Do Stair Lifts Use a Lot of Electricity?
The purchase of a stair lift isn’t usually a spur-of-the-moment decision. It comes after a careful deliberation in which many considerations and options are weighed. Common questions from homeowners include what model types are available, whether or not their staircases can accommodate a lift (in the vast majority of cases they can), weight capacities, expected service life, and of course, the cost. Another commonly asked question is: do stair lifts use a lot of electricity? The simple answer is no. After you have a stair lift installed in your home, you shouldn’t see any significant difference in your monthly utility bill. Stair lifts actually use much less power than other common household appliances such as washing machines, electric stoves, and dryers.
Let’s Talk Specifics
While the exact amount of electrical use will depend on the model and how often it’s used, on average a stair lift requires .024 kWh of electricity or 24 watts per hour. That adds up to about $15 a year. By comparison, a washing machine uses nearly three times that amount: 700 watts per hour.
How Stair Lifts Work
When discussing power consumption, it’s helpful to understand exactly how stair lifts function. Although they have a plug, lifts are not constantly drawing power from the outlet. In fact, even when they’re in operation lifts are not using utility-supplied electricity. That’s because stair lifts actually run on two rechargeable batteries. When the batteries are low, the recharger automatically draws a small amount of current from the outlet until they’re back to full strength. In this way, lifts are no different than a cell phone, with the exception that you never have to worry about plugging them in overnight! The other benefit is that stair lifts will continue to operate even in the event of a power outage.
Battery Life
On average, stair lift batteries should last between one and three years with heavy use, and three to five years with light use. Replacement batteries usually cost between $15 and $40 dollars.
If you’re thinking about having a stair lift installed at your home in the Upper Peninsula, the company to turn to is the Barrier Free Store. We offer and install lifts made by Bruno, one of the most respected manufacturers in the industry. Contact us today and schedule a no-obligation consultation to learn more.
