Residential Dumbwaiters

Dumbwaiter have roots that date back many thousands of years. The earliest record of a dumbwaiter is in 236 BC during the Roman age. Since then, they have been used extensively to allow objects to be easily and quickly moved throughout a multi-story dwelling.

Dumbwaiters became very popular during the nineteenth century and it was during this time that the first electric dumbwaiter was developed. Up until this time, dumbwaiters had been powered through the use of animal power, human power, or water power. It was also during the nineteenth century that several safety innovations occurred that allowed dumbwaiters to reliably move between floors.

Even thought the first electric dumbwaiter was developed in the nineteenth century, electric dumbwaiters would not become popular in residential settings for many years. The electric dumbwaiter was instead almost exclusively used in commercial settings. These dumbwaiters lacked many of the advancements that are available today.

They were generally controlled in one location by a dumbwaiter attendee. When someone pushed a button, a light would turn on at the dumbwaiter attendees station. It would then be the job of the attendee to prioritize where the elevator needed to go next.

This early dumbwaiters were incredibly popular in factories and department stores, but they could be found in many other types of businesses. They have a very deep root in the transportation industry as well. They were first used in carriage factories and with the advent of the automobile, they began very popular in automobile plants as well.

While the electric dumbwaiter was extensively used in businesses beginning in the nineteenth century, the manual dumbwaiter remained popular in residential settings. Almost any home that spanned multiple floors had a dumbwaiter and they were also extensively used in apartment buildings. Due to an increasing number of thefts as items were lifted up the dumbwaiter, special locking doors were eventually installed on apartment building dumbwaiters.

Today, the electric dumbwaiter is still extensively used in the manufacturing industry and other commercial settings. They can be found in restaurants, hospitals, and in many large ships. These dumbwaiters are designed to quickly and efficiently carry goods between floors and many are able to support well over a thousand pounds. Commercial dumbwaiters are often custom built and the car usually is of steel construction. Depending on the needs of the business, these lifts can be built to include things like on board shelf systems, which help improve the way the space of the dumbwaiter car is used.

Today dumbwaiters are more popular than ever and because they often have less strict building codes requirements, they are in many cases preferable to a traditional elevator.

Dumbwaiters are similar to a freight elevator, but are a lot smaller than what most people think of when considering an elevator. These devices are, unlike regular elevators, not designed for people, but instead are designed for moving inanimate objects in between the floors of a building. Using a dumbwaiter makes it a simple t task to move your household supplies in between floors.

The dumbwaiter has rich roots in American History and today many people decide to retro-fit their home with a dumbwaiter. In order to have room for a residential dumbwaiter, it is necessary to have a shaft that rises vertically between floors. The exact size of the shaft will depend on the type of dumbwaiter you use, but most require a shaft that is 4 foot square (2′ x 2′.) Most can be configured to be opened on different sides at every stop, so this makes finding a space for them much easier.

Today, most lifts are electronically powered and use a track system. The track runs the length of the shaft and the dumbwaiter car moves along the track. While dumbwaiters in homes are very popular, they are even more so in commercial businesses. Many manufacturers make use of them to connect the various parts of a plant. This allows them to make better use of their building and greatly improves their productivity. They are often used in hospitals, car manufacturing plants, and department stores. Many restaurants also use them to reduce the amount of staff required to run the businesses.

Usually a modern dumbwaiter does not require any excessive maintenance. One of the most important maintenance tasks is the lubrication of the track. This keeps the car moving safely and steadily. Often, as is also the case with automobiles, paying attention to the sounds the dumbwaiter make can be essential in determining its mechanical state. If the lift begins to make any unusual noises, this can be a sign that it needs lubrication.

It is also important to keep the car clean. If something is spilled, it should be quickly cleaned and it is important to make sure nothing falls down the shaft. Most lifts feature safety doors, which only can be opened when the car is present. This prevents things from being dropped down the shaft or falls. It is imperative to never disable this safety feature.

In addition to the safety doors, most modern lifts usually also include sensors built into the car. As the car moves along the track, the sensors will stop the car from moving if something in the track is present that could hurt the car.

Choosing to install a dumbwaiter in your home or business is often the first step in improving productivity. Their popularity has greatly increased over the years, since they were first developed over a thousand years ago.

Dumbwaiters are a type of elevator that is intended to transport goods instead of people. In residential settings, these devices typically support around 150 pounds. Commercial dumbwaiters able to support much more than this, with some supporting well over a thousand pounds.

