A dumbwaiter is basically a box that will allow you to transport items from one floor to another. Many homes have now been equipped with dumbwaiters. They provide easier access for those with handicaps or mobility restrictions, by allowing them the independence of moving groceries, laundry, and other items from one floor of their home to another, or from a low level garage to the main level of their home.

Choosing to install a dumbwaiter is a fairly simple decision. Once you have decided to go ahead with the installation, and have chosen the model or company that you trust for your dumbwaiter, then you are ready to have it installed. But before that, you need to know a few things about dumbwaiter installation and pricing to make the decision on whether it would benefit you and your home.

Keeping in mind that the basic dumbwaiter can support between 50 to 100 pounds, you should determine what you will be using it for, and ensure that the weight restrictions will not pose a problem. There are models that support more weight, so if you find that you will need a larger model, it's best to determine that before you choose which one you want, so that you won't have to go back and have it re-installed, or risk causing problems to the mechanism by overloading it with weight that it can not support.

You should choose where the dumbwaiter will be installed. If you plan to use it for laundry, for instance, then you will want it installed in the laundry room, and directly above the laundry room. However, if the area above your laundry room is unavailable, or can not be used, then you may want to consider perhaps installing it at the end of an upstairs hallway, and then directly under that. You will need to know the specifics of your home area, so that you know what path will work best.

Most dumbwaiters are electrically powered; however, you can save money and opt to install a manually powered unit. This, however, does mean that someone will have to pull the platform and contents up to the next floor, so if you are mobility limited, or handicapped in any way, this option is probably better left alone.

There are many pricing options available, some that include installation, and some that do not. Be sure that you know whether or not your dumbwaiter has installation costs included. Typically, you can expect to spend around $3,000 without the added cost of installation, for an electrical unit. However, pricing varies, so be sure to compare pricing costs, and also installation costs to make sure that you get the best quality along with the best price.