Used Stair Lift Precautions

When you have health problems that keep you from being able to go up and down the stairs you might find that you need to consider a stair lift for your home.  When you have a stair lift you won’t be confined to one floor of your home and you won’t have to risk your safety attempting to make it up and down the stairs.  If you don’t have the ability to pay for a new stair lift you might want to think about purchasing a used stair lift. 

A used stair lift can be a great deal but you need to use some common sense before you buy.  First and foremost, check out the stair lift before you buy.  In other words, don’t buy sight unseen.  Make sure that the rails and the chair are still in working condition.  If possible, ask to see the batteries or motor so you can ascertain how exactly the unit works and if it is in usable condition.  If possible, ask to see the used stair lift still installed so you can see how quietly it runs and also see if it jerks hard when it starts and stops. 

Next, ask for the model number and if possible, the year it was made.  This will help you to do some research on the model to be sure that it was made well and if generally speaking, consumers were happy with the purchase.  When you have this information it is a lot easier to do some basic research on the unit to make sure that it is something that you are going to be happy to own.  If the company is still around, you can even call the company and inquire about whether there have been any recalls with the particular model and even find out if it is still under warranty. 

When you are looking into buying a used stair lift, you should also inquire what type it is.  Does it attach to the wall or does it attach to the stairs?  Is it meant for straight stairways only or can it also accommodate curved stairways?  These are important considerations and precautions that you must take because if it does not fit your stairway you will not be able to purchase it. 

A great way to get a quality used stair lift is to buy through an authorized dealer of used medical devices.  These people make their living selling used equipment so they are not as likely to sell you something that is not going to last a good long time and provide you with all of your lift needs and fulfill your expectations.  Use the internet or even your local phone book to find a used stair lift dealer in your area.