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Installing a Home Elevator - What You Need to Know About Home Elevators

Fri 14 Aug 2009 - 15:23

Installing a Home Elevator - What You Need to Know About Home Elevators
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Irene_Test]Irene Test

Home elevators were considered a luxury when they first appeared on the market several years ago but, as this particular product has expanded and become more affordable, home elevators are ideal for turning a standard house into one that is handicapped accessible. While older adults in wheelchairs or needing stair lifts may have moved into a one-floor ranch house a few years ago, installing a home elevator into a two or three story house, for less than the price of a new home, is now becoming an option. If you're planning to modify your home with a home elevator, planning ahead - and with a contractor in many cases - is necessary, as not only does a home need a location for an elevator but a space for the machine room needs to be available in many cases.

In terms of size, a home elevator is essentially the same size as a walk-in closet. The cab itself is no more than twelve or 15 square feet, with six inches between it and the wall of the shaft. A machine room, whether in the basement or first floor of the house, is also the size of a small closet. If you're planning ahead and reserving space, the total cost of installing the elevator will turn out to be $17,000 to $35,000, with additional installation and construction costs. In addition, a home elevator should be inspected every six to twelve months, and inspection, as well as additional repairs, adds to the costs of owning a home elevator.

Home elevators, however, don't have one design. The most popular home elevator so far has been a hydraulic elevator, as the design is considered to be safe and reliable in fire and earthquake emergencies. In addition to operating with a hydraulic lift, the machine room for this design is located in the basement and is installed as part of the foundation. In case of an emergency, rescue workers can access the machine room with ease. Also, in case of power outages, this home elevator design has a manual lowering system.

Another option is an electric, or traction, elevator. This type of home elevator uses counter weights, with the cab suspended. This design, additionally, doesn't need oil or a machine room to operate. If the area of your home is prone to earthquakes, this particularly design isn't recommended, however, as the hoist way and suspension of the car makes it more vulnerable to shaking. A third home elevator design is a pneumatic lift. As a pneumatic lift only fits one or two people inside, it's not considered a handicap-accessible design. In terms of operation, the elevator uses a pneumatic vacuum to move cars back and forth by suction, and, as a result, a machine room is not needed. Both of these designs cut installation costs by not needing a machine room.

Maintenance is another important factor when owning a home elevator. Aside from regular inspections and a design safe for your area, [http://home-elevator.net/]home elevators need backup battery systems in case of power outages. The elevator car itself needs safety interlocks in interior doors, a phone box connected to a telephone line, emergency lighting, and a working alarm. In addition, if children are in the home, the elevator should have a lockout to prevent children from operating the elevator and getting hurt.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irene_Test http://EzineArticles.com/?Installing-a-Home-Elevator---What-You-Need-to-Know-About-Home-Elevators&id=2761705


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