• Summit Lifts

Summit Lifts or simply Summit is a stair lift manufacturer that has a colorful and quite inspiring start. Founded by three gentlemen, Summit is a company that strives to prove that a company can be run just like they were run during the old days where God and family remains to be the top priority and rewards are earned by sheer hard work and not some company politics.

Throughout the years, these three gentlemen have managed to ingrain their work values to employees. Together, they worked to produce quality products that serve their customers the best way they can. They do not substitute with substandard materials and they continue to hang on to their belief that there is no other way of doing things than doing it the right way.

To prove that the tag “Made in America” still matters, the company provides each of their product a three – year manufacturer’s warranty without any maintenance – the longest warranty any stair lift manufacturer has yet to offer.

• ThyssenKrupp Access

TK Access is a company that has survived the stair lift business for more than 60 years. Their company takes pride of innovative ideas, affordable, beautiful and quality items, brilliant engineers, professional installers and good post sales customer service.

Founded on 1947, the company primarily focused on helping the disabled and the elderly gain “access” to the stairs and other areas that they previously cannot go into. While their trade started on stair lifts, today the company is also famous for the more sophisticated home elevators ramps and mobile stair climbers.

• Acorn Stair Lifts

Acorn Stair Lifts is a company that is based in Northern England. To be able to reach out to as many people who need their help, the company has opened several branches and centers all around the world. Sales and customer service is available to countries as far as Poland, Japan, China, Russia and even Germany.

Boasting of more than 100,000 happy customers, Acorn Stair Lifts attribute their success to their products. The salient features of an Acorn stair lift includes:
-    Wireless remote controls for easy operation
-    Custom made rails not only for straight and wide stairs but for curved and narrow staircases as well
-    Soft start feature that is ideal for people with back injuries
-    Custom mounting to the stairs and not to the walls

To assure utmost satisfaction, Acorn provides a lifetime warranty to the gear box assembly and a year warranty to other components.

• Bruno Living Aids Incorporated

Bruno Living Aids Inc. or simply Bruno is a family owned business that aims to provide its customers new and brilliant solutions for mobility problems. Although the business focuses more on stair lifts and ramps, they have also invested their time in manufacturing seating and access to vans, buses and private vehicles. With their products they want to prove that being disabled is not equivalent to being immobile, given ingenuity everyone, even those that are tied to a wheel chair can move around.

When planning to buy stair lift UK, there are several things that you need to address first before making the decision to buy. It is important to have knowledge of the kind of lift that you are planning to purchase or rent.

The two most common type of lifts that you can buy in the market today are the straight and the curved. The former is more affordable as the latter will need to be configured with your staircase for the curved angles. Aside from these two, you can also find other varieties of lift such as outdoor and wheelchair platform lifts. They are readily available in the  market today.

When looking for a stair lift to buy or lease, it is important that you shop around and compare the various offers from different suppliers or retailers. As a consumer, it is your right to do so. If you have certain establishments in mind, you need to consult them first and find out what they have to offer. This way, it will be easier to determine which is the right stair lift for you.

With the Internet, it is now much easier to compare prices from the different manufacturers. You do not even have to go to the actual shop to make a comparison. You simply have to go to the company website and choose the one that fits your need and budget. You can even place an order directly on the site if you are able to find the lift you are looking for.

Even though you have a tight budget, it is still possible to acquire a rental stair lift. By doing a little research, you can find several companies that have affordable terms and conditions for renting stairlift UK. There are pros and cons with renting a lift that you need to be aware of.

Rental stairlifts is the best option if the disability of the person who is going to use the equipment is only temporary or for a short period of time. The best scenario is when an elderly or handicapped relative of your is planning to live in your place for a few weeks or months. If you decide to lease the lift for a long period of time, you will be better off purchasing a new one as the cost will be much higher than what you will actually pay.

Before renting out the lift, you need to test the model first before installation. The drawback of renting a lift is that you cannot get any warranty as what is normally given to  a newly-purchased equipment. It is therefore important to understand the stipulations of the agreement before signing and making the first payment.

