1992, Acorn began by buying new and used stair lifts and reselling them. They completely refurbished the used ones at their facility in the UK, but were quickly overwhelmed by the demand for their products. In order to fulfill all their orders, and to guarantee that the customer was receiving a well made product, they began manufacturing their own stair lifts, and have continued this tradition since. While Acorn Stair Lifts had been rebuilding other company's stair chairs, they had become alarmed by the number of design flaws in these products. By manufacturing their own, they were able to guarantee high levels of safety and reliability. Their goal was to provide a stair liftthat was easy to install, simple to use, and required little maintenance. The result was the Acorn SuperGlide Stair chair, which continues to be one of their most well known products. Until Acorn began manufacturing stair chairs, they had traditionally been powered by AC current. The developers at Acorn realized that there were many positive aspects associated with DC, battery, power. DC powers many advantages include higher safety, smooth operation, and the ability to still operate during power disruptions. Acorn pioneered this technology, and currently almost all stair lift manufacturers now offer a DC powered stair lift. Acorn Stair Lift's main headquarters and manufacturing hub is located in Yorkshire, New England. They have locations all over the world, including distribution centers in Orlando, Florida and Ontario, Canada. With over 30,000 stair chairs manufactured each year, they are the biggest manufacturer in the United Kingdom. They have dealers all over the world and supply stair lifts to customers in over 70 different countries across the globe. Their dealers are located in places like Argentina, Belgium, Japan, France, Ireland, Austria, Africa, and Portugal, and it is safe to say that they are the most diverse stair lift manufacturer in the industry today. If you are in the market for a stair lifts, then you have likely seen the many different manufacturers. Acorn provides well made products that are built to last and can be depended upon to provide many years of safe operation. With over 15 years of experience in the stair lifts industry, they have continued to think of the customer's safety first and have largely contributed to developing new and advanced technology that is geared towards creating a safe, reliable, and relatively maintenance free product.

Acorn Stair Lifts

Stair lifts are devices that are made to carry people who suffer from arthritis, are older, or are otherwise mobility challenged use the stairs. Using either a set of batteries, or by plugging directly into the wall, these units are responsible for restoring independence and opening houses back up. They are often called stair chairs because generally a chair is attached to the stairs via an aluminum track. There are some models called perch lifts however, that utilize a small platform instead. A perch lift is usually used for someone who has trouble sitting down because of knee or back problems. One popular manufacturer of stair lifts is Acorn, who makes several models including a perch lift.

Acorn is a family owned company that operates worldwide. Their US headquarter is in Orlando, Florida, and they employ over 800 employees worldwide. Acorn opened their doors in 1992 and began buying and selling new and reconditioned stair lifts. They quickly realized, due to high demand, that they would not be able to continue purchasing stair lifts and reselling them, and maintain their commitment to their customers, so they began manufacturing their own. Over the years Acorn pioneered the battery stair lift, and has continuously brought innovation and remarkable engineering to the field. They currently manufacture more than 30,000 units a year. Acorn has a very strong presence in the United States, the United Kingdom, South America, Europe, and Australia. Their quality and professional workmanship has made them into the powerhouse they are today, and they are the largest independent straight stair lift manufacturer in the world.

One of their stair lifts that has a very distinctive design is the Acorn 140. It allows the rider to stand on the foot rest and travel up and down the stairs. For those suffering from joint problems, this is often much less painful and much more practical than a traditional stair lift. It has a set of handle bars attached to the unit that can be held onto for added support, as well as an additional adjustable handle bar. It also includes a pad to lean against, so it is not necessary to stand straight up, and instead the rider can put their weight on the pad.

This perch lift can support up to 294 ponds. It is battery powered, featuring a constantly recharging battery, that ensures that even if the power goes out, you will be able to use your stair lift. The unit includes 15.2 foot of track, which will accommodate most stair cases. The foot rest folds and helps the Acorn Perch Lift retain its low profile. The controls for the Acorn 140 are designed to be very simple and straight forward to use.

Acorn produces several stair lifts and one of their other popular models is the Acorn SuperGlide. All of their models are designed to be easy to use, require very little maintenance, and to be as safe as possible. They all utilize the best materials available, utilize special safety sensors to ensure that the device is not used unsafely, and are designed to take up as little space as possible.

Summit Lifts A Brief History

People who are physically handicapped or disabled often have trouble going up and down the stairs. For many this can mean not having access to a large portion of your home, or relying on others to help you up and down the stairs. A much better and safer alternative is to invest in a stair lift. A stair lift is a motorized device that physically carries an individual up and down the stairs. Usually a stair lift will utilize a chair to carry the person, but there are some stair lifts that utilize a small platform called a perch. There are several prominent manufactures of stair lifts today, and one company that has been very successful is Summit Lifts, Inc. Summit Lifts Inc. has over 75 years of experience in the stair lift industry, and prides itself on good old fashioned business values and quality customer service. Its founders all have very deep roots in the stair lift industry and have devoted much of their lives to these great devices. It is not often that you find people with such a personal connection to their products, but each of the founders of Summit is completely dedicated to quality as opposed to quantity. Mark Hill began working for a company that manufactured stair lifts in 1972. He continued to work there for over 20 years and learned about all aspects that are involved with the development, creation, and maintenance of stair lifts. In 1981 Mike Vogt began working at the same company as Mark Hill. Vogt spent 10 years designing lifts, and also considerable time in the customer service department at the company. Mark and Mike had intended to stay working at this company until retirement, but due to a corporate take over were unable to fulfill this goal. Instead they joined forces with a very talented individual named Mark Jackson and Summit Stair Lifts was born. Mark Jackson brought to the table an in depth knowledge of Computer Aided Design and precision machining skills. With this incredible powerhouse of experience and ability it is no wonder that they are one of the leading manufacturers of stair lifts today. They focus on quality, precision, and reliability and do not believe in cutting corners to cut costs. The founders of Summit Stair Lifts are dedicated family men that understand the meaning of integrity, faith, and responsibility. They have applied these same standards that have served them well in their personal life to their business, and this is in part what makes them such a great company. Their products are all manufactured in the United States, and are built with an attention to detail that is seldom found in today's world of assembly lines and mass production facilities. There are many different manufacturers of stair lifts today, but few compare with Summit Stair Lifts, Inc. Their company motto is "Taking you to new heights" and this is just what they have done. They have continued to manufacture products that are reliable and in many ways bring back the good old days when products were made using quality manufacturing techniques that focus on dependability rather than cost.