Home Elevators & Dumbwaiters FAQ


Home Elevators FAQ:

  1. How much does a home elevator cost?
  2. Do your elevators fit wheelchairs?
  3. How many floors can the elevator travel?
  4. Should I choose an elevator or a stairlift?
  5. How much space will the elevator take up?
  6. How much weight can the elevator hold?
  7. How long does installation take?
  8. What happens if the electricity goes out?
  9. How safe are home elevators?
  10. How can I keep my elevator maintained?
  11. Does an elevator add value to my home?
  12. Is a pit required?

Dumbwaiters FAQ:

  1. How much does a dumbwaiter cost?
  2. How does a dumbwaiter work?
  3. How much weight can the dumbwaiter carry?
  4. Are dumbwaiters safe?
  5. Can I use the dumbwaiter during a power outage?
  6. How many stops can the dumbwaiter make?
  7. Is a pit required?

HOME ELEVATORS FAQ:

home elevators faq

1. How Much Does a Home Elevator Cost?

Because home elevators are highly customizable, they are available in a wide range of price points. The price of your home elevator depends on many factors, including:
    • Your preferred cab style
    • The drive system you select
    • Whether the elevator is being installed in a new building or retrofitted in an existing building
    • Whether you are having one or multiple elevators installed
    • State and local regulations, requirements and inspections
    • The level of complexity and configuration in the hoistway
    • Any custom accessories you choose to add on

Contact us today to get a quote on your custom home elevator!

 

2. Do Your Elevators Fit Wheelchairs?

Yes, one of the reasons to consider installing a home elevator is because of the accessibility they provide. With a home elevator, individuals in wheelchairs can access every floor of their homes.
do home elevators fit wheelchairs

 

3. How Many Floors Can the Elevator Travel?

This answer depends on how tall each story of your home is and which drive system you select. Both the Elevette Cable Drum and the Elevette Hydraulic drive systems can travel 50 feet and stop at up to six landings  Even if you have high 10-foot ceilings on every level of your home, elevators with these drive systems would still travel six stories. The Elevette MRL Overhead Cable Drum will travel 40 ft, but will still accommodate up to six landings.

 

4. Should I Choose an Elevator or a Stairlift?

If you’re looking to improve your mobility in your home, you may consider installing a stairlift instead of an elevator. Stairlifts don’t take up as much space and may seem like an easier option. However, elevators prove to be a better option in several areas. 

Home elevators can be installed in your preferred location in your home rather than being limited to the stairwell. They also look much more elegant, and you can customize them so they fit in perfectly and even enhance the look of your home. Having an elevator in your home will increase the home’s value as well. Stairlifts can detract from your home’s aesthetic and are not as easy and safe to use as elevators.

 

5. How Much Space Will the Elevator Take Up?

Not all home elevators are one, standard size. This is one of the many aspects of your home elevator you can customize to an extent. Our cabs can be up to 15 square feet or more if allowed by code or can be smaller if you have space restrictions. A representative can help you prepare your home for an elevator. We’ll help you determine the appropriate dimensions for your home elevator to accommodate not only the cab but the elevator shaft as well.

 

6. How Much Weight Can the Elevator Hold?

Weight limits are important specifications to observe with your home elevator. Larger cab sizes can safely hold up to 1,000 lbs. A 500 lb capacity elevator can be no larger than 12 square feet.

how much weight can a home elevator hold

 

7. How Long Does Installation Take?

The time it takes to install your home elevator depends on the type of elevator you’re installing and how many landings will be serviced. For a reference point, installation of a two-stop elevator should take approximately four days with two technicians working on it. Note that this estimate is limited to the elevator installation itself, which does not include building the hoistway.
Home elevators from Inclinator can only be installed by our authorized dealers, who will send efficient, experienced and fully trained technicians to install your elevator. Because they are familiar with all our elevator models, you can expect an efficient installation process. This process is made even more efficient by the fact that our elevators come preassembled, unlike many others you’ll find on the market.

