Stairlift Jargon Busting With the Experts
Buying a new stairlift is a big decision. Whether you’re purchasing one for yourself or for someone else in your life, it’s important you choose the right one. If you’re new to the world of stairlifts, you may not understand what all the different terminology means – and that’s ok, lots of people aren’t clued up on what a parking point or diagnostic display is either.
To make things easier for you, our experts have done some stairlift jargon busting for you. Below, you can find some of the most common stairlift terms along with explanations of what they mean.
Straight stairlift
A “straight stairlift” refers to a stairlift unit and stairlift track which can be installed on traditional straight staircases.
Curved stairlift
A “curved stairlift” is a stairlift unit and track that is designed to be installed on staircases that bend, curve or turn corners.
Stairlift track
A “stairlift track” is what the stairlift is fixed to; it allows the stairlift to move easily up and down the stairs. In most cases, a stairlift track is fixed directly to the stairs (and not the wall). The length of a stairlift track depends on the size of your staircase; they can be tailor made to any configuration of staircase.
Swivel seat
A swivel seat is a seat that can be rotated away from the staircase once the user has reached the top or bottom of the stairs. This allows users to get on and off the stairlift easily and more safely, giving the user direct access to the landing area at the top or bottom of the stairs.
Diagnostic display
A diagnostic display is a small digital display screen featured on the stairlift. It displays performance information which is useful for both the user and engineers. The diagnostic display helps users to identify any issues with the stairlift.
Width when folded
Most stairlifts can be folded when not in use so that they take up less room on the stairs. The term “width when folded” refers to the measurements of the stairlift when the arms, seats and footrests are folded together against the wall. This gives the user an idea of how much room will be on the stairs when the stairlift is not in use.
Parking/charging points
Parking and charging points are what they say on the tin: where you park your stairlift and where you charge it. Parking points are typically located at the top and bottom of the stairlift track, where the user starts and finishes their journey. Charging points are usually fitted in the same area, meaning that the stairlift batteries can charge while the stairlift is parked and not in use.
If you’d like to discuss our high-quality range of stairlifts with our experts, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team at Alfix today. We’re always on hand to offer professional advice and guidance, and will always work with you to find a suitable stairlift that meets your needs. Visit our website to learn more.