How long will your stairlift last? 

Stairlifts are among the most popular mobility aids that help thousands of people maintain their independence to move freely around their homes. If you own a stairlift, you might wonder how to make the most of it and keep it running for a long time. 

However, just like any other type of machinery, with regular maintenance and TLC, you can keep using it for many years to come. 

Quality of your stairlift

If you’re looking to purchase a stairlift, we’d always advise you to purchase it from a reputable stairlift company, like Stannah. We are not just selling our stairlifts, but as a stairlift manufacturer, we design and manufacture our products here in the UK. All of our stairlifts are built on the principles of reliable design, pleasing aesthetics and long-term value while complying with all the safety regulations.

Weight of user / users and frequency of use 

Equallly important reasons regarding the reliable performance and longevity of your stairlift are the number of peeople using it an their weight. Depending on the weight of the user, there mnight be more pressue on the seat that wull require more power ti run the lift up and down the stairs. 

The number of people using the stairlift, as well as how often you use it can imoact it's lifespan and performance. 

Stairlift maintenance and servicing 

A stair lift just like any other machinery needs regular maintenance to keep it running in perfect condition. 

Having a service contract in place will ensure your stairlift continues to work smoothly for many years of stress-free stair travel! Taking out a service contract allows you to budget for ongoing repair costs and get quick response times if you have an issue. During a service visit, one of our fully qualified Stannah stairlift engineers will thoroughly check over your lift, adjust and lubricate if needed to help prevent problems and breakdowns. The engineers will identify if there are any worn or faulty parts and replace them before any problems occur. 

Types of stairs (straight or curved) 

The most common staircase you can find is a straight staircase that has no turn. Usually, stairlifts that are installed at straight stairs might last longer. 

On the other hand,a stairlift installed at a staircase with bends or turns, depending on the number of floors they reach and how narrow the staircase is, can impact its performance and therefore its lifespan. A steep incline for example will increase the stress on the system.

Type of stairlift (indoor or outdoor)

It's worth mentioning that the enviroment where the lift is installed is crucial. Outdoor stairlifts arent so protected from different weather conditions, from heavy rain and wind to temperatures that can fluctuate from cold to very hot. That type of stairlift is ideal for a flight of ourtside stairrs or just a few stesp down to your garden. 

They come with a self-charging battery means the outdoor stairlift will continue its journey even in the event of a power cut. Even though many companies including Stannah, will also provide you with a protective cover to shield your stairlift, exposure to harsh weather might impact its reliability.

There are also other ways to look after your stairlift, like regualt cleaning to keep dust and dirt off your rail. With an occasional wipe with a damp cloth, you can keep your upholstery looking as good as new for as long as possible.

• Treat your stairlift with love and tenderness!  
• Best leave your beloved dog or cat to take the stairs! 
• If your stairlift is malfunctioning, check our troubleshooting page or call your local service branch.

At Stannah, we reconditon stairlifts that haven been used for more than 5 years. A pre-owned and preloved Stannah stairlift will always be fully reconditoned and rigorously tested by our team of enginners. Every refurbished stairlift chair is deeply cleaned, fully tested, and thoroughly inspected for any damange, and the come with a brand new battery. 

If you no longer need a stairlift, you can source a stairlift company to remove it for you. The removal will usually take a few hours. If the stairlift was purchased directly from Stannah, you can complete a removal request form on our removals page. Once a request has been received, a memeber of our removals team will be in touch to confirm next steps.