A home elevator or a lift can be a great addition to your home, whether you’re looking to maintain your independence in the future or are interested in adding more value to your property. However, choosing the right home elevator or lift can be a confusing task. With many unique products on the market and a wide range of prices, homeowners often find it difficult to determine which product best suits their needs. Read the blog below to find the best home elevator or lift for your needs!  

Difference Between Elevators and Lifts

One of the most common misconceptions that homeowners have about elevators and lifts is that they refer to the same product when in reality, home elevators operate with one-touch automatic controls, whereas home lifts operate using constant pressure.

Passengers on home elevators can operate elevators using a single push of the floor and call buttons, while passengers on home lifts have to maintain pressure on the floor selection and the call button to operate the lift. Knowing whether you require a home lift or elevator will help you identify which product is suitable for your needs.

If you’re unsure what product is best for you, try RAM’s Product Selector tool! 

Difference Between Machine Room and Machine Room Less Elevators

Homeowners often picture home elevators as big, bulky, blasting mobility devices requiring extensive construction and installation. Generally, Machine Room (MR) elevators require additional space in your home to accommodate essential machinery that operates the elevator. MR elevators are often designed for high-rise buildings that require extremely powerful machinery to operate the elevator across many floors safely. At RAM Elevators + Lifts, we have manufactured and designed Machine Room-Less (MRL) home elevators that can be easily integrated into any space. Our MRL home elevators are specially designed to offer low-rise homes the mobility they need without sacrificing any space or undergoing extensive construction. 

Different Types of Home Elevators and Lifts

Home elevators and lifts can generally be classified into the following categories:

Hydraulic

Some of the most common types of elevators are hydraulic elevators. While they have been traditionally used since the 1920s, they are quite large for smaller homes. Hydraulic home elevators aren’t usually the best option as they require extensive construction to install the elevator. Fewer homeowners are willing to install hydraulic elevators as they’re one of the more expensive options on the market and need a lot of construction. 

Pneumatic

Powered by air pressure through polycarbonate tubes, Pneumatic elevators don’t require a hoistway, pit or machine room. While pneumatic elevators look futuristic and have a small footprint, they are relatively small and may not fit a wheelchair. 

Screw Driven

While screw-driven lifts operate on a simple system for elevation, they are very safe, reliable and have a long lifespan. Screw driven home elevators are space-efficient and best suited for low-rise houses. RAM’s Trus-T-Lift, for example, uses an All-Electric Drive System that is easily mounted on top of the car, eliminating the need for excavating a pit or building a machine room. 

Find A Home Elevator Or Lift That Best Suits Your Needs at RAM 

RAM Elevators + Lifts have engineered and supplied home elevators and lifts to thousands of homeowners across North America for over 30 years. We have designed our line of home elevators and lifts to offer passengers a compact mobility device that can be easily integrated into any home. Contact our team today to learn more about our home elevators and lifts!