Residential Dumbwaiters

Quite often, one of the hardest tasks in a home is bringing items up between floors. Depending on the size of the home, items that are carried up the stairs can include things like the laundry, groceries, or cleaning supplies. The process of carrying these types of things up the stairs can not only be tiresome, but it can also increase the risk of a fall, so many people choose to use a dumbwaiter in their home.

Dumbwaiters are very similar to elevators and can make housework much easier. They are much smaller though and most are not made to carry people, instead being used only for transporting non-living goods and supplies. They are also much smaller than an elevator and take up much less space, with the average residential dumbwaiter taking up only about 4 square feet of space, which is opposed to an elevator, which will typically take up at least 30 square feet of space.

Most people today opt to go with electric dumbwaiters, which can be installed into existing homes or into new homes as they are being built. They require a vertical space between floors, which the dumbwaiter will move in. This space is called a dumbwaiter shaft and is much smaller than the shaft required for a regular sized elevator.

Usually a track system is ran the length of the shaft. The dumbwaiter car, which is the part that holds items as they move between floors, is attached to the track. This helps keep it stable, well balanced, and increases safety. At the top of the shaft, a pulley drive system is responsible for raising and lowering the dumbwaiter through the home.

With most older dumbwaiters, the most difficult part of the installation involved installing and aligning the drive system at the top of the shaft. This process has been simplified with some of the more popular dumbwaiter kits, which come with the drive system, dumbwaiter car, and a good portion of the electrical system already installed on a short piece of track. This section of track is placed onto the top of the shaft, which means in one step, you can finish one of the hardest parts of the install.

Dumbwaiter kits like the one described above greatly simplifies the installation process, but it can still be a little bit complicated, so many people decide to go with a professional installation. Even if you go with a professional installer, you can still save money by using an improved dumbwaiter kit.

For individuals who rely on wheelchair to get around, the stairs found in many homes can present a large obstacle. There are a number of lifting system that can be installed in a home to make it more accessible, such as elevators stair lifts, but not all devices can be used with a wheelchair.

For example, stair lifts are often used to provide access to areas that have staircases, but most stair lifts cannot carry an individual in a wheelchair. Some people choose to transfer into and out of their wheelchair, but this can be impractical, especially for the front steps.

Elevators, despite being much more accessible to a wheelchair user, can be very expensive and much more difficult to install, possibly requiring special permits. This is especially true of those who need only to be able to access the front steps of their home, which is why many opt to use a vertical platform lift instead.
Vertical platform lifts are a type of medical lifting aid. They work in a manner similar to elevators and lift an individual, wheelchair and all, vertically into the air.

The main difference between a vertical platform lift and an elevator, is that you do not need to build a shaft for a vertical platform lift. Instead, the vertical platform lift is almost like a self contained elevator, which only needs to be positioned next to the front landing.

Some vertical platform lifts are capable of lifting up to 12 feet in the air. However, most have a standard lifting height of around 4 feet, although depending on model, some can lift up to 6 feet without needing an upgrade.

The weight capacity of a vertical platform lift can varies by model, although most models can be upgraded to support weight. Most vertical platform lifts at least support five hundred pounds.

Vertical platform lifts are also called wheelchair lifts and are usually designed so they can be used indoors and outdoors. Even though they are designed to not be affected by things like water or sleet, they should still be protected from the elements when possible.

It is a good idea to trim any branches that hang over the lift. It is also a good idea to install gutters or even an overhang over the lift, if possible. The lifting surface is usually designed to prevent falls, but it can still get slippery if it is wet. Also if the ground around the lift becomes muddy, then you risk bringing mud into the house or even getting stuck. Generally it is a good idea to provide a solid surface leading up to the lift.

For places like schools or churches, it may be necessary to allow access to multiple areas or the wheelchair lift might be needed infrequently. If this is the case, a portable wheelchair lift is often a good choice.
Portable wheelchair lifts usually have a lower lifting height and support less weight than other wheelchair lifts. They can, however, be moved and set up quickly, which can be very convenient for quickly providing access to a stage or auditorium.

The first recored use of a dumbwaiter dates back to the era of the Romans. Since then, almost every culture has in some way, shape, or form used a dumbwaiter to help make the movement of goods more efficient. To simply a rope tied to a rafter, to complex worm gear driven systems, dumbwaiters have been a way of reducing work for many years.

Dumbwaiters have a very rich history in pretty much every culture and this is especially true of America. Beginning in the late eighteenth century and continuing on until present day, these devices have been used extensively in homes and businesses. The earliest types of dumbwaiters used a simple rope system, which was operated by hand. This proved to work great around the home, but for larger loads, such as in businesses or construction, it was often unpractical.

As a result there were many innovations to the dumbwaiter in the eighteen-hundreds. The steam engine was invented during the eighteenth-century and, like most inventions, it was quickly applied to many different areas of technology. During the eighteen hundreds many businesses began using steam to power their dumbwaiters.

This was practical for large businesses, which already had a steam power plant, but proved to be too expensive for many smaller businesses. This changed, however, when Elisha Otis, the father of the elevator, invented an elevator that contained its own steam engine.

