I am called the Stair Lift guy because I have been installing and servicing stairlifts for the last 30 years. I learned about stair lifts from my dad, he installed many different brand names for several companies and of course in my opinion the original stair lift guy. Even today I consult with him on problem with the older stair lifts.
Between 1975 and 1983 I actually worked at NCRbut whenever my dad needed a extra hand, I would tag along. Usually I would take vacation time to help install a few lifts. In 1983 I quit NCR and went to work in my dad’s business full time, and I am still installing stair lifts. Now, I do admit that I also install handicap lifts, dumbwaiters, and residential elevators from time to time, so occasionally I will talk about other things besides stair lifts.
In this blog I plan on discussing the many different types of stair lifts, what my honest opinion is of the lift, and I also hope to include pictures and video. Plus I may even show some how to tips in regarding to the care of stair lifts.
After reading your post I can tell you are well-informed about your writing. Thank you.
please send me a telephone number how I can get a stair lift chair
i am happy to find it thanks for sharing it here. Nice work.
Thanks for your website. It is very informative and useful.
would like to thank you for taking time to help us in getting my mother up and down stairs. Without your help, we could not have been able to have her stay with us. You are a god send, thank you very much.
I have enjoyed looking at your information, so far.
Where are you based?
Lynn Batten
Hi Stair Lift Guy, great blog you have on here. When will there be a new post?
Excellent presentations of brands, features, functions, and benefits. Are you licensed for Michigan and could you help or do an install on a lift I by used? E-mail me if you can. Thanks for your great information!
We got a chair lift from you, I think. Are you located somewhere around Athens? We got a used chair that originally an outside unit for a Doctor. It is for my mentally handicapped daughter and we love it. We have a friend who is trying to locate a unit for his elderly grandmother. Could you please contact us if you are the man we are lookiing for. Thank you so very much.
I have a Bruno SRE-2010 with folding track. I really like the unit however the carriage stops about 4 ft from the bottom at the point where power is connected for a charge point I am told. It charges at the top and bottom, does it HAVE to stop midway? It seems strange to have to stop and start midway both up and down.
What is your take on Indy Stair Lifts? They are made by FAYETTEVILLE HOME HEALTH PRODUCTS, INC.
Thanks,
Jim
Thanks for helping us find the problem with our stair lift. The how to videos and articles you sent by way of email was extremely helpful. We could not find anybody around here that knew anything about this type of lift. Thank you very much for your experise
The Indy Pinnacle stair lift is actually a Bruno Elite stair lift. Bruno makes a very heavy duty stair lift, I sell them if someone needs a high capacity stair lift – 400 lbs. You can see more on this stair lift on the Bruno web site – http://www.bruno.com/stairlift-electra-ride-elite.html
The Indy wheelchair platform looks like it the newly introduced Harmar Incline wheelchair lift. I saw this on display at the Medtrade show in Atlanta in Oct 2010. The display was not a working model so I was not able to test it out. But, if it is anything like Harmar’s Pinnacle Stair Lift, it will be a great wheelchair lift once it is in production. I should make a blog on my trip to the Medtrade show
It stops at the midway point because there is a charging station at that location, due to folding rail. When you fold the rail, you have to run the stair lift up to the charging station so it will charge. But if the rail is unfolded, the chair will automatically stop on the charge. Then you have to release the control, then activate it again to continue on the the end ot the track. I know it seems silly, but some stair lifts are designed that way.
But, there are some brand names that do not stop at all, which seems ok, but…. I have a customer with a Acorn stair lift with a folding rail, and when the Acorn moves over the charge it “beeps”, but my customer is hard of hearing and can not hear it. When she first had the lift, she called often saying her stair lift would not go – batteries was run down, so I finally had to make a mark on the rail so she would know where to stop it at.
The great fresh articles keep me coming back here time and time again. thanks again so much.
would like to transfer by Sterling 950 chair rail to ride on the other side of the stairway
from Left to Right, the place where we purchased said I have to buy a whole new chair
he says they are either Left sided or Right side chairs. Sounds “fishy” he’ll buy it back but won’t give us much towards another one. Is this chair reversiable????
Useful information shared..Iam very happy to read this article..thanks for giving us nice info.Fantastic walk-through. I appreciate this post
Hello, i discovered your site through yahoo and hope you keep making more fine articles.
The Sterling 950 stair lifts are can not switch sides, when you order them from the factory, they come as either a left hand lift, or a right hand lift. Actually it just the seat and the footrest that are left side or right side, the chassis and the rail can be used on either side of the stairs. So, the dealer you bought the stair lift from is correct in saying he can not switch sides. You will have to buy a new seat and a new footrest. Why don’t you see if the dealer will just order a seat and footrest? Then everything else is usable. Good luck with it!
