2. Who should I choose to install my home elevator? There are many sources on the internet to help you choose your ideal installer. Many of the features below will depend on who you choose, but most can be applied in a general way to home elevator ownership.
3. I have a smaller home. Can I still get an elevator installed? Yes. Elevators are custom-built, and therefore can fit into most homes.
4. What about openings? Can my home elevator have multiple openings? Yes. It depends on the company you choose, but most offer up to three openings.
5. What about maintenance costs? Are they huge? No, most maintenance costs for home elevators are comparable to heating and air-conditioning maintenance costs.
6. Will my home elevator use up a lot of electricity? It differs from model to model, but most use up very little electricity per day.
7. Will my home elevator match the look of my home, or does it have a standard look? Home elevators come in a variety of looks, and, again, are custom-built, right down to the doors, interiors, handrails, etc.
8. I'm building a new home. I'm not sure that I want a home elevator now, but I may want one later. What should I do to make a later installation easier? Stack your closets one on top of the other. A home elevator requires a closet on each floor, as closets serve as the hoist way.
9. How safe is a home elevator? Home elevators have as many safety features as possible. For example, if a power failure occurs in your home, emergency lights come on in your home elevator and a battery-operated mechanism lowers it to the floor below. If the gate opens while the elevator is moving, it will come to a halt. Once the elevator has begun to climb or descend, the landing gates on the floor it is climbing or descending from immediately lock.
10. What are the weight limitations on a home elevator? Standard home elevators can be built to hold around a thousand pounds.
11. Can I fit my wheelchair into my home elevator? Yes, your home elevator can be custom-built to fit your wheelchair.
12. How much will it cost? Depending on the type of elevator you purchase, its various features, size, etc., a residential home elevator can cost anywhere from $1800 to $30000.
13. Will Medicare or insurance pay for my home elevator? Medicare will not, but some independent insurance companies, depending on your unique circumstances, will pay part or all of the cost.
14. If I decide to install a home elevator, can I simply remove my stairs and put it in their place? No. There is a uniform building code which requires that a stairway be in each home.
15. Do I need to have a telephone installed in my home elevator? Yes, installing a telephone in your home elevator is a safety requirement that can't be avoided.
16. Is there a standard warranty that comes with a home elevator? It depends on the company you choose. Many offer a warranty of up to one year, with some offering warranties of up to five years.