The 6 Best Used Stair Lift Sources

There are a number of used stair lift sources for you to consider in searching for a lower cost stairlift.
Here is a list of 6 sources for used stair lifts.

1. Your local classified ads in your local newspapers.
2. Local agencies such as the ALS, MS and MD societies.
3. On line classified ads.
4. Local stair lift dealers.
5. Durable medical equipment dealers.
6. SILVER CROSS – Our nation wide service to find a local used stair lift.

Factors you need to consider in selection of a used stair lift are:

1. Length of track. Measure from the nose of the top step to the floor then add the overhang track required for the particular stair lift model you are considering purchasing.
2. Is the used stair lift match the side of the stairs on your stairs?
3. Can the angle of your stairway be accommodated with the stair lift you are considering?
4. Does the seat height of the stair lift chair meet the lift user’s requirements to safely transfer to the seat of the chair lift?
5. Is the width of the stair chair rail too wide for your stairway?
6. Is a soft stop and start stair lift required for the lift user?
7. Is the footplate sufficient in size for the user to be able to place their feet safely on the platform?
8. What power requirements are needed for the model being considered?
9. Does the seat width and depth fit the prospective stair lift user?
10. Does the lift user require a contour seat for trunk control?
11. Does the pattern of people flow in the home necessitate that the stair lift is installed on a particular side of the stairs?
12. Are the stair treads sufficient in strength, width and angle consistency to fit the stair lift you are considering?

Simply put, there are many factors to consider in selecting a used stair lift to meet your specific needs. I truly feel that a local stair lift dealer is the best source for used stair lifts.

Common Stair Lift Problems

Most stair lifts operate without service issues.  However, this is a product that should be serviced and maintained just like your furnace or air conditioner.

The common stair lift problems are the following:

Stair lift stops at the:

1. Top of the stairs.

This is usually associated with either the seat not in a lock position, the footrest has hit an obstruction or the chasis  has extended beyond the final limit switch.  If your stairlift is a battery operated stair lift,  and you have not brought the stair lift to the end of the track to engage the charging strip, then your lift could die at the top of the stairs.

2. Bottom of the stairs.

Again, if the seat is not in the locked position, or the foot rest has hit an obstruction or the final limit switch has been tripped then these are common reasons.

3. Somewhere along the track.

Power supply could be an issue to the stair lift. Also, an obstruction on the stairs could have tripped a sensor in the footrest.  Something in the track obstructing the stair lift mechanism is also a possibility.  If your stair lift is battery operated, then it is possible that your battery has died.  It is not common for a stair lift to stop along the track.

Some other key stair lift problems are…

New stair lift models that have been out on the market less than two years tend to have more problems.

Stair Lifts For All Sorts Of Mobility Issues

When you are looking at stair lifts for help with any variety of mobility issues, you are going to see that there are an incredible amount of choices available to consumers today. Whether you are looking for stair lifts for your home or office or stair lifts for disabled service, there are a number of great options available today.

If you think that you do not have the funding available to purchase a stair lift outright, then you may even be able to find a good electric lift chair rental that you can use in the meantime.

The right stair lifts for individuals with disabilities or mobility issues can make a world of difference in terms of freedom and independence. You know that you have a lack of mobility, and the last thing that you want is to rely on the people around you to help you get around within your own home.

Stair lifts for disabled individuals are a smart option, as well as a piece of equipment that will allow the freedom and independence that you deserve as a human being. Perhaps the time is right for you to look into stair lifts for your home use or an electric lift chair rental to help you get around.

Stair lifts for your home can be installed inside or outside or even both, depending on where you need is the greatest. Outdoor stair lifts for disabled individuals are meant to be weather resistant and are able to stand up to the elements. These stair lifts for outdoor use are just right to help you get from your vehicle to your house and vice versa with ease.

Your contractor or stair lift installer will be able to tell you just what you will need to have done in order to get your stair lift installed and working properly.

When it comes to stair lifts for interior use, there are a couple of different models you can choose from. An electric stair lift chair rental may be a good option to choose for the short term, but when you need stair lifts for disabled use in the long term, then you will want to talk to a representative about setting you up with a piece of equipment that suits your needs. There are stair lifts for both straight stair cases as well as curved stair cases, however the curved option is often much more pricey than the straight stair case models.

As you look into stair lifts for help with your mobility issues, just be sure that you are getting the proper model to help you out with your daily mobility needs. When it comes to paying for your stair lifts for personal mobility use, then you can always talk to your representative about your options in terms of financing programs. Before you know it, your choice of stair lifts for disabled individuals in your home or stair lifts for your own personal use will be working for you and helping you to move onward with your life.

When is a custom curved stair lift required?

The question as to when a curved stair lift is required is straight forward.  The answer is that a curved stair lift is required for any stairway that does not allow for a straight rail to go up the entire length of the stairs. 

If there is a flat landing mid way up the stairway, then there is the option to consider two straight stair lifts instead of a custom rail stair lift that would carry the user all the way up the stairs.  

Transferring from one straight stair lift to another on the flat landing is not ideal for a number of reasons.

1.  First, can the lift user, safely transfer from one seat to the other on the landing.  

2. Many clients want the stair lift to not be very visually dominant on the stairs.  Two straight stair lifts are more visually dominant than one custom stair lift.

3.  Using one custom curved stair lift is easier than two straight stair lifts.

4. You can leave the chair of a curved stair lift at the top or bottom of the stairs.  Two straight stairlifts require two chairs which takes more space for other family members on the stairway.

What is the cost difference between a curved stair lift and two straight stair lifts?

A custom curved stair lift will cost anywhere between $4000-$8000 more than two straight stair lifts. The reason for this is that the rail is custom made to fit your exact stairway and this is not a simple manufacturing process.  

Bottom line is I would highly recommend going with a custom curved stair lift.

Having said that, if the budget will not allow the price difference, then two straight stair lifts is a less than perfect option but better than no stair lift.

Stair Lift User’s Physical Condition and Model Selection

Height of Stair Lift User

Battery versus Electric Powered Stair Lifts

I formed SILVER CROSS over 15 years ago and have not changed my opinion that an electric powered stair lift is more reliable than a battery operated stair lift.  The key reasons why I say this are the following: 

1. Batteries eventually die and you can not predict when this will happen.  

2. Your furnace, air conditioner, fridge and stove are most likely run by electricity.  You count on these appliances just as much as you would count on a stair lift.  So, why choose a battery operated stair lift over an electric powered stair lift?  It does not make sense.

3. The stair lift manufacturer’s that insist that their battery operated stair lifts are more quiet and more reliable than electric powered stair lifts have an agenda to push their stairlift models.  

4. Battery operated stair lifts rely on electricity to  power the battery charger.  If electricity goes out in your home, the stair lift charger will not get power and your stair lift will not work after a few runs up and down your stairs.

5. Most stair lift batteries will die unless you charge the batteries every few weeks.

On the other side of this opinion, battery operated stair lifts now dominate the marketplace and there are only a few stair lift models that are electric powered.  

If you plan to use the stair lift for less than two years, and plan to charge them weekly, then a battery operated stair lift is fine.

Used Stair Lift Factors

Used Stair Lift Factors