How to Select a Stair Lift for Your Home in 2023

Stair lifts provide a safe way to travel between the floors in your home.

Stairlifts may be new to you. Over our many years of installing stairlifts and answering customer questions, we put together a list of the most common questions that will help you understand the process of selecting a stairlift for your home or business, and updated it for 2023. Of course, if you have your own questions we are more than happy to discuss our products and services to make sure you have the information you need.

What is a Stair Lift and How Does it Work? 

A stairlift is a type of elevator or lift that transports an individual between levels in a home or business by sitting in a chair. This is where the name stair chair comes from. The chair stair lift runs on a track that is attached to your stairs and moves by way of an electric motor. Most stair lifts today run on a battery that is constantly charged. This allows the stairlift to contibue to operate int he event of a power outage.

 A stair lift can move one individual at a time and is not intended to move or lift other objects. These lifts are best if you have limited mobility, but are not wheelchair-bound, because you must be able to in and out of the stair chair. The majority of modern stairlifts incorporate a reliable, smooth, and quiet ride providing years of low-maintenance use.

What type of Stair Lift do I Need?

Stairlifts are available in two basic configurations: straight and curved. Which one you need depends upon the type of staircase you have and whether you need a stairlift for indoor or outdoor use.

Curved Stairlifts

Designed for stairways that curve or change directions at a landing, all of our curved stairlifts are custom-designed to work with your specific staircase.  A stair lift technican will visit your home or busisness to measure and assess the typ of stairlift needed. As a result, curved stairlifts may cost more than standard stair chairs because of the custom design and fabrication required to fit your stairs. 

Outdoor Stairlifts

An outdoor stair chair is a perfect solution for stairs leading into a building or exterior staircases on a hill. These are very similar to an indoor stair lift, but are made to withstand the outside conditions and weather. Outdoor lifts don’t require excavations or new construction. There are outdoor stairchairs for both straight, curved, or staircases with landings. These lifts are built with high-quality, weatherproof components, so you don’t need to worry about rain or snow damage.

Will a Stair Lift Installation Require Modification To My Home?

A modern stairlift does not require any home modifications! Stairlifts, whether straight or curved, attach to the stair treads and will not alter a home’s interior architecture. The installation is handled by our certified technicians. Installation of a stairlift is quick and requires no renovations or modifications to a staircase. A straight stairlift installation can usually be done in one day. Our lift experts use a special survey device provided by the manufacturer for exact specifications and fit. If you have curved stairs, landings, or a unique staircase we can also install a custom fit a stairlift.

Can Other People Still Use the Stairs?

Yes, they can! Our chairs are designed to fold up after use, creating more room on the staircase. More space at the top and bottom of your staircase means that regardless of where your stair chair is located on the track, there will be enough room for anyone to use the stairs with no problem. 

How Much Does a Stair Lift Cost in 2023?

Unfortunately, there is no one set answer to this question. Stairlift prices can vary depending on the model, type of staircase (curved or straight), and options you choose. We offer three types of stairlift models – economy, premium, and heavy-duty. Stairlift prices typically start around $2,600 for a new model but can range up to $12,000+. We also sell reconditioned lifts starting at $2,000. All stairlift units are sales tax exempt. To find out more about stairlift pricing, please call us at 315-601-2173 (Syracuse headquarters)) or 518-731-6192 (Albany office), visit our website https://wantalift.com/contact/ or email us at sales@wantalift.com.

Are Stair Lifts Covered by Medicare? 

Unfortunately, Medicare does not at this time pay for stairlifts. This also means that Medicare supplemental insurance policies do not pay for stairlifts either. The only policies that may have the ability to help cover and fund stairlifts are Long Term Care Policies. 

Are Stair Lifts Tax Deductible? 

Yes, stairchairs are tax exempt.

Is There a Weight Limit on Stair Lifts 

Each stairlift system has a weight limit, depending on the model. All of our economy stairlifts have a weight capacity between 300 – 400 lbs. depending on the manufacturer. Our Premium and Heavy Duty lifts have weight capacities of up to 600lbs.

Are Stair Lifts Easy to Operate?

Standard stairlifts technology makes using and operating a lift easy!  To operate a stairlift, the user just needs to sit in the chair and press the button on the chair arm until the lift stops. All lifts have a 90-degree swivel seat, so the only extra step is turning the seat so your feet are facing forwards on the top of the landing. Another great feature of our stairlifts is that the battery continuously charges at designated sections of the rail. When your chair is not moving up and down the track, the battery charges on designated spots along the rail ensuring you will have 24/7 access to your home or building. During power outages, you will still be able to continue using the lift! 

Why Use a Local Stairlift Dealer?

Accessibility Solutions has been offering local service and maintenance to the members of our community since 1996. We love our community and take time to get to know our customers because they are our neighbors. Being a local business creates multiple benefits for our customers as well as our staff. Unlike large national brands and companies, we have the ability to help serve you locally. If you have issues with your lift system there is no need to wait days for parts to come in, by that time our professionally trained lift technicians will have come and fix your issues – without hesitation!