Disability or old age need not be a hindrance to an individual’s ability to freely move about and live a normal life. With stair lift UK, older people and those with disability need not be a burden to other people by asking for assistance in moving up and down the stairs.

Also known as a perch lift, a standing lift has a small platform where the occupant will perch as they move up and down the stairs. For some people, this kind of lift may not be safe since they need to stay in a standing position as they are transported to their destination. A sitting chair lift is the better, most convenient, and safer option than a perch lift. But if you have issues with the knees or back, the standing lift should is the best option.

A perch lift is suitable for those who have problems with their joints or difficulty bending their legs.  It is right for people who experience pain sitting down on the conventional stair lift. These units come with a reinforced handrail that the user can hold onto as they move up and down the stairs.
Although it is the practical choice if you find it difficult to bend your knees or joints, you should make sure that you use this device safely. It requires good balance as the lift moves. A typical standing stair  lift does not have a seat belt. With a regular lift, you are seated in a chair and even in the absence of a seat belt, there is nothing to worry about keeping your balance. Some models have small benches to provide support but it is not as secured as the standard lift.

A standing lift has a specialized security bar that offers complete stability for people with problems bending their knees or if several users with different needs will be using the lift. It also comes with a whisper quiet motion feature that ensures smooth stop and start that guarantees no sudden jolts or jerks while moving up and down the stairs. It has electronic and mechanical brakes giving you the added peace of mind.

The operation of a standing lift is similar to the seated ones. It takes up little space and is ideal for those who can walk safely. Like most stair lifts, the cost can be influenced by several factors but it is much cheaper than the seated ones.

As in purchasing any kind of lift, your foremost priority should be the safety of whoever will use the equipment. In scouting for a unit, check to see if it satisfies ASME standards. Some manufacturers provide safety sensors so that the lift will not hit something in its path. Likewise, they have a failsafe mechanism that keeps the lift from running until the seat is in its proper position. You should always inspect the safety features of the various models before buying the unit.

To guarantee the dependability of the standing stairlift you are considering, buy it from a reliable company. Find out if the firm is affiliated with the Better Business Bureau or Better Business Bureau Online. Likewise, see if the lift manufacturer has a shopping cart on the website if you plan to buy online.

To help them with their current situation, engineering and medical companies continually look for several means to give additional comfort to the disabled and elderly. One of the most popular solutions that they came up with is an access stair lift.

Access stair lifts were conceptualized mainly to do one thing: to help the disabled move around, climb up and down a flight of stairs without causing discomfort, hip, knees or ankle injury. In a home, an access stair lift may take three forms: a short –rise stair lift, a small access elevator or a mobile stair lift.

A short – rise lift is recommended for homes with short, wide and straight staircases. These stair lifts are often installed on the wall beside the stairs. Depending on the make and model, the lift can be a simple platform where wheelchairs or other carts may be attached or it can come with a chair that sits the disabled comfortably. Apart from those, the more sophisticated lifts can have additional features such as remote controls, adjustable reclining angle and foot rest. They can also be powered by an AC or DC current. Battery powered stair lifts are ideal for people with back injuries as these units come with a slow start feature.

Installation of these lifts is simple and it can be done by the home owner itself.

Home elevators on the other hand are ideal for big multi – level houses. This contraption is not only useful for the disabled or elderly but it may also prove to be helpful for the other residents of the home as well.

Depending on their preference, the residents may choose an elevator with a manual or electrical mechanism. And since home elevators are far more complicated compared to the simple stair lifts, professional installation of the unit is required. They also require the most maintenance compared to the other access lifts mentioned.
Last but not the least, mobile stair lifts or climbers are simple contraptions that are often attached to the base of wheelchairs or chair attachments. Unlike the first two lifts mentioned, these mobile climbers do not require any installation. This makes them versatile and ideal to be used indoors and outdoors as well.

However, it would be important to note that safety has been a continuing issue for these units. When incorrectly attached they can jam the wheels of the wheelchair and cause accidents or further injuries. As such, it is recommended to have a caregiver present at all time while the mobile stair lift is in use.

