The first thing to remember is that all stair lifts were not created equal!
Although there is an ever growing demand for stair lift equipment, it is truly amazing how many out dated products are being installed in peoples homes throughout the USA. This old technology equipment can be troublesome for the user - why? - because it’s unreliable. Things have moved on since the days of chain drives and trailing cables.
Modern stair lifts, like the ACORN Superglide Stair Lift, are state of the art, in terms of design and manufacture, yet are so simple to install and maintain.
As with most things - there is a baffling amount of choice out there in the marketplace. When choosing a piece of equipment like a stair lift, it is important to ensure that you are making like-for-like comparisons. Think carefully when buying this type of product via the internet. Your first real opportunity to clearly see the features, engineering (and limitations) of your new stair lift, are when it arrives on your doorstep.
ACORN supplies more customers direct, throughout the world than the rest of the entire industry combined.
Don't take any chances - make sure you conduct a direct like-for-like comparison of the features, technology, comfort and safety aspects of the equipment, before you hand over your money.
What to look out for:
- If a stair lift is cable hauled, or utilizes a chain or rope - it will be noisy, jarring and oily
- If a stair lift has a trailing mains cable - it is AC powered, which means it will be quite complex and time consuming to install (in some States you will not be able to install it legally, unless you are an ANSE qualified electrician). It will also be unreliable and has the potential to electrocute
- If stair lift does not have a swivel seat - it is outdated and potentially hazardous, particularly at the top of the stairway
- If stair lift does not have rack & pinion drive - it will be noisy and lacking stability
- If stair lift does not have ‘soft start - soft stop’ technology - it is outdated and uncomfortable, with jarring starts and stops
- If stair lift is not DC powered - it will be troublesome, lack smoothness and could be potentially dangerous. It will be immobilized during a power outage
- If stair lift does not have an overspeed governor - the stair lift is not protected from an uncontrolled descent, if a major drive system failure should occur. In this case, the stair lift could plummet to the foot of the stairway, with terrible consequences.
- If Stairlift does not have built-in status display system - it will be impossible to understand what your stairlifts current status is - i.e. why has it stopped?
The ACORN Superglide Stair Lift;
- Is not cabled hauled - it has positive rack & pinion drive providing a quiet, smooth ride.
- Has no trailing cable - it is DC powered; quick and simple to install, no danger of electric shock, highly reliable.
- Has a three position swivel seat for safety and ease of use.
- Has soft start/stop - no jarring at the top or bottom of your stairs
- Is DC powered it is smooth and whisper-quiet in operation - and will continue to work, in the event of a domestic power failure.
- Has an overspeed governor (OSG) as standard equipment - ACORN believes that it is irresponsible to supply a stair lift without this vital safety equipment.
- Has comprehensive digital status display system. The Stairlift is equipped with smart technology that recognizes and identifies the lifts status. There is an easy to read LED display showing the stairlift status at all times as an easy to read code. For example. If your lift stops unexpectedly you will instantly be able to see which of the safety edges has triggered and clear the obstruction.
To find out more about the superior ACORN Superglide Stair Lift, just click here.