To a certain extent, we rely upon elevators. While it’s true that there are times in which climbing stairs isn’t that much of a chore, they’re certainly not as convenient as elevators. Imagine you’re in a hurry, trying to make sure that you don’t miss an important meeting. Are you going to take the stairs, or the elevator? For that matter, what will you do if you find yourself carrying a lot of things at once — do you drag all of that weight up the stairs, or do you take the much more convenient elevator option? For some, elevators are not a matter of convenience, but one of necessity. After all, what are you supposed to do if you have a disability of some kind? Stairs can be outright inaccessible if you’re in a wheelchair, and if you find it difficult to walk, they can exacerbate health problems you’re already dealing with. This is why many apartment buildings now have elevators. Indeed, some large houses even have elevators in this day and age, especially when the residents have health problems or are simply getting older. Of course, this requires the help of a residential elevator installation company. A residential elevator installation company may also install commercial elevators; but in this case, we’ll look at residential lifts, and how they can make a difference for those living in residential buildings.

What Kinds Of Elevators Are Available?

There are many different types of elevators on the market — however, not all of them are ideal for residential buildings. If you’re not sure about what kind of elevator suits your building’s purposes, you may to consult with a residential elevator installation company first. But when it comes to the basics, know that there are five main types of elevators, though they can vary in size and capacity: passenger, freight, LULA, home, and personnel elevators. Usually, elevators are located within commercial, residential, or retail spaces with an average rise of 40 feet. This equals about four to five floors. With that being said, an elevator company can potentially install elevators in smaller spaces, should there the requirement exist. Different elevators, however, operate in different ways. They also have the potential for complications, as always — this is why it’s important to know that the residential elevator installation company that you choose is also available to elevator repair work.

How Do Different Types Of Elevators Work?

Obviously, some elevators function differently from others. Here, we’ll focus on how passenger elevators operate. These elevators can be hydraulically driven, in which case they have a maximum travel height of 50 feet. However, they can also be traction driven. Traction driven passenger elevators work for medium- or high-rise structures over 50 feet tall. The chances are likely that if you’re looking for a residential elevator, you’ll want a passenger elevator. So be careful before choosing the elevator for your building. You want to choose the type of elevator that will get the most “bang” for your buck — and in many cases, a traction-driven elevator will do just that.

Are Elevators Really Safe?

The concern with residential elevators is always safety. We hear horror stories about elevators, despite the fact that they’ve become much safer within the past few decades. The fact is that any risks associated with elevators are generally very low if they’re well-maintained and installed by a reputable company. In fact, elevators are 20 times safer than escalators. Despite the fact that there are 20 times more elevators than escalators, there are 1/3 of the accidents with elevators versus escalators. This alone should speak to the safety of elevators. These machines can be trusted — and make life so much easier for many.