In terms of price, a straight – railed and mobile stair lift can reach anywhere in between $500 to $2500. The price of course depends on the make of unit and the features that come with it. The complication of the elevator’s mechanism and the amount of materials used with it makes it the most expensive among the bunch. Their price starts anywhere from $3000 above. It increases as its capacity and the number of additional features increases.

Installing a curved stair lift can boost the quality of your life. Moving up and down a plight of stairs can be daunting or frustrating. Mobility issues need to be addressed as it can restore your freedom and peace of mind. Here are some of the important considerations you need to bear in mind.

The purchase and installation of curved lifts is expensive. Compared with a straight stairlift, it is custom sized to your staircase and the materials used for setting up are more expensive. The track is made from aluminum. It is used because it is interchangeable and cheap. The track is manufactured from steel and aluminum because of its strength and malleability. The installation eats up a huge chunk of the cost of the model and can take approximately 3 weeks to 3 months.

Depending on the requirements and need of your physically challenged or elderly member of the family, most curved stairlifts comes with distinct features. They have a bevy of safety features such as automatic obstruction sensors, seat belts, armrest controls, swivel seats, to name just a few. Their loading capacity is from 275 to 350 lbs. They are suitable for indoor or outdoor applications.

A curved stairlift can easily be customized depending on your requirement. Likewise, they can be easily installed, maintained, and operated. You can even purchased a used stairlift but make sure that you buy it from a reputable dealer who will assemble it on your behalf. Aside from that, make sure that the lift conforms with International Safety Standards.

If you wish to replace or get rid of the curved lift in the future, you may encounter some difficulty doing so. As it is customized for your home, chances are it will not fit to another staircase. The best thing you can do is sell the chair, motor, and controls and the track will not be useful to another person.
Curved lifts will require more servicing than the straight model. The chair has the tendency to move along the track around the corners which could put additional stress on your part. The cost of maintenance is likewise more expensive than a straight lift.

You need to realize that not all manufacturers produce curved lifts. The companies that do sell this kind of lift are market leaders and their models are of superior quality. Among the companies that manufacture curved lifts are Stannah and Bruno. Before purchasing the lift, you need to check out the warranties and and after sales service. As discussed above, maintenance of curved lifts can be costly and you would want to ensure that the parts are readily available.

Although the benefits of installing curved stair lifts can be understated, it is important to address your concerns before buying in order that you can clear it with your dealer. Having a curved staircase should not be a hindrance to purchasing a stairlift. It is just a matter of determining your needs and addressing them to make sure that you will not have any difficulty moving up and down the stairs.

Stair lifts have been used in malls and other establishments in moving the disabled people and the elderly from one floor to another. But now it is possible to install these devices in their homes. Residential stair lifts are designed to be installed in your staircase. They involve a metal track and a car responsible for transporting the disabled or the elderly to higher floors in the house and back down.

The good thing about a residential stair lift is that they can be easily assembled and customized to fit any kind of staircase. Some models even comes with a DIY kit so you can assemble the lift yourself if you are up to the task or working on a budget. But there is always an option to have a professional installer set it up on your behalf.

Depending on your need and the space available in your home, there are various kinds of indoor lifts to choose from. There are models that have a simple platform with a support to move people from one floor to another while standing up and is ideal if you have aching joints or has difficulty bending your knees when climbing up and down the stairs.

In addition, there are also lifts that comes with a seat for carrying people up and down the stairs in a seated position. This is the kind of lift for those who are not able to properly stand up. It resolves the problem faced by many people with disabilities resulting to more freedom of movement. This is not the case if there is no stairlift installed in their house as freedom to move about will only just remain as a dream.

Setting up a residential stair lift in the house can be an easy job. In fact, there are many models in the market that introduces new innovations to the lifts they sell. Most of the products usually cater to your needs. In most instances, an engineer would make an ocular inspection of your location to check the conditions and technical specifications before sending out a team to put up the stairlift in your home.

Residential stair lifts can give you a guarantee of safety as most of them have complied with regulatory standards. If you do not have an idea of what kind of lift would meet your requirements, there are companies who would give you free advice and suggest the most suitable equipment for your condition.

