Stair Lift Reviews

Before you buy a home stair lift it is essential that you first review the stair lifts on the market. You'll soon find that stair lift prices vary a great deal, but be wary of using a stair lift price as the main yardstick in choosing one; a cheap stair lift can be a good deal for the customer or it can be an expensive mistake.

The home stair lift market has grown significantly in the past few years. Many people with mobility problems are finding out that installing a handicap stair lift is cheaper than they thought and is certainly cheaper than the expense of moving house or hiring home help, not to mention the psychological and emotional benefits of reclaiming the upstairs of one's home. What follows is some advice on buying a stair lift and stair lift reviews of the most popular models.

But choosing the best stair lift for one's home can be problematic with so many stair chair lifts on offer. You need to be careful and to take your time when choosing a home stair lift. You should always seek professional advice before you buy a stair lift. Don't just talk to stair lift suppliers; talk to your community occupational therapist or friends who might already have a handicap stair lift in their home.

You should also look at as many makes of stair lifts and talk to at least 3 different dealerships. Talking to a dealer is important; don't buy from a dealer on the internet if they don't also have a phone number - if you have any problems later, chances are you won't get any answers back by email. If you can, go in person to a stair lift showroom and try out the chairs yourself. Try to go with a relative of friend.

There is a growing, and worrying, trend for home stair lifts to be sold without any installation. The buyer is told that self-installation is easy and can be done by anyone with basic DIY skills. However, AMEA (Accessibility Equipment Manufacturer’s Association) and the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) strongly advise against self-installation of a home stair lift. A reputable stair lift supplier will insist on doing the installation.

Also, remember to ask about warranty and after sales service. A reputable dealer will offer both; look for a dealership that offers 24/7 telephone support so that you'll get instant help when you need it.

Here are some brief stair lift reviews of some leading makes.

The Summit Stair Lift

This is a low cost home stair lift. The company only makes straight stair lifts. The Summit chair lift is made to be a no-frills but reliable handicap stair lift. It uses technology that is now considered old-fashioned by most leading stair lift manufacturers; it uses a cable system rather than rack and pinion to drag the chair along the track, and the Summit stair lift is mains powered rather than battery powered. Other manufacturers switched to rack and pinion battery powered stair lifts because they give a smoother ride. You do get basic safety systems with the Summit stair lift such as a sensor on the footrest to detect obstacles, a seat belt and cable tensioning. Won't you won't get the more sophisticated safety features offered by other manufacturers. All in all, the Summit stair lift is for those on a small budget.

The Acorn Stair Lift

Acorn makes only straight stair lifts. Currently you can buy the Acorn Superglide stair lift. This home stair lift uses a modern rack and pinion drive system and is powered by DC 24 volt rechargeable batteries. The home stair lift also comes with two wireless remote controls with send/call features. You get safety sensors on both the footrest and carriage that will immediately stop the chair should any obstacle be encountered on the stairs or track. What sets Acorn apart is that they make a perch stair lift, which is ideal for those who have trouble bending the knees or for staircases that are narrower than normal.

The Stannah Stair Lift

This is a UK stair lift manufacturer that now exports to over 40 countries. Quite simply, Stannah stair lifts are the best on the market. Stannah make both straight and curved stair lifts. The Stannah 120 stair lift has two models; the Solus (a very contemporary design) and the Sofia (for those who prefer a more traditional look). With a Stannah home stair lift you get many features as standard but the company also offers optional features that other manufacturers don't. Stannah stair lifts aren't the cheapest on the market, but it makes the best handicap stair lifts.

There's no doubting the benefits of installing a home stair lift. But choosing a home stair lift that best suits your needs takes patience and thought. Don't ever be rushed into buying a handicap stair lift - reputable dealers will never put you under pressure to buy.

Following the links for home stair lifts from brands like the Stannah Stair Lift as well as other handicap stair lift manufacturers.

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Using a Stair Lift to Safely Use the Stairs

Stair lifts are a type of lifting aid that can be installed on most types of stair cases. In most instances a chair is sent up and down the stairs carrying a single occupant, but some lifts utilize a small platform instead of a chair. Lifts that use platforms are called perch lifts and these types of lifts are not usually used, except in cases of medical necessity, because they require that you remain standing while using the lift.