I am in need of repairing my stair lift I just recently installed. I don’t know what the problem is but it appears that the rollers going up the track get stuck about 6 in from the bottom.It’s has though the chair isn’t sitting properly on the track because it doesn’t go up at an angle like my other one I have. Please help with any advice or suggestions.
If you could respond to my email that would be much appreciated.
I have a ThyssenKrup Citia model stairlift. The unit has operated well until last night when, as I started up I heard beeping and chirping like a dying bird until it finally stopped.
I figure it’s the battery (Ijust read they should be replaced at least every three years)
Being an engineer and pretty handy I need to do the replacement myself. A local service company wants $350 just for the visit then $40 for each battery. He is obviously ntaking advantage of people that might actually be in an emergency situation.
I’ve been looking for an assembly or installation manual that gives some details on how to gain access to, and repair, the batteries.
An ideas??
Thanks
HAVE A STANNER STAIR LIFT MODEL 300 .WISH TO REPLACE BATTERY BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE IT IS LOCATED-COULD YOU ADVISE.
I have 2 brand new Bruno elite stair lifts
Electra-Ride™ Elite
Model SRE-2010
Wider seat , and longer foot rests custom built order
Bought brand new in July 2010 and installed
My mom passed away suddenly in early October
I never registered the warranty used maybe 10 times
Attaching pictures
I paid $3500 for both
Looking for best offer!
My boss is interested in an outdoor chair lift where there are no stairs by his driveway. The length is 150-200 ft. and there is about a 20 degree angle leading down. Could you please recommend any brand of stairlift that would work in this situation? Thanks!
Good job! I will keep on coming back to read such high quality posts. Thanks!
Hi, I am very pleased to find your useful information via Google today. It really is helpful for everyone who searching to get info about this topic. I am confident that everyone can apply for their own use. Thank you and looking forward to read more from you.
Batteries on any battery operated stairs lifts – which is just about all the newer stair lifts will last about 3 years. Sometimes they will last longer, but average is 3 years. I had some last only one year!
ThyssenKrup Citia – also known as tkaccess! In order to change the batteries on a Citia, you have to remove the seat and footrest (bascially take the whole thing apart, before you can remove the cover to get to the batteries. To remove the batteries, you also have to unscrew the 4 screws holding the circuit board. When dealing with circuit boards, always touch the rail to help eliminate static electricity and advoid damaging the board. Once you can lift the circuit board, being careful not to disconnect any wires, you can lift the batteries out.
If you need to buy batteries – you can buy them from me I just opened a ebay store and will try to sell them thru there. Ebay has limited my account so can only list a few items at a time
It sounds like the batteries. Or it could be the charger. Does it beep while sitting on the charger, or after it moves away from the charger. I would replace the batteries and see if that makes it work right. I just opened a ebay sell store and will be offering the batteries. I’ll try to upload the video in the next day or 2. It still needs some editing.
I have had chargers on the Citia to go bad it it will cause the beeping sound.
Maybe that is another thing I could sell on ebay is the different service and install manual. I do have a install manual for the citia.
You don’t say what brand name of the stair lift, but I am going to guess it is a Summit or Amerglide? If it is, try unscrewing the screw that goes to the wall controls (call/send controls) Sometimes these will get tighten down to much, and will put pressure on the wall of the rail, so when the stair lift gets to that point, it gets stuck and won’t go down. Going up is no problem because you have a motor pulling the stair lift up and down. But going down depends on gravity. So, check those screws, loosen them, you can added a washer to keep it from putting pressure on the rail.
If it not a Summit, what type of stair lift is it?
Meditek offers a stair lift with a long rail (up to 250 feet). You could contact them directly at (919) 387-1715 or go to their web page at: http://www.meditekstairlifts.com
Also just make sur eyou check with local codes (stair lifts falls under the elevator codes)
Will this be mounted on the driveway or off to one side?
There is also another company that makes more of a trolley system for home use that are designed to go on slopes. I’ll see if i can find their info and pass it on to you.
I sent you email for more info!
I’ll put a classified section on this so if anyone is looking to sell or buy a stair lift or any product, you can list it and hopefully get it sold!
I have a used Bruno Seat Style stair lift for sale. It was purchased in 1998 and used for one year. It has been in storage. It is in excellent condition, but you may need to replace the battery. There are two rails measuring 8 feet and one measuring 4 feet. The long rails have never been used. It was installed with the shorter one for use. It comes with all mounting hardware, seat and charger. All parts are clean and in excellent condition. Would you know of anyone that might like to buy this. The original cost was $2700.
