Residential Dumbwaiters

Today, residential dumbwaiters are used in almost all large buildings. Hospitals, car manufacturers, and cruise ships all make heavy use of these devices, because they cut down on operating costs. They are also incredibly popular in residential settings, with many home builders installing these lifts to help improve the attractiveness of the house to potential buyers.

They are in many ways very similar to an elevator, except they are not designed to carry people. Like an elevator, they move vertically between floors, but dumbwaiters are usually a smaller.

Several hundred years ago, most dumbwaiters used a simple rope and pulley system. The pulleys were able to effectively reduce the amount of work required to move the lift, but they tended to be unreliable and unsteady. Towards the end of the 1800’s, several changes were made that would greatly improve not only the stability, but also the ease at which these products were used.

One of the biggest innovations was the tracked dumbwaiter system. A wooden track was installed along the complete distance of the dumbwaiter track. The dumbwaiter, would then be attached directly to the track. As it moved up and down the shaft, it would be held steady and level by the track.

The other major innovation was the development of the electric dumbwaiter. These first appeared in the late 1870’s to early 1880’s. They were able to effortlessly move the dumbwaiter at the push of a button. Generally, they were controlled by a central manned station. When someone pushed a call button, the station attendant would then tell the dumbwaiter were to go, much the same way that elevator operators used to decide where to send the elevator.

Today, modern dumbwaiters use a computer controlled system to decide where to send the dumbwaiter. They also have greatly improved the track system. Short pieces of strong track can be easily installed along the length of the shaft and fit together very easily. To help make the installation even easier, the actual dumbwaiter itself and the pulley system usually comes pre-installed on a short distance of track. This piece of track is secured in place at the top of the shaft and the dumbwaiter is pretty much ready to go.

It will be necessary to run the call button wires and install the call button plates, but compared to how older electric dumbwaiters were installed, this is a breeze. Modern dumbwaiters also come with several built in safety features, which can detect objects that might be stuck in the shaft and will prevent the dumbwaiter doors from opening unless the dumbwaiter is present.

Those that use dumbwaiters are able to greatly improve the ease and speed of most household chores. They can be installed to open on multiple floors, so, for example, it is possible to have an opening in the basement, kitchen, and top floor of a home. The only requirement is a straight shaft of about two foot by two foot that runs vertically the distance of the home. They are easiest to install as the home is being built, but a retro fit dumbwaiter is also very easy. Many times a hall closet is removed to make place for the shaft, if you can not find another area that would work.

Electric Dumbwaiter, such as those made by AmeriGlide, are a type of elevator that is designed to make carrying goods between floors easier. They are very similar to elevators, but in most cases they are a good deal smaller and support less weight than a traditional elevator. They are also not rated to transport people and should only be used to move inanimate objects.

Dumbwaiters have been used in homes for hundreds if not thousands of years. Almost all castles had at least one dumbwaiter and almost all apartment buildings of the early twentieth century had a dumbwaiter that was made available for their tenants. These early dumbwaiters were almost predominantly manual dumbwaiters, but the electric dumbwaiters first appeared towards the end of the nineteenth century.

Today most people who choose to install a dumbwaiter opt for an electric one. There are several easy to install electric dumbwaiter kits that are available. These are very popular among builders, who want to add some extra value to their homes, but they can also generally be retrofitted into a home with ease.

The one major requirement for retrofitting a dumbwaiter is that there is a straight shaft that is accessible on all floors. Frequently a hallway closet can be used, because this many times provides a space that is empty between floors.

While electric dumbwaiters are more common, manual dumbwaiters are still used and installed. Some people decide to build their own, which can be done using a pulley system that is securely bolted into a well framed beam. The pulley system is then attached to a box that is raised and lowered between floors. A simple manual dumbwaiter can be constructed fairly easily, but in most cases a manual dumbwaiter kit is a better option.

The main advantage of using a manual dumbwaiter kit is that they make use of a tracked system. Originally dumbwaiters were simply suspended by a rope and then lowered or raised. The track system greatly improved the stability and safety of the device. Today easy to install metal tracks are available that snap together, so they can be installed quickly and can be customized to fit any height.

If you decide to build one on your own, it it possible to build a wooden guide rail, but getting them aligned properly can be difficult. It is also possible to utilize rails that are similar to those used in cabinets, but finding ones that are long enough can be difficult and you again run into alignment problems when fitting them together for extended distances.

One of the other advantages of using a manual dumbwaiter kit is that the pulley system provided features safeguards and is designed to minimize the amount of force needed to raise the dumbwaiter. They also usually have built in stops that prevent the dumbwaiter from rapidly falling if you take your hand off of it.

The manual dumbwaiter is still used in many residential settings, but the electric dumbwaiter is much more popular. There are several electric dumbwaiter kits available that can be installed quickly with little home modification.

Dumbwaiters have roots that go as far back as the ancient Egyptians. Almost all European castles also made use of dumbwaiters and they were primarily used to ensure the food was delivered quickly while still hot

Most apartment buildings built in the early 1900’s also had dumbwaiters to make it easier for their tenants to transport their groceries. The dumbwaiter shaft ran from the basement to the roof and was manually operated using a pulley system. Theft was often a problem with these types of dumbwaiters though, so many buildings implemented locking doors to help combat this problem.

As their popularity in apartment buildings faded, they were still found in many larger homes and mansions. Today they are found in many commercial and residential settings. Manual dumbwaiters are still found in some homes and remain available for sale, but electric dumbwaiters are the most common type now.

While in the early 1900’s locks were used on dumbwaiters to prevent theft, they are put to different use now. To help improve safety most electric dumbwaiters will not allow the individual shaft doors to be opened unless the car is present at the floor. They work in a manner similar to conventional elevator, in that you must push a call button and wait for the dumbwaiter to reach your floor before opening the door.

Several dumbwaiter kits are available that come for the most part pre-installed. The car and drive system comes installed on a short piece of track, which can simply be secured in place at the top of the dumbwaiter shaft. This greatly reduces the time it takes to install the dumbwaiter and it also ensures that the drive system is correctly positioned above the car.

The installation process of a dumbwaiter is a fairly ambitious project to do on your own, but it can be done by a competent handyman. Most dealers can also provide professional installation. By choosing a dumbwaiter that comes with the pre-installed car system, you can reduce the installation time, which reduces the cost.

Dumbwaiters are a great way for individuals to transport goods around their home. They are found in many residential settings and help to add value and usability to your home.