Comments on Stairlift Companies

[rk911]

Well, the time has come. We've been in our split-level home for just over 37-years. Every room has been remodeled and we love it...with two exceptions. Those exceptions are two, separate staircases on the main level...6-steps to the upper floor, 5-steps down to the lower level. The upper staircase isn't too bad but the lower is very steep and narrow. My contractor buddy is working on widening and reducing the angle. That will help but my knees are getting bad despite the quarterly cortisone shots and my wife walks with a cane. The lifts are mostly for her use.

We want to stay in this house as long as we can. Neither of us is anxious to move. We're looking at adding a stairlift to each staircase. We've interviewed three companies, so far...

- DME Lifts & Elevators
- 101 Mobility
- Acorn Stairlift

The first two are local to us. Acorn is a national brand. We've interviewed each in our home, measurements were taken and proposals submitted, We have deliberately not looked at the cost estimates..for now. We want to first judge the companies on their own merits.

We visited the showroom of #1 and very much liked what we saw and learned about warranties, installation, etc. We'll be visiting the showroom of #2 shortly. Surprisingly, Acorn does not have a showroom. When asked how can we look at the proposed equipment the rep said that after the lifts are installed and we don't like them they will un-install them and refund our money. We found that to be incredible as well as unacceptable and have removed Acorn from consideration. We have two more leads on local companies from trusted friends that we will be checking out.

Posting this wondering if anyone has a stairlift that you're happy with that maybe we should look at. We want power swivel, power footrest and automatic power folding rail on the upper staircase to eliminate a tripping hazard. No trip hazard exists on the lower staircase.

Appreciate any comments, answers and wisdom

 

[skyking1]

The landlady was given one and her SIL installed it. I'll ask her about it but frankly, I don't think she uses it much if at all.
I am installing a platform lift at our place. I suppose there is no good space for that in your home?

 

[rk911]

The landlady was given one and her SIL installed it. I'll ask her about it but frankly, I don't think she uses it much if at all.
I am installing a platform lift at our place. I suppose there is no good space for that in your home?

Nope and we looked at that. We'd either lose two closets or lose a bookcase, have to cut a massive hole and lose the couch in the lower level.

 

[skyking1]

yeah it is a rare instance where there is not a bunch of give, unless you can implement it totally outside on existing decks.

 

[gamboolman]

We got one a little over 2 year ago soon as we found out that our Daughter was pregnant. We knew we would be babysitting a good bit and we would never risk the stairs carrying the baby.

We got a Bruno from 101 Mobility, see attached quote. They installed it and have been out one time to adjust the proximity switch for us. They did a great job and do recommend them. The Hot Rod always works and has been reliable.

ms gamboolgal and our Granddaughter have rode up and down the stairs many a time now. Now the little Granddaughter is wanting to ride the "Hot Rod" and so she does sit in the chair with the seat belt on and with ms gamboolgal walking right up with her to be sure no accidents.

And the Granddaughter is now going up and down the Stairs holding our hand.

But we figured we will need the Hot Rod one day - so it was a good thing for us to have. I have used it a couple of times - once when my back went out and I could barely walk for a week or so. And another after a surgery when I was tender. So it's a good thing for us to have.

 

[frank05]

Had a Stannah chairlift installed for the parents. Gave great service for 12 years with only having to replace its backup battery once.

 

[joesxm3]

I bought one for my mother to be able to move her from the first floor to the basement garage. I bought it from a company called New England Stair Lifts. I am pretty sure it is an Acorn model.

The stair lift worked well for a couple years until she died. I still have it and run it up and down every month or so just to try to keep it from getting bound up.

The company was good to work with but they were not cheap. I bought a "slightly used" model and got $500 off. They told me that when I no longer wanted it they would buy it back for $500. Quite the profit margin in that deal for them.

Adding a question. I am about to turn 69 and do not use the lift. Would it make sense to sell it back for $500 just to get it out of the stairway or would it be better to keep it hoping that it still works when I might have a need for it?

