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Time to sell you stair chair lift?

The value of a used stair lift can vary greatly. Straight stair lifts are the easiest to sell as they are fairly universal. The buyer of a straight stair lift may need to add more rail or remove rail to fit their stairs. Custom curved stair lifts can be very difficult to sell as the odds are the current curved rail is not going to be a perfect match for the next installation.

Where to sell your stair lift is also an important question. Craigslist (craigslist.org) is usually the best place to sell your stair lift. It is free to list and can typically yield results in a few days, if you keep your price low. Make sure to include a picture of your stair lift when listing on craigslist. Ebay is another popular option for selling stair lifts. Pictures are important on Ebay, a good description is even more important. Think about offering to ship your stair lift when selling on Ebay as it increases the market for your stair lift. Make sure to get a quote from a shipping company if you are not going to limit the sale to pick up only.

Selling a used stair lift in some rural areas can be next to impossible. The best advice for sellers in rural areas is to find out if any of the stair lift dealers in bigger nearby cities either purchase used stair lifts or sell used stair lifts on consignment.

You may want to donate your stair lift if it becomes too difficult to sell it. Aside from the tax write off, there is no money in donating your stair lift. The real value in donating a stair lift is knowing that it ends up in the home of someone who needs it.

When purchasing a stairlift you will need to know some basic measurements. Stair width, length the lift will need to cross and the fact that lifts will extend an additional. The average stairwell width is about 36 inches; the average chair lift utilizes about 14 inches of space on the stairs.

When the seat and footrest are in use, the unit can stick out as much as 26 inches. The average stairlift length (referred to as the track) is approximately 24 feet. You must also accommodate the extra 6 inches above the landing and 14 inches below the last step.  If you have a doorway or entrance in the space needed above or below the stairs not to worry. You can purchase a folding track the final section of the track may be hinged so that it can be lifted vertically by hand.

If you cannot move the track out of the way you can have a final section of the track that will fold or unfold automatically as the stair lift ascends or descends the stairs.  When adding the additional folding track it would also be advisable to make sure that your lifts chair is also able to fold, giving access to the stairway and or entrance to all.

When purchasing a stairlift for your home or business it can be very confusing trying to figure out the exact width you need. The average stairwell width is about 36 inches; the average chair lift utilizes about 14 inches of space on the stairs.

When the seat and footrest are in use, the unit can stick out as much as 26 inches. The average stairlift length (referred to as the track) is approximately 24 feet. You must also accommodate the extra 6-8 inches above the landing and 14-24 inches below the last step.

Start measuring your stairs by first deciding which side you would like your lift to be installed on, keep in mind the additional 6-8 inches at the top and 14-24 inches at the bottom, choose a side that will not block any doorways or entrances. You may need a folding stairlift if the track at the bottom or top blocks a door. Now stand at the top of stairs and extend your tape measure down to the landing (at the bottom of the stairs), letting it rest on the edge of each tread (top of the stair) along the way. The tape should not sag or bend along the way. Record the distance from the edge of the upper landing to where the end of the tape measure rests on the floor at the bottom of the stairs

Next measure from the edge of the upper landing to the edge of the first stair’s tread (top of the stair) at the bottom. Next measure the width of your stairs treads this being from one wall to the other. Next measure from the edge of the first stair at the bottom to the wall or doorway which ever you may have.  With all of these measurements in hand you will be able to confidentially know whether or not your new system will fit your needs.

The most essential parts of a stair lift that you should be aware of are as follows; power, controls, chair, drive and of course the track itself.

The power that runs the lift varies; battery powered tracks are the most common with a 24v these are handy because you don’t have to have a new outlet installed.  The other methods are cords that move along with the chair/motor assembly. One type has batteries but is constantly charged. The other type relies solely on the AC power. The downfall to either of these is the tethered cable. It is constantly winding and unwinding and can eventually fail causing problems and requiring repair service.

Next are the controls you will need controls to move the lift from point A to point B. There are two options; a handheld device or a wireless device generally running on batteries.  As for the chair you will need to make sure it supports the weight you are planning on putting on it.

Another good buy is to make sure your chair swivels either 90 or 180 degrees, this helps with the person getting on and off of the lift, also consider a footrest.

The drive transfers the movement of the chair and operates the lifting and lowering, the most common drive is a rack and pinion. The older technology is a cable system that has screws and drives. The track design varies on whether or not you have and curves in your stairs, the least expensive tracks are a straight shot. When purchasing your lift consider all the parts involved and the maintenance it will take to keep it up and running.

Stair lifts are an expensive purchase; individuals sometimes buy their stair lifts secondhand or recycle old tracks and have them repaired. When service problems occur manufactures repair there own products and will only repair products under warranties, you will have to pay additional cost for secondhand and recycled products.

Consider the warrantee factor when purchasing your stair lift from a second party; ask if it has an existing warrantee. It is strongly recommended to invest in an annual maintenance plan and service contract. The most common repair calls for a stair lift are for uncharged batteries, before calling for maintenance be sure to check your batteries.

The other most common issues for repair are the safety micro switches which is a series safety chain, they are under the footplate, arm rests etc. also the stopping limit switches may be fitted behind the chair or top and bottom of the running track. If you do not have a warranty or maintenance plan the repair company will charge you the maximum amount.

