If you’ve ever sized up a pile of items and thought, “I can handle that in one trip,” only to realize halfway up the stairs that you’ve made a mistake, you already know the value of a dumbwaiter! Dumbwaiters are an ideal solution for transporting materials between multiple stories of a home or building.
But what is a dumbwaiter, anyway? Functioning like a mini elevator that does not hold people or pets, dumbwaiters — also known as dummy waiters or dumbwaiter lifts — are miniature freight lifts that travel up and down a shaft to move items from one floor to another.
Dumbwaiters come with a small footprint that has a big impact on both residential and commercial efficiency.
Residential Dumbwaiters for Homes
Dumbwaiters work well in all types of residences, even homes with limited space. Ranging in size from 20” x 20” x 30” up to 36” x 36” x 48,” they can fit in places like kitchens, home offices, or hallways and carry anything from luggage and laundry to groceries and decorations.
Dumbwaiters safely move heavy or bulky items between levels using a high-performance, commercial-grade drive system. They can travel 50+ feet at a speed of 30-50 feet per minute.
Whether you intend to use your residential dumbwaiter occasionally or regularly, you can expect reliable performance. Each dumbwaiter lift is made of sturdy construction, with elevator-style steel guide rails for support and architectural-quality stainless steel or paint-primed interior finish options.
Commercial Dumbwaiters
Although similar to residential dummy waiters, commercial dumbwaiters are more often designed to meet commercial building-specific configurations and food safety, healthcare, or other industry requirements.
You’ll find commercial dumbwaiters in a variety of business locations where safety, speed, and reliability are paramount. Employees can complete daily tasks quicker and without worrying about injury by using a dumbwaiter to carry items rather than manually lifting them.
Common industries that benefit from commercial dumbwaiters include:
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Casinos
- Hospitals
- Manufacturing
Dumbwaiter lifts are available in single-side, adjacent-side, and opposite-side loading configurations to fit the layout of the commercial location. As a result, businesses can make optimal use of their space and enable a more productive, speedier workflow.
What Are the Limitations of a Dumbwaiter?
Despite how television and film sometimes portray them, dumbwaiters are specifically designed to carry items — not people, pets, or any living creature. However, if you’re looking for a lift solution that will accommodate a human being, Arrow Lift offers a range of residential elevators for homes and LULA lifts for commercial locations.
Because dumbwaiters are compact, they work great for smaller items up to 100-500 pounds, depending on the lift. For heavier loads, a freight lift can accommodate larger items.
What Are the Benefits of a Dumbwaiter?
Despite its moniker, there is nothing dim-witted about using a dummy waiter in your home or commercial location! They provide a cost-effective answer for those who need an efficient and space-saving method of vertical goods transport.
There are many benefits of dumbwaiters. Here are just a few examples:
- Safety. Avoid the risk of accidents and injuries that can arise when manually carrying items up and down stairs.
- Convenience. No need to juggle bulky items or wait for additional assistance to move objects and supplies.
- Noise reduction. Their quiet operation makes them ideal for environments that prioritize minimal disturbances.
- Improved service. In commercial settings, quicker delivery of goods makes for happier customers.
- Higher property value. The enhanced functionality dumbwaiters provide makes them especially attractive to potential buyers.
How to Purchase a Dumbwaiter
If you’re considering purchasing a dumbwaiter, be sure to work with a reputable company with plenty of dumbwaiter installation experience. When you partner with Arrow Lift, we’ll put our 35+ years of experience to work for you.
You can expect to start with a free, no-obligation consultation to determine if a dumbwaiter fits your needs. Then, if you’re ready to move forward, our trained Lift Professionals will help every step of the way — from ensuring your design will meet your goals and safety requirements to installation and ongoing maintenance.
Your Path to the Perfect Dumbwaiter
Ready to give your hands and back a break and start making your home or professional life more efficient and productive? Dumbwaiters offer an optimal way to move items between floors quickly and safely. Request your free dumbwaiter consultation today!