Also during the eighteen-hundreds, several inventors began experimenting with hydraulic powered dumbwaiters. Otis and his sons developed a system, which could use city water and using a special reservoir build up enough pressure to raise a substantial amount of weight. Many also began experimenting with using oil instead of water.

While the hydraulic and steam powered dumbwaiter would prove very popular commercially, it was seldom practical for most homes. As a result, the manual dumbwaiter remained very popular. Increasingly, electric dumbwaiters were developed for use in the home, but it would not be until the 1930s for these devices to truly take off and be extensively used in residential settings.

Today, while some still opt for a manual system, the electric dumbwaiter is by far the most popular choice for a home dumbwaiter system. They can quickly be installed into existing homes and use a track system, which not only keeps the dumbwaiter level, but also allows it to safely move between floors.

Dumbwaiters have been used for thousands of years to help make it easier for goods to be moved between a multi-story structure. Early dumbwaiters utilized animal or people power, which was made easier through the use of a pulley system. Eventually water dumbwaiters were developed, but the first electric dumbwaiter would not be seen until the late nineteenth century.

The nineteenth century was an exciting time for the elevator and the dumbwaiter in America. Many innovations took place during this time, including the first passenger elevator and the first hydraulic elevator. It was also during this time that the first electric dumbwaiter was created. Dumbwaiters had been incredibly popular in America for some time and were found in virtually all buildings and structures that spanned several floors. One of the major downfalls though, was that if the rope or cable supporting the dumbwaiter broke, the dumbwaiter car would fall.

This changed in early 1850’s as Elisha Otis developed several commercial dumbwaiters that were designed to catch themselves instead of falling. By the end of the nineteenth century, most electric dumbwaiters would include safety features that protected it against a sudden fall.

These early commercial dumbwaiters were incredibly popular in New York, which is also the birth place of the modern elevator. Since space was limited in New York, many multi-level buildings, manufacturing plants, and factories, were constructed. These plants needed a way to move their products from one floor to the next, so dumbwaiters were extensively used. While the electrical dumbwaiter was becoming popular, many people still relied on a steam powered dumbwaiter.

Elisha Otis, ever an innovator of the elevator industry, created a special elevator that included its own steam power plant. These became very popular, because it was no longer necessary for buildings to have their own power plant.

Some of the earliest dumbwaiters were used in the production of transportation vehicles. One inventor named Jasper Murtaugh greatly helped to improve the technology that powered the early dumbwaiter. Using a system similar to the one designed by Elisha Otis, Murtaugh created a dumbwaiter for a carriage manufacturer, which could support over two thousand pounds. The Murtaugh dumbwaiter could have all four of its cables cut, while fully loaded, without risk of falling.

People today use dumbwaiters in many settings. They are still popular in residential settings, but less so when compared to the early twentieth century. Many easy to install electric dumbwaiter kits are available today, which has helped increase the popularity of these devices over the past years. They are also commonly added to new homes to help make it more attractive to potential buyers, but they can usually be retro-fit into a home as well.

While dumbwaiters in residential settings might not be as popular as they once were, commercial dumbwaiters are more popular then ever. Businesses of all types use them as an easy and cost effective alternative to an elevator. Since the dumbwaiter is not designed to carry people, building codes are often more relaxed with regards to a dumbwaiter, but it is important to check with your local ordinance before installing a commercial dumbwaiter.

A dumbwaiter is a device that is commonly used in homes throughout the world. It facilitates the easy transfer of items between different floors in a home.

These devices are similar in elevators in that they move vertically between floors in what is referred to as a shaft. They are not intended to be used for people though, but some commercial dumbwaiters can support more than a thousand pounds.

The dumbwaiter is actually a very old device, which dates back to 236 BC. They are still used extensively today in commercial and residential settings. The electric dumbwaiter is relatively new and has a much richer history in commercial usage.

Today, there are many industries that make extensive use of dumbwaiters. In mines they quickly bring loads of rock or coal from deep between the earth. They are in many ways more efficient than conveyor mining systems.

Businesses like hospitals and libraries also use them to move many types of items between floors. Some of the oldest dumbwaiters that are still used are in libraries.

Restaurants also often make use of dumbwaiters. They allow the food to be brought to guests quickly while it is still hot. Most restaurant dumbwaiters include shelves that can be used to hold trays of food. They are also often insulated.

One of the advantages of dumbwaiters is that it prevents having to carry items up the stairs and it is usually smaller and easier to install than an elevator. The space issue is one of the reasons that they are often used in boats as well.

The use of dumbwaiters in boats is hundreds of years old. On a boat, space can be at a premium, so often the stairs are cramped. Using a dumbwaiter allows the quick movement of goods throughout boats. By the beginning of the twentieth centuries, many larger boats had electric dumbwaiters.

Automobile manufacturers and other manufacturers often use dumbwaiters as well. Industrial businesses like these often have very large dumbwaiters that can support a good deal of weight. These were especially important during the industrial revolution, because often space considerations necessitated that the factories be built vertically into the air. As a result there were many factories and plants that were multi-storied.

Reductions in price is one thing that has catapulted the dumbwaiter back into the home. They were incredibly popular during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Now, there are several electric dumbwaiter kits available that are inexpensive and can be installed quickly.