 

[skyking1]

I would keep it 100% of the time in your case, Joe.
Nobody has a crystal ball that works. You might want it back the week after they take it away.

 

[OldShooter]

I bought one for my mother to be able to move her from the first floor to the basement garage. I bought it from a company called New England Stair Lifts. I am pretty sure it is an Acorn model.

The stair lift worked well for a couple years until she died. I still have it and run it up and down every month or so just to try to keep it from getting bound up.

The company was good to work with but they were not cheap. I bought a "slightly used" model and got $500 off. They told me that when I no longer wanted it they would buy it back for $500. Quite the profit margin in that deal for them.

Adding a question. I am about to turn 69 and do not use the lift. Would it make sense to sell it back for $500 just to get it out of the stairway or would it be better to keep it hoping that it still works when I might have a need for it?

I would remove the chair and put it into storage. Leave the rail. It takes almost no space. Then if and when you need the chair again you just remount it.

 

[jasg]

We had a Bruno 3050 installed last Friday - $5300. From a local firm. Painless 3 hour install. It was a single, straight staircase.

Happy so far.

No sales visit needed, handled it all with a few phone calls, email & photos.

Acorn was eliminated for hard sell & relentless follow-up.

 

[M Paquette]

We have an old Bruno SRE-1550 "ELECTRA-RIDE II" installed here. The 1978 vintage home came with it when we bought it in 2020. It's been handy for some of our houseguests, as most bedrooms and the guest bath are all on the second floor.

We removed it for a whole-house flooring project shortly after we bought the place, and reinstalled it ourselves. We also replaced the two small 12V rechargeable batteries 2 year ago. It is a simple reliable mechanism, with very little maintenance needed.

 

[Walt34]

Adding a question. I am about to turn 69 and do not use the lift. Would it make sense to sell it back for $500 just to get it out of the stairway or would it be better to keep it hoping that it still works when I might have a need for it?

Murphy's Law dictates that IF you sell it back for the $500, a week after it is removed you will suffer some debilitating injury or medical condition that makes continuing to live there dependent on having a stair lift.

OTOH, if you leave it in place, you will continue to enjoy excellent mobility health for the rest of your life up until the very day you die. You'll probably die from tripping over the stair lift.

 

[hesperus]

You should definitely check out Halton Stairlifts since they handle those specific narrow staircase issues you mentioned. That Acorn response about uninstalling sounds like a massive headache you don't need.

When we had them out to my uncle's place, the surveyor was helpful with the technical layout rather than just pushing a sale. It’s worth getting a quick quote from them to compare against those local firms.

 

[Just_Steve]

Well, the time has come. We've been in our split-level home for just over 37-years. Every room has been remodeled and we love it...with two exceptions. Those exceptions are two, separate staircases on the main level...6-steps to the upper floor, 5-steps down to the lower level. The upper staircase isn't too bad but the lower is very steep and narrow. My contractor buddy is working on widening and reducing the angle. That will help but my knees are getting bad despite the quarterly cortisone shots and my wife walks with a cane. The lifts are mostly for her use.

We want to stay in this house as long as we can. Neither of us is anxious to move. We're looking at adding a stairlift to each staircase. We've interviewed three companies, so far...

- DME Lifts & Elevators
- 101 Mobility
- Acorn Stairlift

The first two are local to us. Acorn is a national brand. We've interviewed each in our home, measurements were taken and proposals submitted, We have deliberately not looked at the cost estimates..for now. We want to first judge the companies on their own merits.

We visited the showroom of #1 and very much liked what we saw and learned about warranties, installation, etc. We'll be visiting the showroom of #2 shortly. Surprisingly, Acorn does not have a showroom. When asked how can we look at the proposed equipment the rep said that after the lifts are installed and we don't like them they will un-install them and refund our money. We found that to be incredible as well as unacceptable and have removed Acorn from consideration. We have two more leads on local companies from trusted friends that we will be checking out.

