[ Top ]
Seek Advice
At Assured Stairlifts we supply stairlifts from most manufacturers and can
give you information about a range of different makes and models without bias
towards one manufacturer. Advice is also usually available from community occupational
therapists (OT's) or from your local authority. A stairlift might not be the
answer for everyone. For example, for someone confined to a wheelchair, a vertical
lift which goes through the floor would probably be the best solution.
Please have a look at the various models on our website where you will find information regarding finishes, options and the dimensions of some models.
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Contact a reliable company
Contact an established company with certified engineers which specialises in
installing stairlifts and beware of “drop shippers” who simply sell
on behalf of a company purely on a commission basis, who may leave you without
service. At Assured Stairlifts we have been installing stairlifts since 1992
and have a team of qualified installers who have manufacturers' certifications.
Please have a look at the many kind compliments we have received via our eBay
feedback, and at our 'About Us' page here, and at eBay.
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New Models
At Assured Stairlifts we always have a large stock of new and reconditioned
models available and can almost certainly fulfill your requirements at a substantial
saving. Please contact us or Tel. 0800 00 15 444 or: 0808 16 00 210.
On our new models we always have a wider choice of optional finishes, and a
wider choice of optional features. However they will be more expensive than
reconditioned models.
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Reconditioned Models
Substantial savings can be made by buying a reconditioned model. The technology
involved in stairlifts has improved significantly over the years, so you should
check that the model you are thinking of buying is not an “antique”
with minimal safety features. At Assured Stairlifts all our reconditioned models
have over-speed governors/safety brakes, which is very important to
stairlift safety. Regrettably there are stairlift suppliers selling
older models without this feature.
At Assured Stairlifts all of our reconditioned models are reconditioned by
qualified engineers to the highest standards, being 'as good as new'.
At Assured Stairlifts all our prices, for all our stairlifts, include a 1 year
guarantee and there are no hidden extras.
Reconditioned stairlifts from some other suppliers might have a shorter warranty
period, or a guarantee might involve an extra cost.
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Other Points Regarding Reconditioned Stairlifts
- Reconditioned stairlifts from reputable suppliers will be 'as good as new',
but do take care to buy from a reputable supplier.
- Make sure the supplier is a certified dealer as they may not be able to
obtain parts for repairs.
- Using reconditioned stairlifts is recycling, which will help the future
and our enviroment.
- Smaller companies may cut corners when reconditioning stairlifts by merely
cleaning the lift, which may cause breakdowns.
- You cannot mix different makes of chairs to different tracks.
- Installation of a reconditioned curved stairlift can be carried out normally
within 10 days from Assured Stairlifts.
- Installation of a Reconditioned straight stairlift normally takes 3 days
from order.
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Features, Options and Extras
Optional features are available on all models but do be aware that the illustrations
below are examples of features and may not be quite the same on all models.
- All our stairlifts have extended warranties available of from 1 year to 10
years.
- Stannah, Minivator and most Bison models are available with a variety of
upholstery colours. Please contact us or Tel. 0800 00 15 444 or: 0808 16 00 210.
- A powered seat swivel is available on most new and reconditioned models
as an optional extra, which makes the chair easier to use when turning to
face the top of the stairs. See Pic. 1.
- Footplates can be tilted to take up less space when the stairlift is parked
and an optional powered/automatic tilt saves bending or reaching down to do
this. See Pics. 2 and 3.
- Seats, arms and footplates can be folded up to allow more space for other users of the stairs. See Pic. 3.
- A 'Stand and Perch' option is available on some new and reconditioned models
which allows the user to remain standing in a 'perch' position on a small
padded seat rather than fully sitting down. See Pic. 4.
- A ‘Sit or Stand’ option is available on some new and reconditioned
models, which allows the user to either sit or stand on the stairlift. See Pic. 5.
- Lap safety belts are fitted as standard to ALL our stairlifts,
whether new or reconditioned, at no extra cost. We do have full harness belts
and restraints available also. See Pic. 6.
