Carrying everything up the stairs can put a big strain on your back, but it can also increase the risk of a fall. For anyone, a fall on the stairs can result in an injury. For seniors not only is the risk of a fall increased, but the risk of an injury, which is often times hard to recover from, is also increased. This is one reason that many older homeowners choose to install a dumbwaiter. These devices allow them to move objects throughout the house, without having to lug them up the stairs.



Most homeowners today opt for an electric dumbwaiter. These can be loaded with a hundred pounds, and more depending on the model, which is then sent effortlessly throughout the house. They use call buttons on each floor, so if the dumbwaiter is not present, you simply push the button and it will come to you. These buttons are also used to send the dumbwaiter on its way when you have it loaded.

While some people still have manual dumbwaiters, this practice is decreasing as the electric lifts have become less expensive and easier to install. The electric lift will not only offer improved performance, but it also has built in safety features, that are designed to protect the person using it, others in the home, and the lift itself.

One of the key features that help to greatly improve safety is the use of automatically locking doors. These doors lock as soon as the lift moves away from the door and can not be opened again until the lift is present. This is great for kids, because it is not possible to open the door, thereby exposing the shaft, unless the dumbwaiter car is there. These locks are operated either electronically or mechanically. Both can be overridden if necessary, but you should only do this for maintenance reasons or when troubleshooting.

Another safety feature that an electric unit has is a series of sensors on the car. These sensors detect obstructions that could interfere with the movement of the lift. This way rather than simply driving through it and potentially damaging the car and track, the dumbwaiter instead stops moving when it detects something in its path. It will then be necessary to clear the obstruction, but this way you do not risk damaging the lift.

Not having to hoist a dumbwaiter up by hand is a big step up. Some manual dumbwaiters are designed with safety stops, which allow you to let go of the rope, without having to worry about dropping the dumbwaiter. This is not always the case though.

This makes it much easier to use and helps reduce the amount of work around the home. Finding ways to make things easier for yourself or the person taking care of your home is important and many choose to install a lift in their home.