Anyone who lives on a back road in Vermont has spent a night or three without power. Wet snow on the lines, an ice storm, a tree across the road. If you rely on a stair lift or an elevator, you need to know what it will do when the lights go out.
Stair lifts
A stair lift runs on batteries. The wall outlet only keeps those batteries charged. So when the power fails, the lift continues to work.
- A charged lift will make a number of trips, depending on battery age and the length of the stairs
- In a long outage, limit trips to those you need
- Park the lift on its charge point so it recharges as soon as power returns
Home elevators
A residential elevator has an emergency lowering system. If the power fails while you are riding, the cab is brought to a landing and you can get out. Most elevators do not continue normal service on battery alone. Ask what your model does and read that section of the manual.
Platform lifts
Depending on the model, a platform lift may have battery backup or a manual lowering device. Find out which, and practice using it.
Generators
Many rural homes have a standby or portable generator. If you want it to run an elevator, have an electrician confirm that it is sized and wired correctly, and tell your elevator company.
Get ready before the storm
- Keep flashlights upstairs and down
- Have batteries checked at each service
- When a storm is forecast, think about which floor you want to be on
- Keep what you need on that floor: medications, water, a phone charger, warm clothing
- Register with your electric utility if someone in the home has a medical need for power
If you cannot use stairs at all
Make a plan with family or neighbors for extended outages, and let your local fire department know your situation.
Questions about your equipment?
Nationwide Lifts of Vermont can explain how each product we install behaves without power. Call (802) 734-0869.