Most models are packed with a wide array of advanced features, such as in-car phones or safety interlocks. They do not take up a huge portion of your living room. They have a long lifespan and most varieties have a good weight carrying capacity.

When choosing a stairlift, your most important consideration should be finding the right stairlift provider. You need to make sure that the company you are considering will provide warranty for your stairlift.

•    Educate yourself with the basic information that you will need in scouting for a model of lift. This will include details such as carrying capacity, drive system, operator controls, to name just a few. This will help the supplier provide the right lift for you as they have a better understanding of the specifications you need.

•    Determine your needs. The fact that you are looking for a lift is an indication that it is a necessity. But you need to find out what exactly you are looking for in a lift. The important issues you need to address are the number of people using the unit, the frequency, location, and others. Doing so would save you much time, effort, money, and potential problems.

•    If you really do not have an idea of what kind of lift to buy, it is always a good choice to have a stairlift manufacturer visit your house. This way, they will be able to inspect the condition of the floor, measure the staircase, determine the electrical limitations, and other considerations. While it can cost extra money, in the end you can have an idea on which is the best stairlift for your home.

•    If you do not have enough budget for paying off the equipment, there are various financing schemes that you can check out. Some of the available programs worth considering include bank loans, the Federal Housing Administration and Department of Housing and Community assistance programs, and others.

To ensure your safety and convenience, most electric stairlifts are packed with a bevy of security features. They come with swivel seats, safety belts, padded armrests, and obstruction sensors. The latter feature can detect barriers along its path and stops the lift automatically reducing the risks of injury on the user and damage to the lift. They also have folding rails, which can keep the equipment folded when not in use.

In addition, electric chairlifts also have handheld controls which can be easily operated. Some models also combine the convenience of remote and joystick controls. If cost is a major consideration, electric stair lifts are more affordable than other brands. Of course, it is important to make a comparison of the prices offered by various stairlift manufacturers.

Stair lifts have enabled the physically challenged and the elderly to live a normal life despite their conditions. Finding the suitable stairlift model need not be daunting as it only takes a little research on your part. This way, you could have an assurance of finding the lift that suits your taste and budget.

Just because a chair lift stairs is known for its functionality, that is, to transport the old and the handicapped people up and down the stair way; does not mean that the device has to be boring. In truth, some of these chairs are sophisticatedly and intricately designed, built for safety, comfort and luxury ride. Some of the advanced features incorporated in chair lifts for stairs are folding armrests which can be adjusted for comfort, adjustable seats to fit any size, covered tracks and power backup. Aside from these features, these chair types are also equipped with the most technical methods such as automatic sensors, seat belts, wrap-around arms that ensure safety and security for the passenger, as well as speed governor, remote control, rack and pinion drives so the rider will have as much control to the device as possible.

Aside from serving commercial functions, the chair lift is easy to install hence can also serve residential buildings. In addition, the device is adjustable. It does not necessarily have to use too much space. The foldable chair feature can be pulled down and pushed up when not in use. Moreover, aside from being customizable to fit and operate both a straight and curved stair case, the chair lift can also be used both indoors and outdoors. All in all, the stair lift is a practical and appropriate solution that provides the mobility and accessibility, comfort, safety and security that physically challenged people deserve. It empowers them to function and gives them the freedom to move around like the physically bodied people enjoy.

The price is right for the chair lifts. There are different manufacturers around who offer the utmost quality and comfort at competitive prices. Some stair lifts may be more expensive than others depending on the intricacies of its design. There are different variations in design that builders offer. But there is also a wide selection of choices for the budget concerned.

A Chair lift for stairs changes how the physically challenged view, a ride up or down from floor to floor. With the device, they are given more mobility and granted an easy access around the structure or the building. They get the same treatment as people who are able and have the use of their legs. The chair lift installed in stair cases makes them equal to physically able people.

Summit stairlifts are much more inexpensive than other brands but then it does not compromise the features which is also found on the other brands. Its most notable feature are the safety systems. It has constant pressure controls that automatically stops the equipment the moment they are released. There are limits that ensures the carriage will stop at both ends of the stairs. As in other brands, it has sensors on the footrest which stops the carriage when there is an obstacle.

