Stair Lift Installation

Installing a stair lift isn't as difficult as one may think. While it does require some tools and a little bit of work, it is entirely possible for you to install it yourself. You will probably want a friend or two to assist you with laying the track, but other than that, you don't need to be a professional.

The first step is very important: read the installation manual that comes with your stair lift. Don't assume you can work out how the pieces go together. The manual will guide you through every step of the process. Refer to it even before you refer to this guide since different brands may have different steps.

Installing your stair lift shouldn't take much more than an hour or two. Once you have all of the pieces unpacked and organised and you have the necessary tools on hand — usually a tape measure, power drill, screwdriver, Allen wrenches, a socket set, and a spirit level — you can begin putting together your stair lift.

Next, lay out your railing along the stairs. Generally, these pieces are made to slide together and then be secured in some way. Usually, they’re secured with a nut and bolt or a heavy screw. Once you have the individual pieces connected, it's time to attach the track to the staircase itself. This involves using your power drill to drive large screws through the railing and into the wall. Be sure to install the stop at the bottom so your chair will not slide off the track.

Now that you have the track secured, you'll need to install the actual seat. Often, the seat is attached to a short section of track. You temporarily attach this short piece of track to the top of the stair lift, unbolt the chair from it, slide the chair down onto the permanent track, and then remove the temporary section. Install the top stop to close off the track.

Now it's time to do a little wiring. Don't worry; you don’t have to be an electrician to handle this step unless your stair lift is being wired directly into your home's electrical system. Simply connect the coloured wires into the seat's wiring section. Everything should be clearly detailed in the instruction manual. Once you’ve done that, you're finished with the seat. Now take the charger and plug it in to the nearest outlet. Connect the wires from the charger to the track (again, consult your instruction manual for the exact location of the connections and for details on how to connect the wires because every stair lift brand is different).

After you've connected the charger to the lift, you should be ready to give your new stair lift a trial run. Be sure to run it all the way to the top and back to the bottom a few times to make certain everything is working correctly. If something doesn't seem to be working correctly, consult the instruction manual or call the company and ask for assistance.