How to Use a Home Elevator Safely: Tips for Families

Installing a home elevator in your house will completely change how you use the space; what used to be an everyday exercise going up and down the stairs is now much easier; moving groceries from one floor to another is also much easier; parents/grandparents who may have experienced pain in their knees no longer need to worry about that; children who could only get to their room by running up the stairs two at a time can now access their room without having to run up the stairs.

There are many benefits to having a home elevator, including convenience and comfort. But, since the home elevator is a common/shared space within your home, like any other, it should be used safely/responsibly by all who use it (this includes any visitors). If your family has recently installed a home lift or is planning to install one soon, there are some good habits that you can adopt to help ensure safe and easy use of it for many years to come.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Modern residential elevators feature advanced safety features that allow the lift to function normally under normal conditions, but the most important safety feature is awareness. A vacuum-style home lift can use only air pressure to descend, which means that a power failure will still allow the lift to descend safely to the next level if you are aware of how to use it safely.

By providing information to every adult in your household about how the lift functions, its weight limit, how the door operates, and what to expect if there is a power failure; it creates a sense of confidence in the adult users and prevents a panic situation if there is an actual power failure and someone was inside. As the occupants learn and become comfortable with the operation of the home lift, it will become an integral part of their daily life; rather than being an object of curiosity.

Setting Limits with Children

Children are always curious about the things that move. As a result, children may unintentionally see a lift in their own home as something to have fun with, but with gentle, consistent reminders, this will eventually change their perception.

The earlier we help children understand that a lift isn’t a play area, such as repeatedly pushing buttons, jumping around in the cab, or blocking the doors, the more they will be able to refrain from engaging these types of practices. Every time children do these types of activities, they create wear-and-tear on the lift and could cause a dangerous situation in the future.

By providing a small set of rules for how to use the lift, such as “stand still while riding” and “put your hands away from the door as it closes,” children quickly adapt to the idea that the lift is a helper for the family, not something to be played with.

The Importance of Using the Right Number of Passengers

The temptation to all ride together in the lift and not respect the capacity of the lift is common on busy mornings. However, it is crucial to remember that the lift’s capacity is limited.

Every residential lift will indicate the number of passengers and their weight that is safe, and exceeding this number will create unnecessary stress on the lift system, and could cause the lift’s safety sensor or alarm to activate.

As a solution, should the family need to transport more than one family member, they should split the travel into two short trips. By practicing such small preventive measures, we can protect and extend the life of our lifts.

Increased Independence for Older Family Members

For many older family members, a home elevator allows them to regain their independence; they no longer have to rely on others for assistance, nor do they have to worry about the stress of a daily climb up stairs.

However, it is important to take extra care of older family members during entry and exit of the lift. Encourage older family members to do the following:

• Wait for the lift to come to a complete stop before entering or exiting.
• Take your time to enter or exit.
• Use the provided handrails when available.
• Make sure walkers or other mobility aids are secure.
• Do not rush while doing these activities.

“Having a home elevator for comfort and convenience is much more important than speed.”

Power Outages: What to Expect

Power outages are among families’ most significant concerns.

Modern vacuum lifts should resolve that issue for you if the power goes out. If you lose power, your lift may slowly descend on its own to the lowest level. The lift will move in a controlled and smooth manner.

As a family, your best response is to remain calm. Knowing that the lift has a built-in descent mechanism will help eliminate any fear you might have about elevators. It is a good idea to discuss this scenario with your family so that, should you lose power, there will be no unnecessary anxiety.

Safety Around Your Lift

Safety not only applies to what happens inside the lift. It includes safety around the lift as well. To ensure a lift runs properly, you must keep the area around your entry and exit to the lift clear of clutter, avoid placing heavy objects near the doors, and ensure nothing obstructs your sensors. Just like any other area of your home, a clean and organised environment contributes to long-term safety.