Most stair lifts use a track system that is directly attached to the steps. The chair or small platform is sent up and down the track system. These types of lifts can be quickly and easily be installed, but only work on straight steps. If you have an excessively narrow set of steps or a curved staircase, then the track will need to be installed onto the wall, which usually requires professional installation.

The majority of stair lifts use the chair setup and are called stair chairs. There are a few different models available and most seats have several choices of upholstery to match your homes style. Several heavy duty lifts are available that are reinforced, have a wider seat, and have adjustable armrests. Others try to take up as little space as possible and many can be folded when not in use so that they take up less space.

Finding a stair lift of the right weight capacity is seldom a problem. Usually perch lifts can not support as other lifts and can support around 250 pounds. Most stair chairs support at least 300 pounds and many much more. It is not a good idea to max out your lifts weight capacity, so for every 100 pounds of weight, you should add 20 pounds. For example if you weighed 150 pounds, then you would want to get a lift that could at least support 180 pounds.

Choosing a battery powered or electric powered stair lift is an important consideration. An electric powered stair lift is plugged into a regular household outlet and usually costs a little less than a battery powered stair lift. The downside to this type of lift though, is that it will not work if the power goes out. A battery powered lift will work if the power goes out, but they are a little more expensive and will require a little extra maintenance. Periodically the battery will need to be checked and it will need to be changed every so often as well. While a replacement battery is not very expensive, it is another cost you should be aware of. Battery powered stair lifts still plug directly into the wall though and do not require any special type of outlet.

Stair lifts are great at bridging the gap between upstairs and downstairs. They greatly reduce the risk of falling down the stairs and usually can be installed quickly and easily.

Sean Noughtly is a technical writer who has experience with many types of lifting aids, including stair lifts. To learn more about stair lifts, vertical platform lifts, or other types of lifting aids visit ameriglide.com today.

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Finding the Perfect Stair Lift for You

Stair lifts serve the purpose of moving individuals up and down the stairs with ease and comfort. They are utilized by people who are in a wheel chair or have bad knees and other medical concerns that make climbing stairs a big dilemma. Stair lifts are ideal for older people and women in their pregnancy stage as well. They can be found in different locations such as shopping malls, restaurants, hospitals, or other establishments that have several floors.

Wheel chair lifts are the most prominent found in public places. Depending on the make of the lift being used by the establishment, there are various ways that these lifts work. The most popular kind of wheel chair lift is one that has a chair on the lift. This is one of the most difficult lift to use because it demands that the individual be mobile enough to transfer from the wheel chair to the chair on the device. Here, another person should assist the handicapped in transferring to the top of the chair or back which will depend on their need. Likewise, another person will have to carry the wheelchair in moving to different levels of the stair in order that they can return to the wheelchair.

Another variety of lift provides convenience in pushing the wheelchair to the lift platform. It comes with a safety gate which will close behind them. Once they have reached their destination, the front end of the lift will open, letting them roll the wheelchair out of the stair lift. This kind of stair lift requires no assistance from another individual.

In addition, home stair lifts can provide ease to a person who has become tied to a wheel chair but prefers to stay at home. They are easy to set up and can be attached to a wall socket just like a lamp. Unfortunately, not many homes do not have back power supply so in case of a power failure, this kind of lift becomes useless. Most of these products are warrantied and can be utilized by individuals weighing three hundred pounds.

Second hand home stair lifts can be acquired for a percentage of the amount from a home owner who does not require it anymore. The setback of this kind of lift is that they are not yet installed and does not have a warranty. That is why most stair lift manufacturers are beginning to offer refurbished second hand stair lifts at a reduced price. Buying this kind of lift from a manufacturer provides short term warranty and installation support.

For people who have mobility problems, stair lifts come as a welcome relief. By doing so, this will allow them to live a normal life.

Grace Palce is writing health related articles for her blog about stair lifts and lazyboy lift chairs

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How To Go About Installing Stair Lifts Rightly

Stair lifts are a wonderful means to help ascend or descend up or down the stairs without having to extend any physical effort. A proper installation of the stair lift setup is, however, necessary to make it all the more useful, comfortable and functionally smooth and efficient. This will also ensure its durability for many years.