Posting this wondering if anyone has a stairlift that you're happy with that maybe we should look at. We want power swivel, power footrest and automatic power folding rail on the upper staircase to eliminate a tripping hazard. No trip hazard exists on the lower staircase.

Appreciate any comments, answers and wisdom

Have one in my garage, come get it, i'll give you a great price.
Acorn lift

 

[rk911]

You should definitely check out Halton Stairlifts since they handle those specific narrow staircase issues you mentioned. That Acorn response about uninstalling sounds like a massive headache you don't need.

When we had them out to my uncle's place, the surveyor was helpful with the technical layout rather than just pushing a sale. It’s worth getting a quick quote from them to compare against those local firms.

I neglected to update this thread.

We widened the lower staircase by 4" (the max available) which involved moving a load bearing wall. We purchased the Stannah Stairlift from DME Mobility. Installation went well and my wife and I are happy and she is a lot safer now on the steps. Thanks to all for your comments.

 

[folivier]

Not a stair lift but we're considering buying a waterfront house in a couple years when we sell the mountain cabin. These are all on pilings for hurricane flooding protection. Most have a cargo lift of some kind so that'll work for us when stairs are more difficult.

 

[Flyfish1]

I neglected to update this thread.

We widened the lower staircase by 4" (the max available) which involved moving a load bearing wall. We purchased the Stannah Stairlift from DME Mobility. Installation went well and my wife and I are happy and she is a lot safer now on the steps. Thanks to all for your comments.

Great. We aren't ready for that yet, but we also have a split level home - it was modified and expanded years ago, but as far as the stair go it's a split level as you described above. Did you install a lift on both set of stairs? I assume that is on two different walls or does it wrap around the common wall on the stairs?

 

[rk911]

Great. We aren't ready for that yet, but we also have a split level home - it was modified and expanded years ago, but as far as the stair go it's a split level as you described above. Did you install a lift on both set of stairs? I assume that is on two different walls or does it wrap around the common wall on the stairs?

Yes, we installed separate lifts on each staircase. If we made one continuous lift it would've blocked a closet making it unusable. The lift on the upper staircase has an automatic extending rail enabling the chair to reach the floor but that results in a trip hazard. That requires sending the chair back far enough to cause the rail extension to retract. That takes about 10-12 seconds. The lifts run on battery power but the batteries are charged when not in use. Weight capacity is 350-lbs.

Lower Staircase

Upper Staircase showing rail extension

 

[rk911]

Stairlift automatic rail

 

[Flyfish1]

Yes, we installed separate lifts on each staircase. If we made one continuous lift it would've blocked a closet making it unusable. The lift on the upper staircase has an automatic extending rail enabling the chair to reach the floor but that results in a trip hazard. That requires sending the chair back far enough to cause the rail extension to retract. That takes about 10-12 seconds. The lifts run on battery power but the batteries are charged when not in use. Weight capacity is 350-lbs.

Lower Staircase
View attachment 62892

Upper Staircase showing rail extension

View attachment 62893

View attachment 62894

View attachment 62895

Thanks for the pics. That may be us in the future.

 

[DJRR]

See you already purchased, but for future searchers our experience was as follows:

First time we got a great deal from a small local firm. They had 2 used units that had been returned upon sale of a house. We got about 33% off and it worked out well. Manufacture date is on the faceplate so you can see when it was made. Service was difficult due to one man shop who eventually stopped altogether.

At the new house we went with a large local mobility company and got a Bruno, which was the best combination of price/quality. Been very happy. Things that really jack up the price are bends/turns on the track and any automatic movement. We did not do any turns and got the manual movement for the bottom of the staircase and it was ~ $5,000. Service has been good and no problems 4.5 years later.

I would not do the acorn. Have seen them in other houses and did not like the quality.