Installing A New Stairlift Is Safer Than A Used One

For many people, getting up and down the stairs at home safely and comfortably is a challenge. When pain in the joints, unsteady balance, or poor eyesight interfere with mobility, many people choose to either restrict the use of their home to one floor or choose to relocate to a home with only one level.

The good news is that stairlifts open up a third wonderful possibility: remaining at home and having access to all of it. Southern Mobility Solutions provides home stairlifts in New Orleans to everyone wishing to live at home.

Stairlift Basics

A stairlift is a simple system featuring a comfortable chair that travels along a set of rails. The rails, sometimes called tracks, are installed on the treads of the stairs, not the walls of the stairwell. Since stair treads are already highly reinforced, the rails do not need any additional reinforcement or construction. Installation is simple—it can be done over carpet no problem—and, if the lift ever needs to be removed, the holes in the treads left behind are nearly invisible and easily filled.

As you can tell, we’re big fans of stairlifts. They fit on nearly every staircase easily and provide safe, comfortable transportation for anyone struggling with the stairs. They’re also an affordable solution, especially when compared with the alternatives of remodeling, moving, or in-home care.

Is Buying a Used Stairlift an Option?

One common question concerns used stairlifts. Customers wishing to economize will often ask if buying a used stairlift is a viable option. While it is possible to purchase some used systems, it’s not something we advise, and we offer the following as an explanation:

Curved Stairlifts

Stairlifts come with straight or curved rails. Straight rails travel in a straight line from bottom to top and are used for a single flight of stairs with no twists, turns, or landings. Curved systems have rails that curve around landings or along spiral-shaped. Curved rails are custom-made to fit each home. Buying a used curved lift is generally not even an option because no two systems are alike. You simply won’t find a used curved stairlift that will fit your stairs.

Straight Stairlifts

Straight lifts, on the other hand, come in standard lengths. Straight rails can also be cut to fit if necessary. That said, we still do not recommend buying a used system. Here’s why:

• Safety. Safety is priority number one. When you purchase a used system, you have no idea how carefully the prior owners maintained it, so you have no idea how safe and reliable it will be going forward. Was annual maintenance performed regularly? Are the components in solid shape? How much life is left in the system? It’s nearly impossible to make these assessments on a used system.
• Warranty. New systems come with all the benefits of a full factory warranty. You might save money on the front end with a used system, but those saving will erode over time as you pay for repairs not covered by a warranty.

The bottom line is this: yes, you may be able to find a used straight stairlift that fits your home, but the compromised safety and lack of warranty make buying used a poor substitute for buying a new system.

Trust Southern Mobility Solutions

Call our team today to discuss how a new curved or straight stairlift chair in New Orleans can help you or a loved one reclaim their independence and live at home in comfort and safety. We’ll help you find a system that fits your home and your budget.