Residential Elevators
What is the size of a residential elevator?
The average size is between 6 feet and 7 feet tall and between 3 feet and 5.5 feet in depth.
Will elevators fit in all homes?
Yes! Not all types of elevators will fit, but depending on the type of elevators it will have different space requirements and specs. Rise Above Elevator also provides custom-designed elevators, which give you more flexibility to make an elevator fit your exact requirements.
What is the smallest residential elevator?
The smallest residential elevators are a shaft-less design, which is commonly found in pneumatic elevators. Removing the shaft component saves not only space, but money, and removes the need to dig a pit for the shaft.
What is the cost of a home elevator?
The average price range starts at around $20,000.
What is the best drive system?
This depends on several factors like your specific needs, the home it is going into and your expectations from your home elevator.
The In-Line Gear is more suited for Coastal regions due to the fact neither sand and salt affect the component parts, unlike a hydraulic elevator which is not. It is best to sit down with the elevator specialist at Rise Above Elevator and determine your specific requirements before choosing an elevator.
Is the in-line gear drive unit noisy?
No. In-line gear drives are quiet and also offer smooth gradual starting and stopping.
How much room do I need?
It depends on the needs of the people using the residential elevator. For an elevator that will accommodate a wheelchair, 3′ x 4′ elevator car will take about a 5′ x 5′ area. You will have to make sure to have enough room for a machine room if the elevator that has been chosen requires one. Some jurisdictions require machine room, some do not.
Will the home elevator accommodate a wheelchair?
There are some elevators that can and some that cannot. Generally you would like the inside clearance to be 36″ x 48″ to accommodate a wheelchair.
What is the weight capacity on a residential elevator?
The typically weight capacity of a residential elevators is about 950 lbs.
How many floors can your home elevator serve?
Depending on the type of elevator but up to 5 floors can be served. 50′ of travel is the maximum for a residential elevator.
Can an elevator be added to my current home?
Yes. Rise Above Elevators provides the services of an architect, contractor and years of elevator experience. We can help you find the best location for an elevator with the least amount of cost and impact on your current home design.
What are hydraulic lifts?
An elevator that uses a hydraulic lift moves using pistons that have a fluid-pumping system. The pressurized fluid collects in the cylinder, then pushes the piston up and lifts the elevator car. To descend, the fluid is released and the weight of the elevator car slowly pushes down the piston while the car has a smooth descent.
What are the types of elevator?
Click here to view a page describing different types of elevators.
LULA ELEVATORS
What is the difference between a LULA elevator and a standard elevator?
LULA stands for Limited Use/Limited Application commercial elevators by Nationwide Lifts. LULAs, as compared to commercial passenger elevators, are more compact, less costly and have lower capacity. They are an excellent option for commercial installations of a certain size and, oftentimes, can fit more easily into existing construction, as compared to traditional passenger elevators.
Our LULAs are all hydraulic drive, whereas residential elevators also come with mechanical drives such as winding drum and in-line gear drives.
What is the weight capacity on a LULA elevator?
The weight capacity is 1400 pounds.
How long does it take to install?
On average the LULA elevator is installed within two week’s time.
STAIR LIFTS
Can you install a stair chair outside?
Yes. There are different models including an outdoor models. The outdoor model is manufactured to protect it from various weather conditions.
What is the weight capacity of a stair chair?
This will dependant on the model installed. Most stair lifts have a 300-350 pound capacity with some models offering a 600 pound weight capacity.
Can a stair lift be installed on curved steps or steps that have a landing?
Stairlifts today are designed to fit almost any type of stairway from straight stairs, both short and long stairwells, and many different shapes of curved stairs.
How wide does my stairs need to be for a stair lift?
Stair lifts are generally installed in 36″ wide stairwell. Although, we do offer models and applications that can accommodate narrower stairways.
How long does the stair lift installation take?
Straight stairlifts oftentimes can be installed with two days of purchase. However, curved stairlifts require a custom rail to fit your home, which can take on average 4-5 weeks from measurement to installation.
DUMBWAITERS
What is the weight capacity of a dumbwaiter?
Usually, between 50 – 500 lbs depending on the size of the car and whether it is a commercial or residential model. Most residential dumbwaiters have a 100-200 lbs capacity.
How far can a dumbwaiter travel?
Approximately 50 ft.
FAQs about Commercial Elevators
What is the best commercial elevator?
The type of elevator installed depends on your budget, requirements, and space. Because Rise Above Elevator is an independent elevator company we offer non-proprietary systems which means you get the best elevator and controller system for your needs.
How much space is needed for an elevator?
A typical elevator requires about 5 feet to 7 feet length- and width-wise for the cab. The shaft will need at least 4 feet of depth below the elevator.
How much weight can a freight elevator hold?
Freight elevators are designed to carry heavy-duty loads and can typically hold from 4,000 to 15,000 pounds.
What is a service lift?
This is similar to a freight elevator. Service elevators are designed for carrying goods from one floor to another. Most often this elevator is restricted to staff and employee access.
How many people can fit in a lift or elevator?
The dimensions of the elevator will determine the max number of people. In most cases, an elevator can hold more weight than the number of people who can physically fit in an elevator.
What are the types of elevators?
Click here to view a page describing different types of elevators.
FAQs about Commercial Elevators Maintenance
How often should I service my elevator?
Maintaining a commercial life generally, require more maintenance than residential elevators. They need to have routine maintenance at least once per month. If you have an older system that has not been replaced for some time and a lot of traffic, then you may want to consider even more frequent commercial elevator service. Having routine maintenance can decrease the about of elevator repairs and down time of the elevator.
You will also need to set up repairs and inspection on an annual basis. Hiring a quality, certified elevator company may be the difference between passing or failing that annual inspection and safety testing, thus keeping your elevators up and running.
How do I schedule maintenance work?
A good contractor company will recommend maintenance upon inspecting your elevators or at installation. At installation usually they will go over with you an commercial elevator maintenance plan. You may then adjust that schedule as new needs and events arise, such as an increase in tenant occupation on the floors or repairs after an elevator shows early signs of malfunctioning.
The elevator company should also provide you with a number you can call in case of emergencies, such as an elevator entrapment, for an elevator technician. If an elevator company does not offer 24/7 service lines for instances like these, you should reconsider working with them.
Will the warranty cover the maintenance work?
Whether or not your warranty covers maintenance and repairs is dependent on several factors. Here are a few of these below:
- The age of your elevator systems and its components
- The elevator company who originally installed them
- How long ago the elevator company installed new cabs or banks
- The contractual agreement with the company at the time
How much does it cost to maintain an elevator?
On average, it will cost about $500 – $1,000 on an annual basis to provide professional elevator maintenance. You will also have to factor in the cost of parts and service that may or may not be required during the maintenance. However, if you have a maintenance plan for commercial elevators some routine maintenance could be included.
What is elevator modernization?
Older elevators need modifications to ensure it meets code. Elevator modernization helps verify that your elevator is as safe as possible. As elevators age and new safety measures are developed, your elevator can begin to have parts deteriorate or become out of date. This is important for building owners to keep their elevators up to building codes.
If you are using your elevator maintenance plan, odds are they have done a lot of preventative maintenance and repair service. However, modernization by the elevator company will not only give you, the building owner, peace of mind but also give you more energy efficiency in your building.