Hi! I emailed you through your ebay site yesterday and you were kind enough to get back with me. When you get a moment can you get back with me at the email address listed here?(the regular email not the website
Thanks so much!
I have an old excel and would like to know how to remove the chair from rail so we can move in a new bedroom set without trying lift everything over it. Could you advise me on how to go about this? Thankyou.
Sent you a email from my email thestairliftguy@gmail.com
Sent you a email from my email thestairliftguy@gmail.com
we bought a used sterling stairlift, model 1000. We had a person who installs other brand of chairlift and now we would like the chair to swivel on the other side of its present right to left, but cannot find anyone who knows how to do it.
We are wondering if the motor is a dual side if we can just reverse everything or buy new parts.
I can send you pictures if needed.
Thanks, Diane
Mark I cannot thank you enough for all your help in getting the stairlift going.You are a really professional.
My aunt summit stairlift was place outside her home after hurrican katrina and last week i went over to visit her and it wasn’t working. It has power but will not move up and down please help she cant get up or down in her house. She is a prisoner in her home.
i have two excel stairlifts that came witht he house. they have just been sitting around in the garage for the last 3 years. i have listed them to sell and recently plugged on in and after a while i hear a high pitched sound then it goes off not really beeping, the chair does not move when i try and make it go on the rail. do u think its a battery problem? H0w much do batteries usually cost for the lifts? thanks steve
Very nice site thanks for the info!
HI, great website, very helpful. I have been contacted by a client who has purchased a used sterling chairlift. It was initially set up with a curved section and two levels of track. I am assuming that this is the 2000. The serial # is M03092685. Ok, so they want to install it on a stairway that only has 6 steps. I have experience in measuring and installing stairlifts so I found a section of existing straight track that will work. I will have to switch it from a left side to a right side and that doesnt seem to be an issue. The length and the position of the legs will let it work quite nicely. However, I am in need of an installation booklet so that I am not missing anything when or if I install this. Also, I saw above that the seat and footrest on the 950 can’t be used if switching sides but is that the case with this model? Thanks for any help that you can provide.
Had contacted you regarding a stair lift for my dad in Roswell. Did not hear back.
Send me you ph number so we can order a lift from you. Thanks.
I try to create a site that offers information and help people. I got more things I am getting ready to add in the next few days.
Yes if the stair lifts has not be in use (and charging) the batteries are no good and dead. Even if the stair lift was still in use, or still installed the batteries needs to be changed because batteries in stair lifts will only last an average of three (3) years. Oh, I have had the occasional stair lift that last longer, but on average it tends to be 2 to 3 years.
It depends on where or who you buy the batteries from, but usually they cost between & $70 and $100 for a set of batteries (two – 12 volt 7 amp batteries)
There could be several things making it not operate! I’ll send you a email and maybe one of the suggestions will help!
you can email at thestairliftguy@gmail.com
You can’t find anyone who can do that because most stair lifts are handed, when you order them you order them as either a left hand or a right hand and in most cases can not be rehanded. You have a power swivel, and the problem with that is the way the seat is mounted – the seat post is off centered so that when it is installed on the left hand side of the stairs, it designed so the rider can easily get on and off the stair lift. But, you are trying to switch sides, so now your problem is the stair lift seat post is on the downhill side, and will only swivel to the left, or the opposite side of what you need it to be on.
About the only way I know how to correct this problem is to buy a new seat from Sterling. I do not know how to convert it over. You can always contact Sterling but I am pretty sure they will say the same thing I am telling you, these can not be re handed! A while back Sterling hire me to replace a seat on a Sterling 1000 when the dealer who sold it attempted to rehand the stair lift and ended up the whole stair lift stopped working. Not only did I replace the seat, but also had to replace the mother board and do a lot of re-wiring. All that could have been avoided if the dealer had of simply ordered the correct hand instead of trying to change hands.
Also when you rehand a stair lift that not designed to be re-handed, all of your safety switches are also backwards. Your footrest especially is backwards so if the stair lift is traveling uphill and something (such as a foot, or cane, or small pet, etc) gets caught between the stair and the footrest, the stair lift will not stop!
There was a case a few years ago where a child died because someone reversed a stair lift and so all the safety devices was also backwards and the stair lift did not stop when a child go caught between the stairs and the footrest.
So, basically what I am trying to tell you is you are trying to do something that your particular stair lift not designed to do! This is why a lot of states are now requiring permits on stair lifts and only allowing certified elevator mechanics to install them. Anyone who knows me personally know I am not a fan of elevator inspectors, but I do my fair share of meeting elevator inspectors!
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