Installing a stair lift can be a worthwhile investment, and help you stay in the home you love. People who face mobility challenges can benefit from installing a stair lift.
Family members across the nation have purchased stair chair lifts to assure their loved ones are safe. Stair lifts are an excellent way to prevent falls in the home which are all too common.
The popularity of stair chair lifts has grown over the years, but people are still confused about what to look for when buying a lift.
For almost 40 years, Arrow Lift has provided our customers with a wide range of mobility options. Our team of experts has the knowledge and skill to help you pick the perfect chair lift for you or your loved one.
Our top priority is not only to provide you with a high-quality stair lift, but also to inform you of how to choose a stair lift that best suits your needs.
When shopping for a stair lift, it’s important to pay attention to the following aspects.
Staircase Type
When shopping for a stair chair lift, it’s important to consider the shape of your staircase. The difference in the kind of stair lift you choose will depend on the shape of your staircase.
There are two main types of stair lifts used in homes: a straight stair lift and a curved stair lift. Whether you have a straight staircase, a curved staircase, or even a spiral staircase, you’ll need a chair lift designed to fit your home.
Straight Stair Lifts
A straight stair lift is ideal for stairs with no curves, turns, or landings in them. It allows users to travel safely from one level to another in a straight path along the staircase. Straight stair lifts can be customized to fit on nearly any length of straight stairs. They also offer a wide range of functional and design options to suit your needs. This makes them an ideal choice for many homes.
Curved Stair Lifts
If your staircase features a bend or turn, then a curved stair lift may work better for you. Curved stair lifts feature a chair that moves along a rail following the contour of the staircase. They can pass over larger landings, making them an ideal solution for split level staircases. These chair lifts are each designed to custom-fit your home’s staircase.
Chair lifts have a continuously charged battery power source to ensure that you can still use your chair in the event of an electrical outage. The installation process is quick and hassle-free, so you don’t have to worry about your home undergoing heavy construction or remodeling.
Speak to one of our team members to gain more insight on which kind of chair lift would be the best fit for your home.
Safety Features
Stair lifts provide a safe and simple accessibility solution for you or your loved one. Most chairs come with similar safety features, but it’s important to speak with an expert regarding additional options that best suit your needs. At Arrow lift, we’re a family-owned business, and we know how important it is to make sure your loved one is comfortable and safe while riding one of our stair lifts. That’s why our chair lifts meet the highest safety standards, so you do not have to worry about any accidents occurring.
Arrow Lift safety features include:
- Obstruction sensors
- Seatbelts
- Swivel position safety lock
- Weight sensors (on select stair lift models)
- Multi-point harness seat belts
- Key lockout (to prevent unintended use)
Test Ride a Stair Lift
Find the best stair chair lift for you by riding and comparing different options in a local showroom. As one of the leading stair lift suppliers, we value our customers’ comfort. We not only want to offer you the best fitting chair, but we also want you to try it out. That’s why Arrow Lift has nine showrooms that you and your loved one can visit! We have a diverse selection of stair lifts in stock for you to try.
Find an Arrow Lift showroom near you:
- Duluth, Minnesota
- Blaine, Minnesota
- Bloomington, Minnesota
- Appleton, Wisconsin
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Columbus, Ohio
- Westlake, Ohio
- Fresno, California
- Agoura Hills, California
- Union City, California
- Ontario, California
Chair Components
Stair lifts have three primary parts: the chair, rail, and finish. Each component can be customized to meet the rider’s needs
Chair
The chair, or the chair lift seat, is one of the parts of a chair lift that needs careful consideration and inspection. Essential questions we encourage our customers to ask themselves are “Is this seat comfortable?”, “Does the seat swivel so I can exit the chair lift?”, “Do I need a manual or automatically-swiveling seat?” and “Does the seat fold up easily?” Make sure you work with a stair lift expert that has the knowledge and experience to help you choose the right seat for your specific needs.
