subject: What You Should Think About Prior To Purchasing A Wheel Chair Stair Lift [print this page] You've probably heard about countless innovations springing from one manufacture to the next, however, choosing a wheel chair stair lift shouldn't be like picking a meal from a menu. You need to know exactly what you need, how a lift works and what the costs are.
First and foremost, consider what obstacles you find physically challenging. A wheel chair stair lift is a great help if you are no longer able to walk, cannot walk for long distances or are unable to climb a flight of stairs or steps. Some individuals become out of breath when climbing stairs or become extremely exhausted when walking even short distances. This is where a wheel chair stair lift becomes useful.
Secondly, figure out whether you absolutely need a wheel chair stair lift or not. There are many more types of wheel chair lifts out there that might already be good enough for you if the price is right. For example, most wheel chair lifts already offer you optimum mobility when it comes to accessing doorways, getting into vehicles or climbing one or two steps. However, ordinary wheel chair lifts wont be able to help climb a whole flight of stairs.
Besides the number of steps you have in a staircase, varying floor levels in one place regardless if it's just one or two steps per area can also be daunting. If you reside in a house with a lot of stairs or steps, or if you are in an area you may need to access the stairs for emergency, then it's probably time for you to purchase a wheel chair stair lift.
Third, get to know the basics of the wheel chair stair lift. How will you know which is best for you if you have no idea how a wheel chair stair lift works? Ask the salesperson about the four drive types of wheel chair stair lifts, which are cable, chain, screw, and rack and pinion. There are drive types that have visible or hidden gear racks"choose whichever you think suits you best.
There are two types of wheel chair stair lift according to power supply; battery charged or electrically propelled. Battery charged lifts require you to have a couple of areas in your home for you to fully charge the batteries. On the other hand, your home electricity power will be used by an electrical wheel chair stair lift. Electric lifts can cost more, but is certainly more convenient. Always ask if an electric lift already comes with back up batteries, as these could be a bonus advantage.
The means of operation of a wheel chair stair lift is often through its aluminum or steel rails fastened straight to your indoor or outdoor staircase. Make sure that you do purchase a wheel chair stair lift that has a tough material like aluminum or steel for optimum safety and functionality.
The last but not the least to take into consideration is the costs. A wheel chair stair lift can range from $700 to more than $1,000. But remember, the features that benefit you most should always be a priority.