- Child seats are available on some models.
- Optional hand-held attendant controls are available on most models. See Pic. 7.
- Joystick or button controls are optional on some models. See Pic. 8. The
Minivator Simplicity 950 has a paddle shaped toggle switch available. See
Pic. 9.
- Wall mounts are available for the hand controls for most models. See Pic. 10.
- Optional manual, or powered, hinged rails, are available to keep access
clear at the foot of the staircase. See Pic. 11.
- All stairlifts have a low battery indicator. See Pic. 12.
- All our stairlifts include a key switch to immobilise the stairlift (to prevent unauthorised use). See Pic. 13.
- All stairlifts have pressure detection sensors which will stop the stairlift if an obstruction is encountered. See Pic. 14.
| Pic. 1 |
Pic. 2 |
Pic. 3 |
Pic. 4 |
Pic. 5 |
Pic. 6 |
Pic. 7 |
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| Seat shown swivelled |
Footplate |
Chair with arms, seat and footplate folded |
A 'Stand and Perch' model |
A 'Sit and Stand' model with seat folded |
Lap belts |
Hand controls |
| Pic. 8 |
Pic. 9 |
Pic. 10 |
Pic. 11 |
Pic. 12 |
Pic. 13 |
Pic. 14 |
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| Rocker switch control |
Control on a Minivator Simplicity 950 |
A wall mounted control |
An example of a hinged rail |
A Battery Indicator |
A Key Lock |
Obstruction detection |
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Maintenance
The price at Assured Stairlifts includes a one year warranty. We are approved
suppliers for most manufacturers and always have a large stock of spare parts
for all our stairlifts.
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Renting
Straight rail stairlifts can be rented from as little as £8 a week. Please contact us or Tel. 0800 00 15 444 or: 0808 16 00 210.
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Salesmen
Exercise caution if a salesman is pushing you to buy. We can give accurate
quotes over the telephone for all our stairlifts, whether straight or curved.
With Assured Stairlifts there will be no pressure and we will quote you the
best price from the start.
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Straight and Curved Stairs
Stairs with an intermediate landing require a curved stair rail, or
two straight rail stairlifts.
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Straight Stairs
Straight stairs have no bend, no curves and no intermediate landing. 
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Curved Stairs
Curved Stairs are stairs with any bend or any intermediate landing,
including an 'in-line' one where the stairs do not change direction. Bends include any
stairs with just a couple of steps at top or bottom.
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Other Points Regarding Curved Rail Stairlifts
- More expensive than straight stair lifts, starting at around £2500.
- With Assured Stairlifts the time from ordering a curved stairlift to installation
is from 10-14 days; depending on the complexity of your staircase. Some
companies may take longer.
- We provide curved rails which are newly built specifically for your staircase.
- Our engineers are trained and certified to install and maintain curved rail
stairlifts as well as straight stairlifts.
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Intermediate Landings and Flat Bends
If you have an intermediate landing in your staircase, whether 'in-line' (See Fig. 1 above), or a 'flat-bend' (See Fig. 2 above) where the stairs change direction, it is possible to have two straight stairlifts, rather than a curved stairlift. The user would then transfer between the two
chairlifts on the half landing. This does involve some inconvenience for the
user, but would be cheaper
than a curved stairlift. Please contact us or Tel. 0800 00 15 444 or: 0808 16 00 210 for advice.
[ Top ]
Fan Bends
'Fan-bends', like 'wedges of cheese' always require a curved rail. If the
bend is at the very top of the stairs, a platform installation used to be a possible
alternative, but as from April 2007 this is now illegal.
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AC and DC Power.
- Some chair lifts have the option of D.C. or A.C. but most these days are
DC powered by a battery pack which is re-charged from the mains via a transformer.
- The obvious advantage of DC power is that the stairlift will continue to
work in a power cut. Though, how often do we have power cuts these days?
- Many engineers will argue the point of DC (battery) versus AC (electric)
powered stairlifts. It is certainly true that an AC Electric motor will outlast
any Battery powered motor.
