A home lift is a great investment for any home. As age creeps up, most retirees will begin to look for ways to aid movement and make accessibility easier.
A home lift has some key benefits that make the idea more appealing. Some of which are;

• Increase in property value: Real estate researchers say that a home lift will increase the value of a home by at least 25%.
• Style and Aesthetic: It will enhance the polish and sophistication of a house, making it much more fashionable.
• Functionality: A home lift will improve the accessibility of individuals living in it. It allows children, elderly folks, and physically challenged individuals to travel safely up and down the house and between rooms without the risk of tripping on the stairs.

Types of Home Lifts

There are 3 types of lifts ideally used in a home. They take into consideration the space available as well as costs. They are:

1. Pneumatic Vacuum Lifts: This type of lift is ideal when you have only very little space available to you. It is built to accommodate only one individual at a time and is built close to an existing staircase. It is affordable and usually takes a short period for installation.
2. Hydraulic Lifts: This type of lift operates by using the force created by pressure in a liquid to move the piston upwards. Elevators of this sort require a lot of space for installation and additional space for a machine room that will double as the control center. The hydraulic lift is designed to move heavy loads efficiently, hence it can carry at least three grown adults. It takes a long time to install because of the technicalities involved.
3. Shaftless Lifts: These types of elevators such as the Stiltz Duo+ compact home lift have simple designs and are ideally built for residential uses. They are small and compact. They can be accommodated even in tight spaces. The installation is simple, takes little time, and causes only a little disruption in your home.
4. Traction Lifts: Traction lifts operate in the same manner as those designed for commercial use but on a much smaller scale. It is a box that operates on steel ropes wrapped around sheaves. Traction elevators save space as they do not require another machine room. They are most notably known for their smooth and quiet operation.

From the benefits and types of home lifts above, you’re ready to install your home lift. Read on and learn about six (6) things you need before installing a home lift and while installation.

Six (6) Things You Need to Consider

When installing a home lift, you have to ensure that you have certain things in place. These requirements are slightly similar but somewhat different depending on the type of lift (Traction elevators, Hydraulic elevators).

1. Space: This is without a doubt the first thing you need. This determines the type of elevators you’ll be chosen for installation. If it is a new home, then there is no worry, your home builders can incorporate it into the plan. For an already existing home, it may be more difficult but some builders plan it in the initial building by creating stack closets with basic electrical needs from floor to floor.
2. Electrical Needs: A licensed electrician should be invited to ensure that all electrical installations are up to the standard and handled professionally and safely. A home lift may need an additional power supply, so it should be connected to the main house supply with a single-phase circuit.
3. Machine Room: A machine room that will serve as the control center for the elevator needs to be created. This machine room is ideally created on the ground floor, but it can also be located remotely but there will be a need for additional pipes and connections.
4. Hoistway and Layout: A hoistway, also known as an elevator shaft that allows a lift to move up and down smoothly. A hoistway must be built according to state and local codes to ensure safety standards in the home while using a home lift.
5. Installation: Installation of a home lift depends on the type of lift. It can take a few days or several weeks to install a home lift and leave some areas in your house out of bound. You will need a contingency plan to cope with these temporary changes while construction takes place.
6. Maintenance: All equipment and appliances require regular maintenance, a home lift is not exempt from this. No matter how good a home lift is, it is bound to run into some faults such as power failure, worn sheaves, etc. It is principal to note that your home elevator should be scheduled for a maintenance check regularly to reduce safety hazards. You can check maintenance plans with your installation companies.

The bottom line, a home lift increases the value of your property and makes functionality much easier. Whatever your reasons for wanting to create a home elevator, you will enjoy reading this guide of what you need to gather information on the installation process and prepare your mind accordingly.