Safety with Stair Lifts

The first stair lift dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century. A young inventor saw one of his neighbors struggling to use the stairs. His neighbor used a wheelchair and as a result, was unable to access all areas of his home. The neighbor often had to rely on the help of others if he wanted to leave his home. Clarence Crispen, who would go on to found the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company, saw his neighbor struggling and decided to do something. He invented a device that attached to the stairs and could carry his neighbor into and out of his home. Crispen’s invention was the first stair lift.

Today, the stair lift has changed tremendously over the early models developed by Crispen. They use innovative safety designs and are able to support much more weight than early model developed by Crispen. Today, most stair lifts are capable of carrying more than three hundred pounds and can be used on stair lifts that are up to 32 feet in length.

One of the other features that has changed about the stair lift, is the ease at which they are installed. There are many kits available that can be quickly installed by the homeowner, without any major home renovation. This can save a lot of money and these kits are very affordably priced. However, these do-it-yourself stair lift kits are typically only available for straight staircases.

When choosing a stair lift, there are several considerations. The type of staircase is one of the leading factors that will determine what type of stair lift you need. The first thing that you should consider is whether you have a straight or a curved staircase. In regards to cost, a stair lift for a straight staircase will cost less and be easier to install than a curved stair lift.

Curved staircases can represent a problem for installing a stair lift. Typically if the staircase is shaped like an ‘L’, with a 90 degree bend, you will be able to find a relatively inexpensive stair lift. There are several lifts available that are designed to fit this type of stair case. This lifts are still more expensive than a regular straight stair lift. Another option would be to install two straight stair lifts. You will usually save money going this route, but it means that you will have to switch stair lifts when you reach the landing.

For staircases that are curved at an angle other than 90 degrees, you will probably need to have the lift custom built. This can quickly run into twenty or thirty thousand dollars, so in many cases an elevator is a better choice at this point. The reason these lifts cost so much is that they will have to be custom fit to the curved staircase. They will also require professional installation.

Using a stair lift is one of the best ways to prevent accidents on the stairs. These lifts can safely transport a person between floors and will greatly reduce the chance of a fall.