Summit uses a cable system unlike other brands using the rack and pinion. Although the latter ensures a smoother start and stop, they require cleaning and regular lubrication to prevent the parts from being damaged. On the other hand, the cable system requires minimal maintenance. Aside from that, Summit models use aircraft cable with a rating for 4,200 lbs which means that the chair has a maximum capacity of 350 lbs. The more expensive brands only has a maximum weight of below 300 lbs.

Summit Stair Lifts use the standard AC 115 VAC, 15 AMP minimum grounded circuit as power source. Majority of the models in the market run of DC rechargeable batteries. Although the battery operated lifts guarantees smoother starts and stops than the AC powered ones, you need to replace the batteries from time to time which may add to the expenses of maintaining the unit. Aside from that, rechargeable batteries need to be charged after 20 round trips making the AC powered lift the better alternative.

In addition, because of its simple design, Summit lifts can be easily installed. If you have knowledge of DIY, installing and fitting a lift can be an enjoyable and worthwhile experience for you. At the same time, it can free you from paying the installation cost. But even so, it is not suggested that you install a stairlift yourself.

Aside from a little less smooth ride compared with other brands, there are other disadvantages of buying a Summit Stair Lift. First of all, should you opt to sell it in the future, you will realize that it is not as in demand as the other brands of lifts. Aside from that, you will not receive the additional features installed in the more expensive brands even if you ask for them.

Usually, you get the standard features only. So if it has a manual swivel chair, you cannot ask for a motorized seat such as the ones found in brands like Stannah. Aside from that, you cannot request for a wide array of safety belt options like those in other brands. It has a basic look but if you are budget conscious, the appearance does not matter.

Many consumer reviews of stair lifts agree that although it is not the best model in terms of functionality or style, Summit is comparable with other models on the aspect of safety. Its biggest advantage is its cost.

This brand of stair lift uses the old-fashioned cable system instead of the rack and pinion system which is used by most high-end models. However, with its improved motor traveling at a top speed of 20 feet per minute, you would not see any difference in the comfort that other brands boast of.

Another major disadvantage of the cable system is that it has the tendency to drag behind the chair which can be risky as you might trip over it. To ensure the safety of its user, the makers of the stair lift has encased the cable within the track so that any trailing wire can not be seen. Replacement of the cable as a result of wear and tear is another major concern of users with products using the cable system. Stair lifts from Ameriglide uses strong aircraft cable in its drive system which has a capacity of 4,200 lbs and guaranteed to last for a long period of time.

Every Amerglide lift gives you the option to choose from a main power switch as well as a battery operated model. Most suppliers nowadays have since been selling battery powered lifts. Because of this, you can expect a smoother start and stop. Since it also gives the option to switch to batteries, you can still use the device during a power outage.

In addition, Ameriglide Stairlift comes with a bevy of safety features. A sensor is strategically located on the footrest to make way for easy stopping of the stairlift when it touches any barrier. Aside from that, there are limit switches that automatically turns the device off in the same place at the top and bottom of the stairs. It has a seat belt attached to the chair.

Being a cheap brand of stair lift, it does not have the two wireless remote controls which are standard features of more expensive brands like those sold by Bruno and Acorn. The best models does not only have safety sensors positioned on the footrest but also on the carriage which the Ameriglide lift does not have. Thus, any obstacle encountered on the track will not cause the lift to make a stop.

Moreover, all lifts provide you the option for manual swiveling of the seat at the top of the stairs but there are models that have optional motorized swivel seat which is an important safety feature for those who have severe problems with mobility. If this applies to you, then Ameriglide is not the right lift that will address your problem.

Finally, Ameriglide Stair lift is not as aesthetically appealing as the more expensive models. However, this is not a major issue especially if you have a tight budget. Ameriglide may not be the best stairlift available in the market. Nevertheless, it can provide you with the solution to your mobility issue. Like any other mobility products, you need to check out the terms and conditions as well as the warranty of the model.