Using elevators for residential purposes is viewed as a luxury but they are not exclusively for the super rich anymore. Residential elevators are now installed in residences for elderly people who have severe knee pain and also for mobility impaired individuals. Home elevators are quickly becoming a must have option for home owners to accommodate their elderly relatives. They help people age in place and stay in their own loved homes as they age. Now, with the influential numbers of Baby Boomers and more affordable technological innovations, elevators are fast becoming a highly desirable amenity.
Different Types of Residential Elevators
- Hydraulic: This elevator requires space for machine room and it is easy to install in a new home because you can plan the space needed for the elevator.
- Traction: This elevator does not take up much space, it slides up and down a track with counterweight. It is the best choice if you are retrofitting. It needs space above the elevator to accommodate the equipment that runs it.
- Pneumatic: A polycarbonate tube with a separate internal tube uses air pressure to move the car up and down and can be installed without a shaft or a machine room. This is a great option for your existing home, however, you would need wide enough doorways to get the tube into the house. Most doorways are about 36 inches wide, and this requires a 39” wide doorway.
Modern elevators use vacuum and suction power to move the cab between floors while traditional ones use rails and cables. Installing security gates or door that separates the residential elevator from the home will increase overall safety of all members of the house.
Elevators are a safe device for elders and mobility impaired individuals to move from one floor to another. However, it is important to ensure that the elevator that you choose satisfies all safety requirements.
Here are some of the safety features to look for:
- Emergency battery to activate many of the in-built safety features
- Emergency lowering device to bring the user to a lower floor in case of a power failure
- Emergency lighting system to illuminate the cab if there is a power outage
- Door interlocks
- Alarm button
- Handrail
- Telephone
- Slack/broken cable device
There is no doubt that elevators are an asset for your building and also add value to the house. Buyers can maximize the use of their home for years to come. Therefore it is important to choose a leading accessibility dealer to purchase residential elevators. They offer quality products with proper guarantee at competitive prices. They also provide periodic inspection and testing to ensure that the elevators are in a safe and well-maintained condition.