If you’ve been looking into buying a stairlift, you may have come across some terms that you may not have understood. When investing money in such a vital living aid, it’s really important to know what you are buying.
As a leading provider of new stairlifts, UK Stairlifts are here to help bust some of that jargon to allow you to make the most informed choice when it comes to investing in a new stairlift for your home.
Stairlift Track
This is referring to the path that the stairlift will follow to move up and down the stairwell. Generally, most stairlifts have a track which is fixed directly to the stairs rather than the wall. This means you don’t need to reinforce your wall if you are wanting to install a stairlift in your home. The stairs take the weight, not the wall!
Straight/ Curved Stairlift
You may have come across two terms that are mentioned quite a lot when it comes to shopping for a stairlift.
A straight stairlift is a unit that can only be installed on a straight staircase. If you have a staircase which as turns or bends, you will need a curved stairlift. A curved stairlift is one whose track can be adapted to the exact shape and requirements of a staircase with bends.
Weight Capacity
Each stairlift will have a different weight capacity listed with the specifications of the unit. This refers to the maximum user weight that the stairlift is able to carry when in use. This is an important feature to look for, in order to make sure the unit can effectively carry your weight.
Parking/Charging Points
These are the points, usually at the start or the end of the stairlift’s journey, where the unit stops and the user can get off. They are a common feature on most DC powered stairlift units and when stationary, the unit will charge it’s battery when not in use.
Joystick/Toggle Controls
The controls of the stairlift will usually be positioned on the arm of the chair, allowing the user to effectively control the stairlift while they are travelling along the track.
A joystick allows the user to manipulate the direction of movement of the stairlift, so that if they need to go back down when already halfway up the stairwell, then can do so immediately and safely.
Width When Folded
If the stairlift you are looking has a folding seat, arms and footrest, you may have a “width when folded” detail on the unit’s specifications. This measurement will tell you how much space your stairlift will take up when it is all folded up .
DC Powered
DC stands for direct current. This means that the stairlift will be battery operated and are a hugely popular form of stairlift. They have a few advantages over stairlifts that are solely powered by your home electricity.
Having a DC powered stairlift allows the unit to operate, even if your power goes out, allowing you to still move around your house in safety.
Here at UK Stairlifts, we want you to be able to make an informed choice when it comes to investing in a stairlift. With our years of experience of providing high quality stairlift solutions, we know a thing or two about helping our customers choose the best stairlift for their needs.
Whether you have a straight staircase or a twisting stairwell. If you require the aid of a trustworthy, durable stairlift, look no further than UK Stairlifts. With a Checkatrade rating of 9.9, we are a reputable stairlift supplier and installer with over 15 years experience. If you would like more information on any of our high quality products or services, feel free to get in touch with us by giving us a call on 0800 046 3438 where one of our dedicated team will be happy to take your call.