There are several different types of home lifts on the market and it can be difficult to know what type of domestic lift is best for a home. The simple answer is: it depends on several factors. This includes how much space in the home is required for the lift, does the lift need to be big enough to fit a wheelchair, how much budget is available and more. It can also come down to personal choice as to which home lift looks most attractive in the home.
However, there are four main types of domestic lift available: This includes:
Hydraulic Home Lift: This is powered by a hydraulic piston which is housed at the bottom of the lift. Oil is pumped into the piston enabling it to travel upwards and, when pressure is released, the lift moves downwards. The piston is usually connected to the home lift itself and the pumping unit tends to be situated in a separate machine room. Hydraulic through-floor lifts tend to run smoothly and offer a similar travelling experience as you would expect in a commercial elevator according to online customer reviews.
Chain Home Lift: This is powered using a chain – hence the name – with a motor that uses a counterweight system to move the domestic lifts up and down. The chain will most likely cover a toothed flywheel at the top of the lift and back down to the counterweight which will balance the lift. Motors in chain home lifts are commonly geared and this turns the flywheel with the motor situated at the top of the lift shaft.
Cable Home Lift (otherwise known as Traction Home Lifts): There are two types of cable home lift. One uses hydraulics, one does not. The hydraulic cable home lift – also known as traction home elevators – has been described in American media as the most common type of elevator used in buildings today. This type of lift uses a system of ropes and pulleys to effectively move it upwards and downwards.
A non-hydraulic home lift, such as the one manufactured by Lifton, is powered by plugging it into a 13amp power socket which is connected from a roped drum-braked gear motor drive system that is positioned within the roof space of the lift. The motor’s mechanics are hidden from view in this self-contained area. Lifton domestic lifts are a self-supporting structure with no load-bearing walls required.
Vacuum Home Lifts (otherwise known as a pneumatic home lifts or tube home lifts): These types of domestic lifts are basically powered using air pressure. Typically, these lifts use a self-supporting outer polycarbonate tube which houses an often fully panoramic circular cabin inside. The lifts are designed to harness air pressure which controls the ascension and descent of the lift. Air is pulled from the tube using turbines which are usually fitted at the top of the shaft of the lift. This creates a ‘vacuum’ that pulls the through floor lift upwards. When it needs to go downwards, the air pressure is released, slowly, through a pumped value enabling the user to lower the lift to the ground floor.
Are Home Lifts Reliable?
Home lifts are considered as reliable as using a commercial elevator. Many lift manufacturers include several safety features to ensure homeowners feel as safe as possible when travelling in their lifts.
Movement Sensors: For example, the non-hydraulic home lifts by Lifton include movement safety sensors which detect any obstructions or movement above or below the lift. If any obstacles are detected, the lift will come to a smooth stop and no longer work until whatever is in the lift’s way has been moved.
Motion Sensors: An additional sensor is located at the entrance of the lift and if anything crosses this threshold while the lift is moving, the lift will, again grind to an automatic stop until the obstruction has been removed.
Weight Sensors: Lifton’s domestic lifts are limited to 170kg (DUO model) and should this limit be exceeded the lift will not travel.
Out of Balance Sensors: If the lift is out of balance, a further sensor will detect this and prevent it from moving.
Emergency Stop Button: There is an emergency stop button in the front of the lift which is clearly visible to the user should they ever need to stop the lift in an emergency.
Fall Arrest Mechanism: In the unlikely event, Lifton lifts have a patented system which prevents the lift from falling if the steel ropes should ever go slack.
Key Switch Operation: This enables the user to ‘switch off’ the lift and make it inoperable if needed, should the owners not want any unauthorised use.
Remote Control: Lifton include two ‘hold to run’ remote controls which require the user to add constant pressure for the through floor lift to move throughout travel.
Safety Plug: As part of the design of the lift, Lifton fit a ‘safety plug’ to the top of the lift so that when it is in the downstairs position, this piece of equipment is strong enough to stand on – and even put the original carpet over the top, as if the lift was not even there.
Do Lifts Use a Lot of Electricity?
Home elevators are typically very economical depending on the frequency of use. However, according to Swift Lifts, a small home elevator can use about 1-2kWh (kilowatt hours daily). This equates to the energy used to light up an ordinary light bulb ‘for hours’.
It is estimated that a Lifton Home Lift uses the same amount of energy as it takes to boil a kettle for one trip up and down between floors.
Do Home Elevators Get Stuck?
The most common reasons for home lifts getting ‘stuck’ is usually because of:
Poor maintenance: Neglecting routine maintenance may mean the home lift starts malfunctioning due to unchecked faults. Most lift manufacturers recommend at least one service per year.
Misuse: Users may not always use the lift in the most appropriate manner which can lead to problems so it is important to always treat it carefully and not allow unauthorised use.
Age: Components may deteriorate and require replacements parts with age or use outdated technology. A new upgrade could end up saving homeowners more time and money in the long run with fewer repairs and expenses.
Console Damage: One of the most frequent reasons for a domestic lift to malfunction is because the remote controls or console, the button or collection of buttons that allow the lift to travel, become damaged. Pushing button excessively, for example, or in other ways that the controls cannot withstand, may cause the lift the stop working.
Motor Failure: Many domestic lifts are powered by different motor systems and run on different currents, and these can fail for a variety of reasons which is why it is important to make sure the lift is regularly serviced and treated with care, to avoid any unnecessary problems. Any reputable lift manufacturer should arrange to visit the property at the earliest opportunity to fix any issues with the motor.
Is it Worth Putting Elevator in House?
There are several reasons to suggest that it is worth putting a home lift or elevator in the home.
Add Value to Home: It has been estimated that a home lift could add 10 per cent or more to the property value of the home according to media reports.
Improve Your Lifestyle: Installing a lift in the home for homeowners who are older and starting to find the stairs too challenging to climb every day or individuals with mobility issues is a great way to improve your lifestyle and make life easier.
Safety: A domestic lift provides a safe way to travel between the floors of the home. There cannot be a price put on this peace of mind.
Space Saving: Many home lifts on the market today take up very little room and often have a small footprint enabling homeowners to make the most of the space in their home.
Stylish: Modern domestic lifts can look extremely stylish in the home, taking centre stage in any property, or can also blend into any décor with different colours available. Some lifts can also be placed out of sight in places such as a cupboard or larder.
Independence: Putting a lift in the home enables the homeowner to either future-proof their house for use in later life, or allows them to ‘age in place’ and stay in the home they love for longer.
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