If you’ve started shopping of stair chair lifts, you may be wondering what features you should choose.

You need to consider the width of your stairway as one of your first considerations. Different stair chair lifts from different manufacturers can take more or less width in the staircase. If you have very wide staircases, then you are in luck, and do not need to worry. But if you have a narrow staircase, make sure you take the exact width measurements of your staircase in to consideration while evaluating your options. Most lifts allow the seat to be folded up to give you extra space when the lift is not in use. There are also a few stair chair lifts that even allow the rail to be folded up out of the way when the lift is not in use. If your staircase is narrow, then a folding rail could make the difference between a lift being possible or not for your home.

Another major consideration, do you want your stair chair lifts to be battery powered, or only AC powered. If the user of the chair lift is going to be home alone on a regular basis, it may be a very wise choice to select the battery powered unit. Stair chair lifts with a battery can still carry its passenger up and down the stair a few times, even when electrical power has been lost due to a storm or other causes. With an AC powered unit, if the power goes out at an inopportune time, your rider may be stranded on the stairs, depending on their mobility. With battery powered stair chair lifts, you do have an added cost each year to replace your batteries. Also, you will need to make sure you plug in for charging when your lift is at the top or bottom of the stairs. With AC powered stair chair lifts, you never have to worry about plugging or unplugging your lift, or changing batteries, it is always ready for action.

The weight of passengers on the stair chair lifts must be evaluated when making your choice. You will find that most lifts are rated to carry passengers up to 300 pounds easily. If you happen to have passengers over 300 pounds, then you will need to extend you looking a little, many manufacturers offer versions of their systems to carry passengers up to 375 pounds. You can expect to pay a premium for a lift to carry the additional weight, since all the hardware will need to be a little stronger, and requires an upgraded motor. Do no exceed the weight limits recommended by the manufacturer, or you may be putting your passenger in danger. Also, as you are considering the chair lift for a heavier individual, make sure the included seat-belt is going to fit comfortably.

One very important thing not to overlook. How will the lift look in your home. You can select seats and even rails in a wide variety of colors to match your home. By selecting colors which complement your decor, your stair chair lifts will blend into your home beautifully.