The stair lift chiefly consists of a seat mounted to a trace together with armrests and a footrest. The course of installation of the stair lifts is to be attended to with limit trouble and item in order to ensure security and comfort of the addicts. The situation up process is to be passed out with shopper/addict satisfaction and functionality as the prime object. The worst reason is to allow an individual with mobility limitation to get better access to areas/floors of his/her home.

In an effort to proceed with installation of lead lifts it is to be first ascertained that the stairs in the home are in good situation. This is necessary because the rails of the stair lift are to be installed to the stair treads and not to the fence. So, a sound situation of the stairs means a more lasting set up of the stair lift rail. Unique installation dealings need to be employed in case the stairs are narrow (minus than 37).

The correct trace coldness from fence choice in such case is very crucial together with alleviate of use consideration of the addict with manner to his/her height and leg span. It is the aluminum rails which are increasingly becoming favorites, to the steel rails because this allows calm re-configuration for some different staircase if needed by.

Would you like to have a sleeping relaxation while meeting in a lift lead? Then luxury lift lead is the easiest decision free to you. Luxury lift lead will give you an opportunity to lie back more and at the same time its fantastic originate makes it look like a wonderful luxury lift lead. An added report is the crisis series back-up systems in cases there is no capacity at all.

While installing the stair lifts the seat height is to be determined as per the height of the addict itemed. It is regularly optional to keep a low height as the qualities vacant to use it can be stunted or it might even be complex to move the qualities itemed to the seat of the stair lift seat if it is too high. A seat with some power is also regularly preferable for tall people. Anyway, the rail or trace of the stair lift need be so installed that it evenly comes all through the span of the stairs- which will comfort better security for the addict. Good lighting facilities should be installed at the top and base of the stairs i.e. the points of receiving on to and alighting from the stair lift seat.

Lastly, all the installation processes followed need better conform to the resident governmental requirements and norms able about electrical core of the stair lift setup.

Jenny Jim writes for http://www.stairlifting.com where you can find out more about stair lifts and other topics

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Stair Lifts By AmeriGlide

A stair lift is a home medical aid that is used to carry an individual up and down the stairs. The first stair lift was developed in the 1920's and since then they have earned the respect of those in the medical and home care fields time and time again. One of the most common causes of injury among the elderly is related to falls down the stairs, which many times results in injury to the hips or back. A stair lift greatly reduces this risk of fall and allows mobility challenged individuals to use the stairs without any other outside assistance.

There are several different manufacturers of stair lifts and one of the most reliable and dependable is AmeriGlide. Their stair lifts are some of the most trusted in the industry and are all backed by a very comprehensive warranty. Only the strongest and most reliable materials are used. This includes high strength aircraft cables and specially reinforced aluminum.

A great deal of engineering and testing is behind all of their units and before any product is ever sold to the public, you can be sure that it has been comprehensively tested. Their AC and DC stair lifts are designed to provide over 16 years of service and are covered by a 10 year drive train warranty. The Ultra series utilize a rack and pinion design and feature a 5 year drive train warranty.

One of the major advantages of a stair lift made by AmeriGlide is the ease of installation that is standard with all of their products. Using common household tools, it is possible for a single individual to install a stair lift in an afternoon. Once installed the units require very little maintenance. All that is required is that you remember to lubricate the device every 4 to 6 months. The sealed drive train does not require any added oil and does not leak.

To improve safety stair lifts by AmeriGlide have several built in safety features. One feature that can be found on all of their stair lifts is a special sensor on the foot rest, which stops the device from moving if it detects anything in its path. The seats also swivel, which makes it much safer to get on and off of the device. These features coupled with the fact that only the finest materials have been used, results in perhaps the safest way of traversing the stairs.

Stair lifts have been used for well over 80 years to allow people to safely traverse the stairs. Currently the models available are some of the safest and most reliable stair lifts that have ever been designed. Some are built to support well over 500 pounds, and they can be used both indoors and outdoors. They are also very affordable and when you consider the cost of a fall down the stairs, there is no need to not to invest in one When you invest in a stair lift you are investing in safety.

David Litel is an experienced writer for A1 Medical Supplies. For great deals on Lift chairs, home medical supplies, AmeriGlide stair lifts, and more visits or call A1 Medical Supplies.

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Stair Lift Measuring - How To Take Proper Measurements To Install A Stair Chair Lift

Thinking about buying and installing your own stair lift? In today’s internet market, the trend is moving towards customer friendly products. Manufactures are developing and producing products that a typical consumer or homeowner can install with standard household tools in just a few hours.

