4 Considerations When Choosing A Wheelchair Lift For Your Multi-Storey Home

Posted on: 9 September 2018

If you're suddenly in a position where you find yourself in a wheelchair or if your old parents have come to live with you, then you might need to consider wheelchair lifts lift for your multi-storey property. But where do you start when you've never done this before? Here are some considerations to help you choose a wheelchair lift for your home.

1. Choose A Lift That Can Be Retrofitted Into Existing Walls 

Since you're planning to install a wheelchair lift into an existing property, you'll need to ensure that it can actually be retrofitted into the walls without any difficulty. Some lifts require load bearing walls. Others come with self-supporting technology that does not require any load bearing walls. You'll want these types of self-supporting hydraulic lifts because they can easily fit into an existing home.

2. Consider How Much Room The Lift Will Take

While the idea of a lift is fantastic, you need to be practical when it comes to space available for the lift. In some instances, a standard size may be too big for your place, and you may need to order a custom size to fit better into the space available. It's important to get the lift installation team to check your property and compare it to the sizes available to determine whether you can get a standard lift size or need to get one made to your specifications.

3. Make Sure The Lift Has An Emergency Battery

While power turning off is rare, it can happen. A power plant may be affected, and every home in the vicinity may be without power for minutes or even hours. You don't want someone in your home caught inside the lift if the power turns off, so make sure you get an emergency battery installed as a backup. In this instance, if the electricity fails, the lift car will continue to its destination and allow for a safe exit.

4. Ensure Lift Parts Are Easily Available

Keep in mind that lifts can sometimes stop working because of a faulty component or mechanical issue. If you want to make sure it is up and running quickly, you will need to choose a lift manufacturer that guarantees easy lift part accessibility. The lift manufacturer should typically stock these parts locally so that you don't have to worry about waiting for weeks or months for them to arrive.

Take these factors into account when choosing a wheelchair lift for your multi-storey home.

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