Dumbwaiters: Explained

A dumbwaiter is an elevator that is intended only to be used to carry freight. Goods and supplies can be transported with ease, but they are not intended for humans. Usually they are much smaller than your average elevator, but some commercial dumbwaiters, like you might find at a hospital, can be quite large. Several obstacles to installing a dumbwaiter have been removed through engineering and they are now incredibly popular.

Dumbwaiters have been in use for many hundreds of years. Traditionally they have relied on manual labor to raise and lower the car. While using pulleys and counterbalances greatly reduces the amount of effort it takes to move a manual dumbwaiter, they can still be very hard to handle. Most people today opt for an electric dumbwaiter, but manual dumbwaiters are still available.

Electric dumbwaiters can support much more weight than a manual wheelchair. They are also much easier to operate. It is only necessary to push the call button and the dumbwaiter will instantly move between floors. They usually use a bi-parting door system, but, unlike a traditional elevator, they open vertically. To improve safety over previous types of dumbwaiters, modern dumbwaiters use a special locking system that only allows the door to be opened when the car is present. This helps to reduce the risk of objects being dropped down the shaft.

Most quality electric dumbwaiter kits come for the most part pre-installed. The car is secured to a piece of track and the drive system is already installed. This eliminates a good deal of the installation process and greatly reduces install time. It is a fairly simple process to install one of these lifts.

The speed at which the lift can travel varies by model, but most travel at about 20 feet per minute. Built into a quality dumbwaiter will be several sensors that are designed to detect obstructions in the path. The dumbwaiter will stop if it detects something in the path and you will need to clear the obstruction before the elevator will move.

These special elevators are generally able to support around 50 pounds. Of course commercial lifts are able to support a good deal more, residential lifts are not quite as heavy duty.

One of the reasons for the recent popularity is a drop in the overall price of these units. Due to improved production techniques quality dumbwaiter manufacturers, like AmeriGlide, are able to produce a less expensive dumbwaiter, while still maintaining excellent quality.

Dumbwaiters can greatly improve your efficiency around the home and make many things much easier. Frequently dumbwaiters are used to carry groceries, firewood, and laundry. They are found in homes of all size and are an excellent way to increase a homes value.