The first step all stair lift manufactures require from the customer or homeowner before a product is made and shipped are the measurements of the staircase. It is very easy to measure for your new stair lift. All you need is a good quality tape measure to get the job done.

Before you begin to measure, take a general overview of your stairway layout and decide which side of the staircase the stair lift will be mounted on, when viewed from the bottom. Typically, stair lifts can be installed on either side of the staircase. Depending on the layout, choose the best side where it will be the easiest to get on and off the lift avoiding any obstacles at the top or bottom.

Most stair lifts mount to the staircase tread and not the wall. So no walls are necessary for most stair lift designs. Make sure you understand the manufactures design to ensure this is the case.

Now that you have decided which side of the staircase the stair lift will be mounted, follow the steps below to take proper measurements. Always measure twice. All measurements should be recorded in inches.

The following 7 measurements are required to determine if a stair lift application will work for your mobility needs.

1. Overall Length - This is the MOST IMPORTANT measurement! This determines the length of rail you will need for the lift. To obtain this measurement stand at the top of your stairs, extend your tap measure until it is laying on all the stair treads and the tip of the tape measure is touching the landing at the bottom of the steps. How many inches is it from the bottom landing to the top of the upper landing? Document this number.

2. Top Stair to Bottom Stair - Measure from the edge of the top step to the edge of the bottom step.

3. Width - Measure the width of your staircase from wall to wall or inside width of the staircase. In many cases this will be wall to wall.

4. Bottom Clearance - If there is a wall or a door at the bottom of the steps, place the beginning of the tape measure at the beginning of the door frame or wall and extend out until you reach the bottom of you step wall. Note: This should be done if you have a wall (landing) or door at the top of the steps as well and add a number eight (8) measurement and mark that as the "top clearance".
The last three measurements (5, 6, and 7) will enable the manufacturer to preset the seat angle of your lift at the factory.

5. Rise of ONE STEP - Measure the height of one stair. This is from the base of one tread to the next.

6. Tread of ONE STEP - Measure the width of one step. This is the area you walk on. Measure from the front of the step to the back of the step.

7. Diagonal of ONE STEP – Measure the length from one edge of a step to the tip of the next. Similar to step 1 but instead of the entire staircase length, only measure the length between two steps.

Great, now that you have completed the hardest part of determining if a stair lift will work in your home, the next step is to find a stair lift company to ship your product. If you would like more details on How To Measure a staircase please feel free to read more at the above link.

This article was provided by Gerald Lee Graham, Jr. of 4-Med Supplies LLC – wholesaler of Durable Medical Equipment for the disabled. For more information on stair lifts or any other medical equipment, please visit http://www.4-stair-lifts.com

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A Review Of The National Wheel-O-Vator and Stannah Wheelchair Stair Lift

Very few companies make genuine wheelchair stair lifts; Wheel-O-Vator and Stannah are two that make excellent stair lifts for wheelchairs. Both are have very similar features with some minor differences.

Just about all stair lifts comprise a mechanized chair that travel along a track that is mounted on to the stairs. These handicap stair lifts have improved the lives of many people who are handicapped or who have difficult walking up and down stairs. However, these stair lifts require that the person using them has the ability to lift themselves on and off the chair unaided. Unfortunately, for those who are wheelchair bound this is not usually possible and so chair stair lifts don't provide the solution to home mobility.

Wheelchair stair lifts can provide access to all floors but there are a number of issues and most domestic homes are unsuitable for these lifts. Most domestic stairways are too narrow to accommodate the platform and secondly, the track must be fitted on to a load bearing wall. But if the house is suitable then two companies provide inclined wheelchair stair lifts.

Features of the Pegasus inclined wheelchair stair lift from Wheel-O-Vator.

1. The bi-directional safety ramp sensors not only provide protection for the user of the Pegasus Handicap stair lifts, but also for other people on the stairway.

2. Each platform is custom measured and built for the exact requirement of the user.

3. The platforms folds up to clear the stairway using only a space of 12 1/2" from the wall.

4. The platform can turn inwards and outwards to fit all stairways shapes.

5. Access to the platform is from either the front or side.

6. The side access ramps on the platform lift up to secure the wheelchair.

7. The safety barrier arms and access ramps are mechanically locked and electrically monitored during travel.

Features of the Stairiser CR wheelchair stair lift from Stannah

1. The stair lift is fully automatic, with electrically controlled folding platform and barrier arms that lock into position when in use.

