Residential Dumbwaiters

Dumbwaiters are devices, similar to elevators, which have been used for over a thousand years. The earliest recored dumbwaiter dates back to 236 BC during the Roman Empire. Their popularity has only increased since then and today they are found in many peoples homes and businesses.

While the residential dumbwaiter has always been popular, commercial dumbwaiters were much more common. Businesses of all types use them to help make it easier for their employees to work. They are common in restaurants, libraries, manufacturing plants, boats, and many other commercial settings.

Dumbwaiters were also consistently found in almost every multi-level home, until the 1930’s. Their popularity slightly decreased at this time, but they were still used extensively in larger homes. Until very recently, they were still consistently found in large homes, but few mid-sized homes made use of them. However, this has changed in the past ten years as the price of dumbwaiters has dropped, while the quality has increased.

The electric dumbwaiter is the most popular type found today, but some people still do opt for a manual dumbwaiter. One of the reasons that dumbwaiters are more reliable today, then a hundred years ago, is that they almost always use a rail system. The rail, or track, is installed along the length of the shaft and the dumbwaiter car is attached to the rail. This keeps it even and steady as it moves between floors.

For residential settings, most dumbwaiters support at least a hundred pounds. Some manual dumbwaiters and a few electric dumbwaiters support less than this, but usually a hundred pounds is the minimum amount of weight you want to support, because it can quickly add up. Most electric dumbwaiters can also be upgraded to support more weight, sometimes over two hundred pounds and dumbwaiters used commercially can support even more.

A residential dumbwaiter is most easily installed into a home as it is being constructed, but it is also possible to install them into an existing structure. The one major requirement is that there is a vertical shaft between floors. To improve the flexibility of the device, most can be configured to open on different sides. So you could have it open on one side in the upstairs hallway and another in the kitchen. This increased flexibility, greatly improves their ability to be added to an existing home.

While there are several kits available that can be installed by the homeowner, they do require a strong amount of technical knowhow, so it is often a good idea to go with a professional installer.

After a dumbwaiter has been installed in the home it will provide numerous years of dedicated service, but it is important to properly maintain the device. These mini-elevators make it possible for people in homes all across America to easily move goods between different floors. They help to reduce the amount of work around the home and how much time it takes, because it is possible to quickly move laundry, groceries, and other objects around the house. They also help increase home value, which in todays market is more important than ever.