How Much Does it Cost to Run a Stairlift?
Here at Ideas in Action, we understand the frustration of no longer being able to move freely around your home. A stairlift can help you manage the stairs if you are having mobility problems, due to advancing age or injury, however, some people have been discouraged from investing in the benefits of a stairlift due to the misconception of unaffordable expense.
Stairlifts can help revitalise your mobility so don’t be discouraged by hearsay when it comes to the cost of running one. It’s understandable that those on fixed incomes or pensions will be wary of expenditure, and running a stairlift might feel like a worry, but a stairlift doesn’t have to be as expensive as you might suspect.
Operating Cost
Installing a permanent electrical fixture to your staircase sounds like a huge undertaking, but the good news is that the day-to-day running cost of a stairlift isn’t very high at all. Due to advancements in efficiency standards and the technology behind power saving devices, modern stairlifts are as energy efficient as ever. Stairlifts use rechargeable batteries which will be minimally affected by the, on average, 14 journeys a day up and down the staircase.
Modern stairlifts can be compared to everyday appliances like kettles, microwaves and televisions. In fact, if you compare the time spent using the stairlift to other appliances, the actual cost to run a stairlift on your electricity bill could even be cheaper than other household appliances you use for hours a day.
By Design
Stairlifts are designed to be left on, so that the batteries are constantly charged. This avoids the frustration of coming to a complete halt halfway up or down the stairs. It could be potentially worse if you were to switch off the stairlift for extended periods of time as the batteries could lose their charge, meaning the starilift won’t operate when you turn it back on. If that were to happen, you would have to wait for the batteries to recharge fully before being able to use your stairlift. That’s an inconvenience you do not want, and one stairlifts are designed to negate. Because of this design, stairlifts are some of the most energy efficient appliances available.
How much electricity does a stairlift use?
You should expect a stairlift to cost less than £20 per year in electricity – that’s cheaper than a washing machine, which could cost you £50 per year to run, depending on daily use. This is all down to the amount of electricity needed to run a stairlift. A washing machine uses 0.7kWh (700 Watts), while a stairlift can be as little as 0.024kWh. That’s only 24 Watts per hour – significantly less than many household appliances.
Stairlifts certainly provide ample advantages for their, surprising to some, inexpensive running costs. Stairlifts don’t have to be expensive, so don’t let the talk of money put you off expanding your horizons.
Ideas in Action know how to help those in need of mobility solutions. We care about helping you find the perfect solution to your frustrations. Feel free to browse our online catalogue where you can find straight and curved stairlifts available to order. Our experienced and friendly team are happy to help with any mobility problem you might have.