Dumbwaiters: Advantages And Uses

Dumbwaiters have a history that is imbedded deep into almost all cultures. They were used extensively in castles and have been found in homes for hundreds of years. Businesses, such as hotels, also frequently make use of these time saving devices. So what exactly is a dumbwaiter?

Dumbwaiters are very similar to elevators. Instead of people though, dumbwaiters are designed to transport goods between floors. Many commercial lifts are capable of supporting a great deal of weight, sometimes as much as 1000 pounds, but your average residential dumbwaiter can only support around fifty pounds. In either case people are not allowed to ride on the dumbwaiter, because it is a violation of building code.

In days of old most dumbwaiters were operated by using a rope and series of pulleys. They were frequently used in castles as a means of keeping the kings food hot and some of these early dumbwaiters were of substantial size. Manual dumbwaiters could often be quite cumbersome and most did not have any safety features designed to stop the lift from falling if someone let go of the rope. One famous dumbwaiter was found in a medieval castle and allowed the kings table to be lowered into the kitchen. The table would be prepared and then raised into the dining room.

Most modern dumbwaiters now utilize an electric drive system. This makes it virtually effortless to transport items between floors. Many even come with the drive system pre-installed, which greatly cuts back on the installation of the device. Most people still opt for a professional installation though, because the track system must be installed the length of the shaft. The track system keeps the unit stable and secure. It also helps to improve the safety of the device, because the car uses a series of locks that can keep the car from falling in the event of a mechanical problem.

While almost all newly installed dumbwaiters make use of an electric motor, some manual dumbwaiters are still available. The downside of a manual lift is that it can not support as much weight and of course you must manually move the device. Some manual dumbwaiter kits are now available that use a track, but many still just use the rope and pulley construction. Without a track system though, the stability of the device is very poor, which can make transporting food much more difficult. The way you load a dumbwaiter that lacks a track system is also much more important because you need to maximize the balance of the device.

Dumbwaiters are a very good way to keep your home in order. They can greatly reduce the amount of effort it takes to do work around the home and also makes it very simple and easy to stock the kitchen.