Residential Dumbwaiters

People all over the World have been using dumbwaiters for thousands of years. These devices were used in ancient castles and during the Roman empire to quickly and safely move items between different levels. They sometimes used water power or animal power to raise or lower the dumbwaiter. The electric dumbwaiter, which was first developed over a hundred years ago, is today much more popular than manual lifts, but some people do still opt for a manual dumbwaiter.

A dumbwaiter allows items to be transported in a similar manner to that of an elevator. A car is sent between floors carrying its load. Manual dumbwaiters rely on the physical effort of its user to raise or lower, but electric lifts move at the push of a button. Usually a set of call buttons will be installed at every floor where the dumbwaiter stops.

The car moves up and down the shaft, usually attached to a track. This helps keep the car steady and balanced. Doors are located at every place that the car stops. Usually, the doors are designed so that they can only be opened if the dumbwaiter is present. This is a safety feature, which means that it will not be able to access the shaft, unless the car is actually at the door.

The automatic door locks are either electronic or mechanical. Electronic locks have electric sensors that detect if the car is present. If not, the doors remain locked, otherwise they open. Mechanical locks have a small switch that extends into the shaft. When the car reaches the opening, it makes contact with the small switch, which causes the door to unlock. As it moves away, it releases pressure on the switch and the doors lock. While both types of locks can be disabled for the installation or troubleshooting, it is advised to otherwise always leave them engaged.

Usually finding a place for the shaft is the first consideration. A space that is about 2 foot by 2 foot is needed. This space must extend vertically between floors. Often as the home is being built, a space for the shaft can be left, but in preexisting homes, it can be a little harder to find a space for the shaft. If all else fails, the area in a closet can be used. Most lifts can also be configured so the car door opens on multiple sides. This makes the task of finding a space for the shaft much easier.

People who are mobility challenged often find that installing a dumbwaiter is an excellent way of making it possible to take care of a mid to large sized home. These devices, which often support over a hundred pounds, can provide quick and easy access to several floors of a home at the push of a button.