How To Choose A Wheelchair Lift
After you decided that you need a wheelchair lift to make your home more accessible it is best not to rush in and buy it without further research. The followings are some things you should consider before buying any wheelchair lift :
- Capacity
A handicap lift comes with 450 lb (~204 kg) lifting capacity or more. This should be enough to lift most people along with their wheelchair. If you have excessive weight then you should get a bariatric wheelchair lift which not only have more lifting capacity but also specially designed to accomodate overweight people.
- Warranty
Whether you're buying a new or used lift ask for the warranty. The warranty must be for at least one year. Any dealer will only give you a limited warranty which covers only basic terms. That's normal so don't bother looking for a full guarantee. There are also some dealers that offer lowest price guarantee. If you can find a competitor carrying the same product they will give you al 5% off of their competitor's price.
- Price
How much does a wheel chair lift cost? Wheelchair lift can cost more than a thousand of dollars so the the question is can you afford it? Can you justify spending that much money or will a cheaper portable ramp do just fine?
- Installation
The price of the lift you buy usually doesn't include the installation cost. So make sure you ask about how much more you need to spend on it. Installation process should be a snap with very few modifications to existing structures.
- Simplicity To Use Unassisted
The major benefit of a handicap lift is that you can use it without external help which means total mobility. The difference between brands and models is just how easy it is for you to use the lift unassisted. If you want to buy the lift online and the dealer provide a video depicting the lift operation make sure you watch it to know if it's really as easy as advertised. - Safety
The lift must be fully guarded and all platforms must have non-skid surfaces. - Size
Is the unit insanely bulky or will it easily fits to your stairs/outdoor steps. - Robustness/ Dependability
No doubts that you will need to use the lift day after day though only intermittently. Does the lift made from quality components which will make sure it last far longer than the guarantee cover? - Maintenance Free
Maintenance free is just a marketing speak. Any kind of machinery requires periodical maintenance to make sure they operate just the way they should be. However, if the maintenance is not a hassle, can be done by someone with non-technical background and only needs to be done once every other week then it's pretty close to "maintenance free". - Aesthetics
Though not exactly that important an aesthetically appealing lift won't hurt either. An example of aesthetically appealing wheelchair lift can be seen below ...
