Wednesday, August 3, 2016

By Donna Cox


Chair lifts provide an unmatchable solution for senior people and other people with mobility problems that make it hard to use staircases. Most people install them in their homes besides installing traditional stairs just in case they are needed. As such, it is important to be very careful when buying this device. When in need of a good chair lift Baltimore is one of the best locations one can be sure of finding the solution.

Basically, only two types of chairlifts exist, that is, curved and straight. Like suggested in the name, straight stairlifts are installed on stairwells that have turns, requiring the device to go around them. Most homes are installed with either the straight or the curved version, but others homes may have both versions.

Besides going around bends, curved chairlifts are also very different from straight chairlifts in terms of cost and design. Curved models are usually made with complex designs to allow them to travel around corners. The complex design makes them more expensive. Typically, a curved model will cost 10000 to 15000 USD, while their straight counterparts only cost between 3000 and 5000 USD.

When choosing a stairlift, the dimension and design of the house need to be kept in mind. The shape and size of staircase need to be measured in order to choose the right device. Some companies send their own engineers to inspect the staircase and take measurements. The system needs to be assimilated into the design of the house so as not to look like it is out of place.

The configurations of chair lifts are three, that is, heavy, light, and standard duty. The configuration to be installed is in large part determined by the size and shape of stairwells. The maximum capacity of standard duty models is 300 pounds. The heavy duty models have higher capacities that exceed five hundred pounds. A breadth of not less than 36 inches is needed in the stairwell in order to install heavy duty models correctly.

Heavy duty models usually have very wide seats. The width ranges from 23 to 25 inches. The installation of a chairlift should support continued usage of the stairwell by other users. Manufacturers are making the devices more compact to support dual use of stairwells. When the people who will be using the system are tall, the depth of the seat also becomes an important factor.

When buying, one should give a lot of consideration to the safety of users. Choosing a device that incorporates safety features like armrests, cushioning, footrests, seat belts, and swivel seat is also very advisable. Swivel seats are important because they make it easy to board and alight from the seat at any location along the stairwell. This is opposed to absence of swivel seats which forces passengers to board and alight only at the landings.

The device should also be installed with appropriate controls and accessories that make operation easier. For instance, the controls should be located in a place where they can be accessed with ease. Other features and accessories that make usability more convenient are also important.




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