In the home, there are many dangerous areas for those who are mobility challenged, but the stairs are by far the most dangerous. Among seniors, falls on the stairs are the lead cause for hospital stays and accidental deaths. For this reason, ensuring that every member of the household can safely use the stairs is essential. In instances where the individual can no longer safely use the stairs, a stair lift is usually a good consideration.
Stair lifts were first developed during the start of the twentieth century, but it would not be until much later that these devices would become common place. Beginning in the nineteen-nineties, the popularity of the stair lift would take off, with many manufacturers offering both battery powered and AC stair lifts.
Choosing between a battery powered or AC stair lift is an important consideration that should not be taken lightly. The main difference between these types of stair lifts is that AC stair lifts are powered directly from the home, while Battery Powered Stair Lifts run off of one or more rechargeable batteries.
Battery powered stair lifts have come a long way since they were first introduced. It used to be that the stair lift car, which is what carries the person up and down the staircase, had to be parked in a specific place on the track for the stair lift to charge. This worked sort of like a cordless phone charger, in that if you didn’t park it just right, the stair lift would not charge. This caused a number of problems and reliability issues, but today, most battery powered stair lifts are constantly charging at all points along the track so this is not a problem. There are however a few models that still require you to park the stair lift car in a specific point, but there are enough other options that these types of stair lifts can be avoided.
The main advantage of a battery powered stair lift, as opposed to AC Powered stair lifts, is that the battery powered stair lift can be used even if there is a power outage, such as could occur during a thunderstorm. This means that even when the power goes out, the stair lift can still safely be used, offering a great deal of security, especially in areas that have frequent power disruptions.
While much more practical, Battery powered stair lifts do typically cost more than AC Stair Lifts, both in the upfront cost, as well as in terms of maintenance costs. This is because the battery will need to be replaced periodically, usually once every 12 to 18 months. The cost of the battery can vary, but it usually when you include shipping the replacement batteries will cost about $70 to $150 every time. AC Stair Lifts, on the other hand, do not have this recurring cost, so end up being more affordable for some.
Choosing between an AC Powered Stair Lift and a Battery Powered Stair Lift is an important decision. It is important to not only take into account your budget, but also how reliable your local power grid is, because having a Battery Powered Stair Lift can add a great deal of security.
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