When purchasing a stair lift for your home, warranties are an important consideration. Stair lifts are mechanical devices, so from time to time, they may need service or repairs. A strong stair lift warranty helps prevent you from having to cover the cost of a repair.
Unfortunately, stair lift warranties can be difficult to understand at times. You will likely see warranties offered as short as 30 days or as long as a lifetime. However, all warranties are not exactly as they seem. There are three key aspects to focus on when evaluating a warranty: Type of Warranty, Length of Warranty, and the Legitimacy of the Warranty. Legitimacy is the most important aspect.
Type of Warranty
Parts Warranties – cover the physical components of the stair lift, such as the motor, gears, electronics, seat, footrest, and rail.
Labor Warranties – cover the cost of the work being done, such as the time it takes a technician to replace the motor or gears, or troubleshoot the electronics.
These are the two types of warranties available on a stair lift. We highly recommend purchasing a stair lift that comes with both a parts and labor warranty.
Length of Warranty
You will see a wide variety of warranty lengths advertised during your search for a stair lift. A good rule of thumb is to seek out a stair lift with at least a 1 year parts warranty and a 1 year labor warranty. However, this is what we recommend as a minimum, and can be found on used stair lifts from some dealers. If you are looking to purchase a new stair lift, you should expect to see longer warranties.
Our most popular selling stair lift, the Harmar Pinnacle SL600 comes with a Limited Lifetime warranty on the drivetrain (motor, gears, and track) and 3 years on all other parts. It also comes with a 1 year labor warranty.
Legitimacy of Warranty
The most important aspect of a warranty is the legitimacy of it. If a company provides a misleading warranty or fails to stand behind it, the length and type of warranty make little difference. There are a few ways to verify the legitimacy of a warranty though. First, get the terms clearly defined in writing. They should show the length of the parts warranty, the length of the labor warranty, and any stipulations. Second, ask questions. A reputable company should have answers to warranty questions. Third, research the company a little bit – read their reviews on Google and the BBB, see how long they have been in business, and determine if stair lifts are their specialty or something they do on the side. Fourth, beware of any warranty claims that have an asterisk * or that seem too good to be true.
There are some great warranties available for stair lifts. With a little research, you can determine which companies deliver on their promises and which companies fall short. It is tough to go wrong with an established local company with a great reputation spanning many years. If you have any questions about warranties, or the warranties we offer, feel free to contact us.