Stairlift Reviews

Not to be confused with exercise equipment, the stair lift is a mechanical device that – as the name suggests – lifts people up and down the stairs. Think of stair lifts as mini versions of an elevator without walls and are attached to – what else, but stairs. The main purpose of stair lifts is to help people go up and down the stairs. This device is particularly useful for the disabled, patients recovering from surgery, and the elderly.

Stair lifts go by different names; sometimes they are referred to as chair lifts or stair gliders. There are many kinds of stair lifts. The most common are the seated and the standing stair lifts.

The common stair lift has two components, the rails and the carriage. The rail or track is the path through which the carriage moves along the stairs; these are usually made of aluminum or steel and are flexible enough to accommodate the smallest curve of curved stairs yet strong enough to carry the weight of an adult.

Rails or tracks are attached to the stairs using metal brackets called cleats. The carriage is the apparatus that moves along the rail or track. The carrier consists of a seat with an arm and foot rest; the typical design looks a lot like a wheelchair seat. In the case of standing stair lifts, the carriage consists of a standing platform with one or two guard rails.

Stair lifts are motorized; some models can be plugged directly to a standard household outlet while some are powered by rechargeable batteries. Most models combine both so that in the event of a power failure, the stair lift can still be used.

Most stair lifts have what is called a smart design similar to hybrid cars. The beauty of hybrid cars is that when they are at rest, they recharge using solar energy.

Stair lifts have park points or points wherein the carriage of the lift can come to a full stop and “park.” Park points are usually the opposite ends of the tracks, the bottom or top of the stairs. When the carriage is parked, the battery recharges.

Sometimes if the staircase is too long and there are many curves or the curve is too intricate, the stair lift may also have a park point in the middle of the curve to ensure that the lift has enough power to lift its passenger all the way to the top or bottom.

Stair lifts are the smart way to go up and down the stairs. They are extremely useful and know how to “carry their own weight.”

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