Installing a residential elevator might not be feasible for your current design plans, but before you give up on your dream to easily transport items from one level to the other, there is something worth considering. If you are redesigning your home, dumbwaiters surely deserve to be considered. While many people associate dumbwaiters with commercial use, installing them in your house isn’t out of the question.

Dumbwaiters are technically small freight elevators, used to transport objects and not people. Before motors were added in the 1920s, dumbwaiters used to be controlled by ropes and pulleys… thankfully, that’s not the case anymore. We often see them in commercial kitchens, hospitals, schools, and some  can have a capacity of close to 1,000lbs.

Safety

There is a significant amount of risk associated with shifting heavy items from one level to the other. Most of the injuries take place on the stairs, which is why it is more dangerous to be moving heavy objects around the house using the stairs. If you choose to install residential dumbwaiters, you will not need to worry about getting injured while performing such tasks and can easily give your home the makeover that it needs by shifting around the furniture with ease.

Transportation

For a minute, think about the agonizing task of transporting laundry or groceries from one floor to the other. With a residential dumbwaiter, you do not need to worry about going through that agony again. Also, your kids will be out of excuses when you ask them for the millionth time the reason for their laundry piled up on the floor, forgotten and eternally avoided. A residential dumbwaiter addresses all the daily struggles of a mother – teach your kids how to use it to complete simple chores, and continue to ease your burden.

Ease of Cleaning

A residential dumbwaiter will act as an assistant for household chores, especially for housekeepers (whether that is you, or someone you’ve hired). Quickly and efficiently carry all your cleaning supplies across the different floors of the house in minutes. A residential dumbwaiter will cut down the time it takes to clean the house by half, which can even save you money in the long run if this is something you outsource by the hour.

Minimal Maintenance

So, as the gatekeeper of your home, right now I’m sure you’re convinced of the many great benefits delivered by the residential dumbwaiter, but maybe you’re still not sure of how to fit this installation in your redesign plan… well, we have good news. You can also find small dumbwaiters (measuring up to 18” x 18” x 6”) that will easily fit in the structure of your house and will not require you to clear a huge space for it.  And after installation, dumbwaiters do not require regular maintenance updates and are thus considered to be a home owner’s best friend!

Variety

You can find a variety of different designs and drive mechanisms for your dumbwaiter, all of which are considered to be extremely durable and long-lasting.

Additional Things to Consider

Before you start contacting professional dumbwaiter installation companies, it is important to figure out whether installing a dumbwaiter will be the right option for you. Here are some quick things to consider; a practical checklist so you can narrow down your options:

• Residential dumbwaiters need vertical travel lines that take them from one floor to the other. It is beneficial to first make sure that there will be no obstacles in the desired route, such as bathtubs, wiring, plumbing lines, or other such structures.
• You need about 4 square feet to get a hoist-way build. Even though you have limited room, ensuring the space will make the process easier.
• Another important thing to determine before the installation is the usage of the dumbwaiter. This mainly involves the kind of items that will be expected to be carried by the residential dumbwaiter. This will be important information that can be given to the professionals performing the installation, and will help you determine the right choice for you.
• Most of the residential dumbwaiters allow 3 to 4 stops, however, it is helpful to decide the number of stops beforehand, according to your needs.

If you are looking to install a unique feature to your house without having to compromise too much on space, residential dumbwaiters are definitely worth adding. Say goodbye to the hassle of transporting items from one place to the other, forever!