Residential Stair Lifts

Many Americans whether due to age or disability are not able to use large portions of their homes because they can not safely navigate the stairs. This can be very hard on the individual and their family. A stair lift, using a remote control or set of mounted buttons, carries an individual up and down the stairs. Most stair lifts work by mounting an aluminum track to the stair case and then sending an attached chair up and down the distance of the stairs. For individuals that have trouble sitting, there are models available with small platforms as well. For most though the stair chair is going to provide the most comfort and stability.

When you are in the market for a stair lift there are several things to consider. As long as you have a straight stair case the installation is fairly easy and inexpensive. A curved stair case will usually require a completely custom made track and is a good deal more expensive and needs to be professionally installed. If your stair case is not straight there may still be a way to use a standard stair lift and save money. A common design for stair cases is an L shaped curve. These L shaped staircases are really just 2 straight stair cases with a landing in between. In these instances it is usually considerably less expensive to purchase 2 traditional stair lifts and install them on each stair case. Incredibly narrow stair cases can also prevent problems because if it is too narrow than the stair lift must be mounted to the wall instead of the steps. Wall mounted stair lifts are more expensive and harder to install, so it may be necessary to get it professionally installed. There are a good many low profile stair lifts that do not take up much stair space, though, unless your stair case is very narrow you should not have any problems finding one that will fit perfectly.

Whether you plan on buying a new stair lift or a used stair lift it is never a good idea to buy one second hand from a private individual. When you purchase a used stair lift from a private individual, there is no way to tell if the unit has been completely abused or is unsafe. Stair lifts are made using incredibly reliable and high quality materials, such as high test aircraft cable, but like anything if you misuse it there is no way to guarantee the safeguards will hold up. Instead of taking this incredible risk with yourself or someone you loves life, you should purchase the stair lift from a reputable dealer. A reputable dealer will fully inspect, refurbish, and then test any stair lift they sell you. When you purchase a used stair lift from a reputable dealer it is in complete factory working condition and compliance. In addition they will offer a minimum 6 month warranty. You get not such guarantees from a private individual and could be very well inheriting a headache or an extreme safety hazard.

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Perch Lifts

Stair lifts are an important tool for individuals that are mobility challenged. Using a track or rail that is usually affixed to the step, an individual is literally carried up the stairs by the stair lift. Usually they use a chair and so they are often called stair chairs. There are a few models that use a perch, which is a small platform. Perch lifts are not as common, but they are just as important.

A perch lift is perfect for people who have joint problems and have trouble bending their legs enough to come to a sitting position. For these people it would be too painful to sit down on a traditional stair lift, so the perch lift becomes a good alternative. These units typically have a well reinforced handrail that the user can hold onto as they go up and down the stairs.

While a perch lift is very practical if you can not bend your knees or joints easily, but it is very important to use this device safely. Because you are standing you must be able to maintain your balance as the perch lift moves. They typically do not have a seat belt either. In a traditional stair lift you are sitting in a chair, and even with out a seat belt, you do not really have to worry about your balance. Some perch lifts have small benches that you can lean on to add support, but it is still not going to be as secure as a standard stair lift.

AmeriGlide: Quality Materials Means Quality Products

Stair lifts are used to help people who are mobility challenged use the stairs independently. They are sometimes referred to as stair chairs because they generally utilize a chair that is attached to a track. The track spans the distance of the stairs and depending on the model can support more than 500 pounds.

One of the bestselling brands of Stair lifts is the AmeriGlide Stair Lift. There are many reasons that the AmeriGlide brand is so popular. They use only the finest materials and have independently tested all of their products for safety and reliability. The cabling used in these units is aircraft grade, which means that it has an impressive 4,200 pound breaking point.

They have tested their each of their units for over 30,000 cycles. This amounts to over 16 years of service, and even still the drive trains have only shown normal wear. The stair lifts require little maintenance as well. With their sealed gearbox there is never a need to add oil or worry about leaks. The stair lifts merely need to be lubricated properly once every 4-6 months.

All of their units are designed with safety in mind. The foot rests have a built in sensor that will stop if it detects anything, such as shoes or clothes, in the way as it travels up the stairs. This prevents damage to the unit and also ensures the occupant will remain safe.

AmeriGlide is one of the few manufacturers of stair lifts that thinks of the customer first. Everything they do is geared towards developing safe and reliable products.

Stair Lift Installation

A stair lift is a device that is used to lift a person up the stairs, much like an escalator. These devices generally use a rail or track system that is attached to the stairs and spans the complete distance of the stairs. A chair or small platform is attached to the track and is sent up and down the track. These devices are very safe and reliable, but there are some safety concerns that should be addressed both when using these devices and when installing them.

It is imperative that you both read and understand the manufacturer’s installation instructions before you begin your initial setup. On standard non-winding stairs the installation can usually be done in a few hours by a single individual, but before you do anything carefully read the instructions. One of the most important steps will be securing the track to the stairs. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the included hardware to secure the track to the stairs. Usually the track comes in sections that are made to slide together and are secured with bolts.

Most of the actual installation can be done with standard household tools. Usually a set of Allen wrenches (often included), a set of Phillips heads screwdrivers, a 3/8 inch socket set, a power drill, a tape measure, and a level will be all that is required to set up the stair lift. Some models do require a tool called a torque wrench, which may sound complicated or foreign, but it really isn’t. A torque wrench is a wrench that has a gauge or dial attached to it that lets you tighten a bolt to a specific tension. All you need to do is very lightly tighten the bolt while keeping an eye on the gauge that is attached to the wrench. If you are tightening the bolt to 18 ft/lbs then just apply constant pressure until the gauge reads about 18. Torque wrenches can be found at most hardware stores as well as at auto parts stores.

Once the track is down it will be time to put the chair onto the track. Usually the chair is attached to a short piece of track that is only a foot or two in length. This short piece of track is temporarily attached to the track at the top of the stairs. A bolt holds the chair in place on this temporary track. Once the bolt is removed the chair will slide down onto the actual stair lift track. It is important that either you or your assistant apply pressure to the chair when you remove the retaining bolt. Once the bolt is removed the chair will slide freely so make sure you hold the chair in place until your hands are out of the way, then let is slowly slide down onto the track.

A stair lift that has been installed properly will provide many years of dependable and safe service. It can generally be done by one person. If after reading the installation instructions you are hesitant at all about the set up, call up your distributor and they can either help you with the instructions or recommend a company that will install it for you at a good rate.

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