Are you looking for wheelchair lifts online? What you should know is that the price may be deceiving. Be careful, a used and untested wheelchair lift may cost you more than you think.
What to Know When Purchasing a Used Wheelchair Lift
Most manufactures will not sell direct to the public for many reasons; one of which is that the public usually does not have the qualifications to safely work on the product.
Make sure you know who removed the wheelchair lift. When purchasing a used wheelchair lift, you are putting trust in the work of someone you may not know. As well, when you go to install a used lift and discover there are missing parts, where will you get replacements?
Required Inspections for Wheelchair Lifts
A wheelchair lift is required to be inspected to ensure the safety of the rider as well as the compliance of the installation to federal and local codes. These codes are frequently updated to stay current with new technology.
Many jurisdictions will require the lift be installed by a licensed elevator contractor. When a lift is installed, it will be inspected to the current code enforced by the local jurisdiction and periodically thereafter. If the lift is moved to another location, even within the same building, the lift and new location will be inspected again, and if the code has changed from the original inspection code, the new code will take precedence. This means it is possible that a lift installed in the year 2015 would not be compliant if it were moved to a new location in 2019.
Damage Could Occur When Non-Qualified Individuals Move a Wheelchair Lift
Moving equipment from one place to another can cause components to become misaligned or damaged. In the event that this would happen, you will need a firm understanding of how the lift is intended to function. Wheelchair lifts may look simple, but there are redundant safeties throughout the device. If a redundant safety fails, it can be difficult to determine which device has failed without the proper training.
The structural requirements of a lift are defined by the application. The lift height, platform size, rated capacity, backing material, flooring, etc. are considered when the lift is designed to be installed in a particular location. If the lift is not installed with the correct supporting material, the safety of the lift will be questionable.
Best Practice is to Contact a Local Elevator Contractor
Although the price may appear cheaper buying online, what you lose is the technical know-how and service provided by a local elevator contractor. Their knowledge of code, and understanding of the equipment, will save you time and money by providing you the best equipment for your circumstances.
*Symmetry Elevating Solutions does not sell, nor recommend the purchase of used or refurbished residential elevators, vertical platform lifts or limited use/limited application elevators.