With energy prices around the country increasingly rising, it’s natural for people to be concerned about how much their energy usage and cost are going to impact their overall bills. To put your mind at ease, we have answered some of the most common questions recently asked about energy usage and running costs of stairlifts.
How does a Stairlift work?
A stairlift has three basic components: the track, power pack, and seat. All three of these are essential to the smooth running of a stairlift, other components can be added for user comfort.
Stairlifts use a combination of battery and mains power. They contain two rechargeable 12-volt batteries that are continuously charged through charging points, also known as ‘parking spots’. These charging points can be found on either the top or bottom of your staircase. Once you have used your stairlift, you will need to use your remote control to place it into the ‘parking spot’ to charge.
Am I going to need to replace the batteries?
Batteries should last around 3 years before they need to be replaced. s.
We recommend that you only use manufacturer-approved batteries and place your stairlift back on the ‘parking spot’ after every use. Leaving it off of your charging points for long periods can decrease your battery life.
If there’s a power cut, will I be able to use my stairlift?
In the event of a power cut, you will not be able to charge your stairlift, but the batteries will enable you to do approximately 10 return journeys with a single charge.
See our post ‘What are Reconditioned Stairlifts?’.
See the NHS page about ‘Household gadgets and equipment to make life easier’.