- You can switch an electric (AC) stairlift off for any length of time, switch
it back on, and it will work straight away (eg. if you go on a long holiday).
- If you leave a battery powered stairlift off for a period of time the batteries
might not charge back up again, and this might not be under warranty from
most stairlift companies.
- Usually, battery packs are within the base of the stairlift, but some are
externally mounted on the wall near a charging point.
- Battery packs are recharged via 'charge-points' usually
located at the top and bottom of the stairs.
- Some battery packs are constantly charged by a trailing cable or a ‘buzz
bar’.
- A full battery pack would normally provide 6-10 trips depending on the length
of the staircase and the weight of the user.
- Battery packs are a sealed unit and maintenance free.
- Battery packs should last around 3 to 5 years and once
depleted cost from £60 to about £150 to replace.
- D.C. and some AC powered stairlifts have a 'soft-start' and 'soft-stop'
which avoids any sudden movements.
A D.C. powered stairlift requires a nearby mains socket. If there is no socket
within the vicinity, we will ask that you have one installed, or we can arrange
for installation of a socket via an outside contractor. The earth bonding of
the property will be checked by our installer and must comply with the most
recent European Regulations. However this is very rarely a problem.
Some companies 'spur-off' the socket. An adapter can be used to connect to
the mains whilst others plug directly into it. From there, a connection is made
to a charger / transformer unit which transforms the power down to either 24
or 36 volts DC, and from there a connection is made to the stairlift track.
Charge points are located at the top and bottom of the track so that when the
stairlift is parked (at top or bottom), it is over a charge point, where it
recharges in a similar way to a cordless phone sitting in its cradle.
With a curved rail stairlift, an additional charge point on an intermediate
landing (on the actual bend of the track), can provide a neater storage solution
when the stairlift is not in use and parked over the charge point.
[ Top ]
Frequently Asked Questions
Basics
Reconditioned
Installation
Operation
Power Supply
Obstructions
Others
[ FAQs ]
Q. Are my stairs suitable?
A. Stairlifts can be installed in some narrow and winding staircases. Many
stairlift models have a compact carriage and rail projecting only 20inches from
the wall and have folding arms, seat and footrest giving only a 12 or 13 inch
depth from the wall when folded. Others are also well suited to negotiating
bends, intermediate landings and corridors. This does depend on the size and
height of the user. To give yourself a rough guide; if possible have the user
sit in a dining room chair, sideways on, at the bottom of the staircase, and
see if their knees are close to the opposite wall. Though this is purely a rough
guide; if in any doubt please contact us or Tel. 0800 00 15 444 or: 0808 16 00 210.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Is the stairlift fitted to the wall and/or the stairs?
A. The stairlift rail is fitted directly to the tread of the stairs and not
to the wall. Attachments are made through the floor covering of the stairs via
shoes, or cleats, and there are normally 3 or 4 cleats to a straight staircase.
If, or when, the stairlift is removed, there will be no damage left to the staircase.
[ FAQs ]
Q. How much do stairlifts cost?
A. Reconditioned models for straight stairs usually vary from about £825 to
about £1,295. Curved rail stairlifts vary depending on the complexity of the
bends in the stairs, but usually start from about £2,500. Please have a look
at our price list and contact us or Tel. 0800 00 15 444 or: 0808 16 00 210, for a free quotation.
[ FAQs ]
Q. How much does a stairlift cost to run?
A. Most models have a low voltage motor powered by a sealed battery unit of
24v-26v, or low power AC electric motors making the running cost un-noticeable.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Should I buy a new or reconditioned stairlift?
A. See: remarks regarding New Models and Reconditioned Models
above.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Do reconditioned stairlifts have the same guarantee?
A. Some companies only offer a 6 months warranty. All our prices include a
12 months guarantee.