 

8. What Happens if the Electricity Goes Out?

If your power goes out while you’re using your home elevator, there’s no reason to worry. You won’t become stuck or lose all your lighting. That’s because our home elevators include safety features such as backup lighting and backup battery power, which will kick in when your electricity fails. The elevator will automatically lower you safely to the bottom floor of your home.

 

9. How Safe Are Home Elevators?

Safety should always be a concern when you’re installing a large piece of equipment like a home elevator. The good news is that our home elevators are extremely safe. The safety features they are equipped with are designed to maintain safety in every situation and for all people. Let’s take a look at some of the features that make our elevators so safe:
  • Gates: Before operating your elevator, you must enter through the gate and securely close it after you’re safely inside the cab.
  • Interlocks: Interlocks ensure that you can only open a hoistway door to access the elevator if the cab is safely stationed at a landing.
  • Handrail: A handrail is helpful for maintaining balance and stability while in the elevator.
  • Emergency responsiveness: In the event of a power outage, backup battery power will kick in. Elevators are also equipped with emergency lighting and an alarm.

In addition to the features above, elevators can also be outfitted with additional safety features, such as a phone.

 

10. How Can I Keep My Elevator Maintained?

Your home elevator may never malfunction, but because home elevators are relatively complex machines, they can occasionally require repairs. If you ever notice your home elevator is not functioning as it normally does, you should contact a service representative right away so they can look into what is causing the change and quickly address the issue.
The best way to prevent any mechanical problems from affecting your elevator is to proactively maintain it. An annual inspection from Inclinator helps you stay on top of your elevator’s maintenance so you can address any signs of wear or other problems before they become more extensive and costlier issues. Learn more about keeping your Inclinator elevator maintained.

 

11. Does an Elevator Add Value to My Home?

Yes, installing a home elevator is an excellent way to add value to your home. Elevators make your home more accessible and convenient and can add a beautiful focal point.

home elevator add value to home

 

12. Is a Pit Required for a Home Elevator?

Yes, a pit is required for your home elevator. The pit depth can range from 6 to 10 inches, depending on the drive system you choose.

 

DUMBWAITERS FAQ:

 

1. How Much Does a Dumbwaiter Cost?

As with home elevators, the price range for dumbwaiters varies widely. Your final cost will depend on several factors, such as the model you select, the installation location and more. While some factors that dictate price are outside of your control, there is some room for you to make selections that are in line with your budget.

 

2. How Does a Dumbwaiter Work?

Manual dumbwaiters rely on a pulley system to move from floor to floor. Dumbwaiters have evolved a lot throughout history. A modern and convenient option is an automatic dumbwaiter, like those available from Inclinator. These dumbwaiters use your home’s standard 120V electrical current to move. You can control it automatically from any floor. The dumbwaiter cart is contained in a shaft where it is attached to tracks that allow it to move up and down the shaft.

 

3. How Much Weight Can the Dumbwaiter Carry?

Residential dumbwaiters from Inclinator have a maximum weight capacity of 120 lb. (54 kg). Commercial dumbwaiters have an even greater capacity at 200 lb. (90 kg), 300 lb. (136 kg) or 500 lb. (226 kg).

 

4. Are Dumbwaiters Safe?

Dumbwaiters are completely safe to use and should operate reliably, as long as you use them correctly and don’t overload them. It’s wise to have your dumbwaiter inspected annually to check for any potential weaknesses in the system that could cause it to fail in the future.

 

5. Can I Use the Dumbwaiter During a Power Outage?

You should not use your dumbwaiter during a power outage or when you expect an outage may occur. This is because dumbwaiters run on electricity and will cease moving if they lose power. This shouldn’t cause a safety concern but would mean the items you’re trying to move would be stuck between floors temporarily.

 

6. How Many Stops Can the Dumbwaiter Make?

Our residential dumbwaiters can make up to four stops, meaning they could stop at every level on a four-story home. Our commercial dumbwaiters can make up to six stops.

7. Is a Pit Required for a Dumbwaiter?

A pit is very rarely required for a dumbwaiter since most dumbwaiters are mounted at or near counter height. If your dumbwaiter is mounted on the floor, it will require a pit with a minimum depth of 6 inches.