Commercial dumbwaiters have been used extensively in businesses since the eighteen hundreds. During this time, they were most popular among large manufacturers who needed to be able to quickly and easily transport items from one part of the production stage to the next. Today these devices are found in all types of businesses, including restaurants, hospitals, libraries, mines, and even regular office buildings.

Commercial dumbwaiters offer several advantages over traditional dumbwaiters. They are able to not only support more weight, but the also frequently have special features that are designed to help improve the utilization of space in the dumbwaiters car. For instance many include a complete shelf system inside the car and improved call controls that can tell you exactly where the dumbwaiter is located. The call controls of a commercial dumbwaiter are also much more advanced and able to prioritize its travel, much like a regular elevator, based on the order that buttons are pushed.

The early dumbwaiters, had relied on simply a rope and some pulleys. Quickly this proved to be unreliable and so during the eighteen hundred, manufacturers began using a track system in their dumbwaiters. The track is installed the length of the track and the dumbwaiter is attached to this track. This keeps the dumbwaiter level and stable, but also helps to improve safety.

Modern dumbwaiters have built in brakes, which stop the dumbwaiter from moving in the event of a cable failure. The brakes will physically lock onto the track and hold it in place until it can be serviced. They are also designed with many sensors to detect objects that might obstruct the travel of the lift. If something is stuck in the shaft, the dumbwaiter will detect it and stop, so there is no concern about damaging the lift.

Commercial dumbwaiters are found in almost all industries. From car manufacturers to cruise lines, dumbwaiters are there improving work flow and cutting the costs of doing business. These devices can greatly improve functionality and not only do these devices cost less than regular elevators, since they are not rated to carry people, the building codes are not as strict when installing a commercial dumbwaiter.

The stairs are one of the oldest means of accessing an area that is higher in elevation. While for many, the stairs provide a powerful tool to move between floors, if you are mobility challenged, then the stairs can present a very big obstacle. Those who use wheelchairs or scooters must find a way to bridge these gaps, so some people use vertical platform lifts.

A vertical platform lift is like an elevator, but it is for the most part self contained. There is no need to build a permanent shaft, like a residential elevator would require. Instead, vertical platform lifts, usually only need to be secured to a concrete or wooden base.

Often these mobility aids are referred to as wheelchair lifts, because mobility vehicles, such as an electric wheelchair, can be driven directly onto the device. The wheelchair lift will then raise the individual vertically to the top of the stairs.

How Much Weight Can a Wheelchair Lift Support?

These lifting aids can usually support more than five-hundred pounds and some are capable of supporting over seven-hundred pounds. This allows them to be used by two people at once, but due to space and safety considerations, usually only one of these people can be using a mobility vehicle.

What is the Lift Capacity of a Wheelchair Lift?

The height that a wheelchair lift can reach varies by model. Most will lift at least four feet and many much more, with some lifting over ten feet. Sometimes, the lift will need to be upgraded to achieve a higher lifting height and anything that lifts over four feet will probably need to be anchored to the wall as well as the ground.

Where are Wheelchair Lifts Installed?

Most often wheelchair lifts are installed next to a homes front porch. They are made to be resistant to the elements, such as rain or snow, and can also be used inside.

What are Portable Wheelchair Lifts?

One type of lift, the portable wheelchair lift, is designed so that it does not require permanent installation. It can be moved and set up quickly, so places like churches and schools frequently use portable wheelchair lifts.

What Type of Wheelchair Lift is Best for Homes?

While it is possible to use a portable lift at home, it is usually advised to go with a lift that requires semi-permanent installation. These lifts will be able to support more weight, provide increased stability, and lift higher than a portable lift would.

How Much Does a Wheelchair Lift Cost?

The cost of a wheelchair lift varies. Things like the amount of weight it can support and the height it can lift will affect the cost of the lift. Usually, they cost between $3,000 and $10,000.
The installation of the device can often be done by the homeowner, although the wheelchair lift itself can be very heavy.

How are Wheelchair Lifts Installed

Some wheelchair lifts come pre-assembled, but most will require some assembly. The main requirement is that wheelchair lift has a sturdy base. The base can be made out of wood or concrete, but it should provide good drainage to prevent standing water and be sufficient to support the weight of the wheelchair lift and its occupants.

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.