2. The platform will stop immediately when any obstruction is encountered.

3. Access to the platform is from either the front or side.

4. The side access ramps on the platform lift up to secure the wheelchair.

5. The platform folds away against a smooth rail when not in use, leaving ample room to allow others to use the stairway.

6. Fold down seats are available as an option.

7. The Stairiser CR can be used internally and externally.

8. The platform can turn both inwards and outwards.

9. There is a choice of 4 platform sizes.

10. The platform can carry a maximum weight of 225kg

Both the Wheel-O-Vator and Stannah wheelchair stair lifts require an onsite inspection. Installation can be quite quick depending on the stairway; a wheelchair stair lift can be fitted in 3-4 days on a straight stairway.

The features offered by both companies are more or less the same. Choosing which wheelchair stair lift to buy will ultimately come down to price and 'extras' that your local dealer offers you. Whether you eventually choose the -O-Vator and Stannah wheelchair stair lift you can rest assured you'll be buying an excellent product.

Following the links for wheelchair stair lifts and handicap stair lifts from Stannah Stair Lifts.

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Summit Stair Lifts - For Those On A Budget

A home stair lift can give someone back their house and independence. But stair lift prices can be very high and beyond the reach of many. Some stair lift manufacturers make money by selling their products that have 'many features'. Having a plethora of features may be good for some people but many who really need a stair lift have a very small budget. Summit specializes in making no-fuss cheap stair lifts that are reliable.

Although Summit stair lifts are considerably cheaper than other brands you still get many features as standard. The most important of these features are the safety systems on the stair lift. The Summit stair lift comes with constant-pressure controls to stop the lift the instant the control is released. There are limits that ensure the carriage will stop at both the top and bottom of the stairs. And, like most top brands of stair lifts, there are sensors on the footrest to stop the carriage if any obstacles are encountered.

Unlike most other brands the Summit stair lift uses a cable system, rather than a rack and pinion one, to move the chair along the rack. Most companies feel that rack and pinion gives a smoother ride, especially when starting and stopping. This is possibly true but rack and pinion stair lifts need to be cleaned and lubricated regularly to prevent damage to the components. Cable systems require far less maintenance.

Also, the cable used in the Summit stair lift is aircraft cable rated for 4,200 lbs. This means the chair can carry a maximum weight of 350 lbs - the more costly Stannah stair lift can carry a maximum load of less than 300 lbs.

All in all, the cable system used in the Summit stair lift might not give you the perfectly smooth ride but it needs less attention and can carry a hefty load.

The Summit stair lift operates on standard household AC current, 115 VAC, 15 AMP minimum grounded circuit. Most stair lifts on the market today use DC rechargeable batteries. Again, the argument is that DC power gives smoother starts and stops than does AC electric power. This may be true, but there are also disadvantages to battery units. They need to be replaced every so often - there isn't this additional expense with an AC mains powered stair lift. Also, rechargeable batteries need charging after about 20 round trips of the stairs. If a stair lift is going to be used many times during the day or if more than one person will be using it, then AC mains powered stair lifts really are the better option.

The simple design of the Summit stair lift makes it easy to install, even someone with basic DIY skills is supposed to be able to fit one. However, it is always recommended that a customer never self-installs a stair lift.

Apart from the ride being a little less smooth than other brands, are there any other drawbacks?

Well, today there is quite a large market in used stair lifts. Later, should you want to sell your stair lift, you'll find that it may not be in so much demand as other used stair lifts.

You won't get many of the extras that are available with more expensive stair lifts, even if you request them. For instance, you only get a manual swivel seat; you can't get a motorized one like you can with a Stannah stair lift. You can't get the range of safety belt options like some other brands. The look of the Summit stair lift is very basic, but if you're on a budget, how it looks, won't be top of your list of requirements.

Many consumer reviews of stair lifts concur that the Summit stair lift may not be the best of the market in terms of style or functionality but it's as safe as others however the price of the Summit stair lift is its biggest selling point.

Following the links for the Summit stair lift as well as stair lift reviews on the handicap stair lift.

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