[ FAQs ]
Q. If I buy a stairlift, how soon will it be fitted?
A. Normally, if you purchase a reconditioned straight stairlift, it can be
fitted in about 3-10 days. Some companies offer a faster installation should
your case be urgent. However, should your stairlift need to be a curved rail
model, the installation lead time will be longer, being approximately 2 to
4 weeks as the rail is custom made for your property.
[ FAQs ]
Q. How long will the stairlift installation take?
A. A stairlift can normally be installed within an hour or two. Curved stairlifts
usually take an hour or so longer. With Assured Stairlifts’ engineers
there will be no fuss or mess. All carry vacuum cleaners and will clean up,
test your stairlift thoroughly, and demonstrate how to operate it.
[ FAQs ]
Q.How is the stairlift operated?
A. Most models have an easy to use toggle switch on one of the arm-rests. Some
have two large buttons for up and down. Either type of control requires a 'constant-pressure'
to activate. At the end of the journey, the lift will stop automatically and
most provide an audible sound.
[ FAQs ]
Q. How does more than one person use the stairlift?
A. Most installations have call-and-send remote controls either hand-held or
wall-mounted or both. One located at the top of the stairs and the other at
the bottom.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Are stairlifts noisy?
A. Most models are almost silent.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Is there a lot of unsightly wiring?
A. Wiring connects from a point on the stairlift rail to the nearest available
plug point. Our engineers will do their best to conceal the wiring as neatly
as possible.
[ FAQs ]
Q. What happens if there is a power cut?
A. With a mains powered lift, the stairlift will stop. Most modern stairlifts
are DC powered. If the mains power supply fails then batteries will power the
lift for about seven or eight trips. A battery powered stairlift will only stop
if the batteries become flat at any time. Stairlifts have warning indicators
when a battery is low but charge automatically when the lift is parked over
a charging point, usually at the top and bottom of the staircase.
[ FAQs ]
Q. What power supply does the stairlift require?
A. Connection is normally to the nearest 13amp socket. If there is no socket
near the staircase our installers might have to ask that you arrange for the
installation of one.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Do I have to maintain the batteries?
A. Most stairlifts now employ D.C. power with battery packs housed within the
stairlift, or mounted on the wall nearby. The battery pack recharges when the
stairlift is in its parked position.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Will a radiator or a piece of furniture at the foot of the stairs be in
the way?
A. Any form of obstruction at the foot of the stairs will probably have to
be moved, but see below regarding doors and hinged tracks.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Will the door at the bottom of the stairs be a problem?
A. The bottom couple of feet of track can be hinged to fold upwards out of
the way. A hinged track can be either manually raised and lowered, or powered.
[ FAQs ]
Q. What are the weight limits?
A. Normally a stairlift is limited to 19 stones, but there are various heavy-duty
options available.
[ FAQs ]
Q. We have a fan stair at the top, would a platform installation be better?
A. As from april 2007 platforms are classed as unsafe and are illegal.
[ FAQs ]
Q. What do I get for my money?
A. Our stairlift packages include a high quality stairlift, with a 12 month
warranty including parts and call out, connection to power, swivel seat, two
remote controls, lap safety belt and a key switch to immobilise the stairlift
(to prevent unauthorised use) as standard.
[ FAQs ]
Q. What if I cannot manage the swivel seat?
A. Most models of stairlifts have an option for a powered, motorised, swivel
seat.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Can other people use the stairs when a stairlift is fitted?
A. Yes, all stairlifts fold flat against the wall when not in use and track
rails extend less than 1ft out from the wall. Also, when a stairlift is not
in use, it will be parked at either the top or bottom of the stairs (though
curved rail stairlifts can be set to park on the bend, if required).
[ FAQs ]
Q. What happens if I want to resell my stairlift?
A. Give us a call and we'll offer a buy back price for your stairlift. As we
supply reconditioned stairlifts, we are always interested in buying lifts back.
Your stairlift may need to be inspected by one of our engineer to enable us
to make a fair offer.
[ FAQs ]
Q. Would you recommend renting a stairlift?
A. This might be a cheaper option if the stairlift is required temporarily.