Regular Lift Maintenance is Required

Even though home vacuum lifts have fewer moving parts than traditional hydraulic systems, they still require routine inspection and service. Regular inspections:

• Confirm that the safety systems of the lift are operational.

• Maintain the smooth operation of the lift.

• Identify worn parts before they fail.

• Extend the operational life of the lift.

A well-maintained lift will be reliable.

Make Safety in Your Home a Family Habit

The safest homes are those in which safety is considered a normal way of life, not just something to talk about after an incident has occurred. In order to keep family members on the same page regarding how to operate the lift, it can help to occasionally remind family members about this, especially when guests and young children are present. Think about an elevator as an everyday extension of your home, just like the kitchen, the stairs, or the balcony.

The Benefits of Using the Lift Safely

When a person thinks of a home elevator, they typically think of just another way to get from floor to floor. However, at its best, a home elevator does much more than just move someone from the first floor of their home to the top of the house.

A Safe Lift Equals a Comfortable Lift

A home elevator should provide the following benefits:

• Protecting elderly family members

• Implementing less strain from stairs

• Allowing easier multi-generational living

• Providing convenience for day to day routines

Safely utilising a lift allows these benefits to continue for years. By engineering a lift with quality materials and responsible daily use by the family, families can be completely assured that their homes are as comfortable and safe as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are home elevators safe for families with small children?

Yes, most modern residential elevators come with numerous built-in safety features. However, the ultimate level of safety will depend on the habits of your family. Teaching children that elevators are not toys, having adult supervision of young children riding in the lift, and insisting on proper behavior while inside the elevator will help maintain a safe environment. A home lift can be absolutely safe for families if all parties use it responsibly. If an elevator stops working during a power outage, many modern vacuum home elevators are made to slowly descend to the lowest level of the house when the power runs out through controlled air pressure. When an emergency elevator descent occurs, your immediate reaction needs to be calmness; just like when you drive a vehicle down the highway, and you must stay calm until it arrives back on level ground with open doors and the option for passengers to exit.

• How often should my home or residential elevator be serviced?

Your residential elevator needs to be serviced regularly to ensure that it continues to function safely and effectively. Most manufacturers have recommended annual service checks, or when required by the elevator company’s installation place, in order to maintain the operation of door safety features, control panels, and other functional components.

• Are children permitted to operate a home lift unassisted?

This question can only be answered by the children’s mental and emotional development, along with their age. It is always recommended that a parent or guardian supervises younger children when using the lift. However, older children may be allowed to use the lift by themselves, as long as they understand the basic rules of elevator safety (do not jump inside the lift or block the door, and do not exceed the lift weight limit). Family-established guidelines regarding using the lift independently will ensure that this type of use is safe.

• Is it safe for a home lift to be used as many times in one day as needed?

Yes; residential elevators are designed to be used daily by a family. Many families will use their lift several times each day. If the lift has been well maintained, and the recommended load limits are respected, then there should not be any safety concerns about using the lift on a regular basis.

• What are some safe procedures for elderly relatives to follow when using a home lift?

Elderly individuals using a home elevator should move through the elevator at their comfort speeds, wait until the cabin of the elevator has stopped completely before entering/exiting, and utilize the handrails when available. Also, providing a sufficient amount of space in the cabin (especially when utilizing a walker or wheelchair) can increase overall safety and confidence for elderly individuals.

• Can my home elevator be damaged by overloading?

Operating an elevator with excess weight will activate the safety devices of the elevator and place excessive stress on the unit due to an overload condition. Although all modern elevators contain overloading protection, consistently ignoring the recommended lift weight limit could affect the long-term operation of the lift; therefore, whenever you find yourself in a situation where extra trips need to be made, please make more trips than risk causing damage due to habitually exceeding the recommended weight limits.

• Does my home lift require specialized safety training?

No, but all adults should be able to operate the lift, be trained on how to properly use the emergency procedures, and who to contact when service is required. Being familiar with operating the home lift can help reduce panic and improve the safe daily use of the lift.