Although self installation and repair may seem like a cost effective approach to you stair lift be aware that this generally causes a few issues; if the lift is installed incorrectly the stair lift supplier will not be responsible for the warranty and maintenance.

Stair lifts are a great way to gain full access to your entire home again.  Some buyers may have problems bending due to hip or knee pain and for these buyers a stair chair lift will not work.

A standing lift, also known as a platform lift or perch lift, is the better option. Here we have important information you should know about perch lifts.

Both Acorn and Meditek make perch stair lifts that also have a folding seat. A Perch lift with an optional seat is probably the best choice as the optional seat is beneficial during times when it is painful to sit but necessary.

The biggest caveat to perch lifts is the weight capacity, most units have a maximium weight capacity of 220lb or 99kg.

Another item of  note about perch lifts is their price. Perch lifts are roughly twice the cost of a standard chair lift.

A perch lift is an option if you need it.  You will find a larger selection of chair lifts to choose from, should you decide that a chair lift is suitable.

Although the most common use for stair lifts are used indoors some locations have amazing seating and viewing areas that are only accessible by stairs; by adding an outdoor stairlift to these areas it will allow access by all individuals.

The outdoor stair lifts have the same components as indoor lifts; power, seating, controls, chair, drive and the track. Since the outdoor stairlift will be exposed to the elements a few things should be done to take precautions.

Vinyl seat versus a fabric seat is a must, also the chasis should be sealed to avoid any damage. When riders are not using the lift the seat should be covered for extra protection against any weather elements.

Another consideration is to make sure you purchase a folding seat so that others who do not need to use the lift can access the stairs.  In this situation the controls should be wireless so that the lift can only be used when needed.

With the addition of your outdoor stairlift everyone will be able to enjoy scenic views and family events.

There are two kinds of power supplies for stair lifts. First, AC (alternating current) which are “wired” at all times and use a trailing power cable for their power supply. The second type is DC (direct current) which utilize a rechargeable battery. In the past AC supply was the the most popular type of stair lift. Today, with the constant improvement of battery technology, DC is the most popular. Because of this most people need assistance with DC supplied lifts.

What are the advantages of DC powered stair lifts?Because of the increased technology in batteries, nearly all stair lifts companies utilize this technology. These lifts are very easy to install and maintain.

Some stair lifts do not require their own dedicated power supply. The owner can plug the stair lift into a nearby outlet to charge the battery while it is not in use. The charger unit transforms the 120V supply down to 24-38V, which converts it to DC to feed the stair lift when the unit is on charge etc. All DC battery stair lifts will continue to operate even in the event of a power outage or blackout, this alone is important. It is reassuring to know that you will not get stuck in the middle of the stairs should an outage or emergency occur. Battery stair lifts can usually make 24 full runs Up/Down before the batteries are exhausted and require charging.

There are many  ways of charging the stair lift battery. The most common approach is to have a fixed copper charging strip located at the top and bottom of the stair lift track. When the stair lift is driven to the top or bottom of the track the moving charger pick-up points located under the stair lift carriage make contact with the fixed copper charging strip and automatically charge the batteries. If the lift is not fully connected to the charger contact strip the lift normally emits a  beeping noise to make the lift user aware of the fact that the lift is not in contact with the charger unit; or it has been accidentally switched off. If the lift is at the bottom or top and the charger unit is switched on, and the lift still emits an audible sound you need to contact your stair lift installer right away, so they can come and inspect your stair lift for defaults, or problems.

Some stair lift manufacturers have kept the AC electrical trailing flex cable design, although the cable is now  carrying low voltage DC 24-38V. This enables the stair lift to be  constantly  charged, and eliminates the  need for charger contact strips or pick-up points. The obvious advantage is that it doesn’t matter where you leave / park the stair lift; it is  being charged at all times.

Both systems have there advantages and disadvantages. The system using the copper strip charging contacts requires more parts in the making of the lift, and periodic adjustment cleaning of the charger pick-up assembly unit. It also relies on the lift user to ensure the lift is correctly parked in the charging position

The lift using the constantly charged trailing cable system has more moving parts so more chance of something going wrong. Common faults are trailing cable getting jammed or broken wires in the cable itself. Both do the job equally well, and both systems will require adjustment or repair at sometime in the life of the lift.

Stair lifts are expensive, they can run $1500-$6000 with installation costs. Fortunately there are alternatives for those who only need a stair lift for temporary reasons (IE: post surgery, short term care for a relative, etc).

Most rental companies will only offer stair lifts for straight stair cases. You will need to buy a stair lift if you require a curved stair lift.

Prices depend on the dealer and the duration of your use. Expect to pay installation and removal charges on top of the monthly rate.

Be prepared before calling for quotes. Measure the distance of your stairway and measure the distance in feet to the nearest outlet from your stair case.

Most local stair lift dealers offer stair lift rentals. Not all of them advertise the service, since they would rather sell you stair lift. Call around to find out if any of your local dealers offer rentals.

Can’t afford to pay retail for a new stair lift? Read this article on cheap stair lifts.

Motorized stair lifts are an excellent tool to enhance your quality of life in your own home. They can give you access back to your whole house.

Stair Lift Buyers Guide