If your home was not built with stacked closets for an elevator, do not assume one is out of the question. A pneumatic home elevator was designed for houses like yours.
How it works
The elevator is a clear vertical tube with a cab inside. Fans at the top reduce the air pressure above the cab, and normal air pressure beneath lifts it. To descend, air is let back in slowly. Locks hold the cab at each floor.
What it does not need
- A pit in the floor
- A hoistway built around it
- A separate machine room
It stands on the finished floor and passes through a round opening at each level.
Places it fits
- The corner of a great room, rising to a loft or landing
- Beside the staircase
- In the open well of a turning stair
- Next to a two-story entry
- At the end of a hallway that repeats on each floor
How many floors
It can serve two, three or more levels, including a basement, provided the tube has a clear vertical path.
Sizes
From a slim one-person model to one that accepts a wheelchair. Decide who needs to ride before choosing.
Advantages
- Fast installation
- Little disruption to a finished home
- See-through walls that do not darken the room
- A gentle descent to the lowest floor if power is lost
Trade-offs
- A round cab with less floor area than a traditional elevator
- Fan noise while going up
- A visible presence in the room
Compared with a traditional elevator
If you have stacked closets or are building new, a traditional elevator gives more room. If you do not, pneumatic is usually the simpler route.
Find the spot in your home
See the Vision range on our home elevators page. Call Nationwide Lifts of Utah on (801) 335-9089 or ask for a free home visit.