Rail
Another important component to keep in mind is the type of rail that will work for your staircase. The rail needs to be able to contour and fit the staircase of your home. Straight stair lift rails have no bends or turns in them, but they can be equipped with a retractable component that will keep your walkway free from obstruction at the base of the stairs. This solution works well for homes with a door or walkway on both sides of the base of the steps. Curved rails are able to bend and turn to travel even the most complex staircases.
Finish
Lastly, the finish of a stair lift is something that we recommend paying attention to. There are two typical finishes that you can choose from, which are an incline finish and an overrun finish.
With incline finishes, the chair needs to automatically or manually swivel for the rider to exit the stairlift safely at the top of the stairs. Incline finishes are frequently paired with straight staircases that do not have any turns.
An overrun finish is the most common choice for customers who are interested in a curved stair chair lift. With an overrun finish, stair lifts are in a parked position and out of the way of the staircase entrance. This can sometimes provide an extra sense of security by allowing you to sit down and stand up from the chair lift away from the steps.
Prices will vary depending on the selection of each component, which can be customized for you.
Weight Capacity
The maximum weight that can be lifted by a stairlift will vary depending on which model you choose; however, most models are rated for up to 300lbs. For example, a Stannah stair lift can hold up to 350 pounds of weight, and some Bruno stair lifts have a weight capacity of 400 pounds.
Some factors, such as frequency of use, may mean that a chair with a higher weight limit is recommended for your home. We encourage you to talk to your lift expert about your needs so they can help you find the right lift.
Professional Installation vs. Self-Installation
As a family-owned business, we value our customers’ safety above everything else. All too often we’re asked to fix a stair lift that has been bought online and self-installed, which inevitably malfunctions and has ongoing functional issues. That is why at Arrow Lift, our team installs every stair lift that we sell. Our team of licensed technicians have years of experience installing different types of stair lifts.
In fact, all reputable manufacturers will insist on providing installation, and some states make it a legal requirement. Arrow Lift abides by installation requirements of the Association Of Members Of The Accessibility Industry (AEMA). AEMA does not approve of chair lifts being installed by inexperienced individuals.
Stair Lift Cost
Straight stair lift prices can range from $3,000-$7,000 and curved stair lifts start around $11,000. Curved stair lifts differ in price because they are designed specifically to fit the user’s staircase. For example, if your home’s staircase contains multiple landings, this can be more expensive due to the staircase’s different curves.
Maintenance and Repair Services
When choosing the perfect chair lift for you and your home, you must ask about the supplier’s services. Regardless of the chair lift you choose, your lift will require regular maintenance to ensure safety and reliability. We encourage you to ask about the types of service plans and repair services provided by your stair lift installer.
Arrow Lift Company Services
At Arrow Lift, our commitment to keeping you safe doesn’t stop when your stair chair lift is installed. We provide our clients with two different kinds of service plans to maintain your chair and ensure that you and your loved ones are safe when riding in it.
The Performance Basic Plan includes routine inspections of your chair lift. Over time stair chair lifts can wear down, and the best way to make sure you or your loved one is safe is by consistently receiving examinations by a qualified technician. Our expert technicians are knowledgeable of local and national safety codes, as well as manufacturer recommendations.
The Performance Plus Plan includes not only safety inspections but also includes repair services. When you choose the Performance Plus plan, there are no additional costs when repairs need to be made during regular business hours due to normal wear and tear. We seek to keep our customers safe when riding on their chair lift.
The Arrow Lift Promise
It doesn’t have to be difficult to find the right mobility solution for your home. Arrow Lift is here to assist you. Whether you want to set up a consultation or have questions regarding mobility solution alternatives, our expert staff can help. When you purchase from our family-owned business, you are not only choosing to buy a high-quality stair lift, you are choosing to buy from a supplier that is equipped with top-notch technicians to install your chair lift. You don’t have to worry about any hidden fees when purchasing from Arrow Lift.
Our team is composed of professional engineers and experienced technicians. We’re committed to finding the right mobility solution for you. We offer a variety of payment options including financing. Contact our team today to begin your journey of finding the perfect chair lift!
