A Few Tips For Your Dumbwaiter

Walking up a set of chairs while holding a package, a basket of laundry, or a bag or two of groceries can be difficult for those who are mobility-challenged or getting older. These homeowners—including some who are simply looking for more convenience—will potentially consider a solution for this problem.

During their research, they may discover that they do not have the proper space for a full-blown residential elevator or that their stairs cannot safely accommodate a stair chair. When this case arises, a dumbwaiter emerges as the practical and efficient "middle-ground" solution that will provide the needed relief to their daily lives.

T.L. Shield & Associates can provide a dumbwaiter for both residential and commercial applications. Safety holds an equal place alongside design and performance when it comes to any and all types of conveyance situations we are involved with, so we take everything into account when assessing an installation.

While not intended for transporting living beings, a dumbwaiter is still an elevator, and needs to be taken just as seriously. For the exterior door of each landing, T.L. Shield recommends a keyed, swing type with interlocks, so even if this door were to be left unlocked, it cannot be opened unless the dumbwaiter is properly parked at the opening. Once past this particular door, there must be a bi-parting gate that controls access to the unit. Serving as an extra line of defense, this gate will allow for the safe containment of the items that are traveling inside the lift between floors—basically, it will be a "sealed box."

We will review your hoistway design with you and your contractor to ensure that the running clearance between the dumbwaiter and the hoistway walls pose no threat of too-wide gaps. Framing and electrical specifications will also be included in the planning. The unit will only be ordered from the manufacturer after a final measure of the completed hoistway that will confirm a proper and safe fit.

After the successful installation, a member of our team will provide a complementary tutorial on how to operate the unit. Within this service, there will be an emphasis on how to shut it off completely, just in case there is a situation where adult supervision is not adequate. T.L. Shield provides this valuable service for all of its products.

A 200 pound capacity model should always be selected. There is a direct correlation between size and capacity in terms of performance. Dumbwaiters smaller than 200 pounds generally do not haul everything you had in mind for them. This may result in “stuffing” of the unit—and when you pack it too tight, problems result. This larger size will also allow for fewer trips, which is beneficial to the user in the categories of convenience and product usage.

Please call us at 1-800-954-3887 for a free consultation or visit our web site www.tlshield.com for more information.