Power cuts can be unpredictable. Here’s what you need to know about using your home lift when the lights go out.
Climbing the stairs is a challenge for almost half of older adults in the UK — and that’s where a home lift can make a big difference in giving you full access to your property. However, if you’re thinking about installing a through-floor lift to help you travel between floors, you may be worried about what happens to the lift during a power cut. These can happen when you least expect them, and when you rely on electricity to move through your home, this can be a real problem.
The good news is that Stiltz home lifts are designed to keep you protected in any situation — including power cuts. Whether it’s an unexpected outage or scheduled maintenance, let’s look at how our lifts ensure you can always move around your home confidently.
A power cut, sometimes called a power outage or blackout, happens when the electricity supply to your home is interrupted. This can range from a brief flicker of the lights to a complete power loss that lasts several hours.
While power cuts are usually just a minor inconvenience, they can be frustrating. During the day, you might not even notice a short power cut, but at night, losing your lights, heating, and any electrically-powered mobility aids can be more concerning.
Thankfully, power cuts usually don’t last long, with most households only experiencing a loss of power for around 30 minutes at most. However, in extreme cases, you may be left without electricity for several hours.
The duration of a power cut can vary depending on the cause and where you live. Urban areas like towns and cities often see quicker restoration times, while rural regions might experience longer outages — especially during severe weather conditions.
The good news is that even if your power cut lasts a while, Stiltz home lifts are designed to ensure you can always get to where you need to be — making ageing in place simple.
Lifts need electricity to run, and if you’ve ever been in one during a power cut, you’ll know they usually stop working immediately until the power comes back on. This also means you might be stranded in the lift between floors, which can be stressful and even a bit scary.
Our home lifts also run on electricity and need to be plugged directly into a standard 13-amp power socket, which makes them easy to install in a wide range of locations. However, because of this, it’s natural to wonder if the same thing would happen when using a home lift during a power outage.
Domestic lifts, like the Stiltz home lift range, are designed differently. Instead of stopping mid-journey, they have a built-in battery backup that automatically kicks in when the power goes out. This allows the lift to travel safely down to the ground floor without the worry of being trapped inside your mobility aid.
Stiltz home lifts have several safety features to ensure you’re never left stranded — even if there’s an unexpected power cut. Here’s how our lifts keep you moving when the power goes out:
Although our Stiltz home lifts are powered by electricity, every lift is fitted with a backup battery system as standard. If a power cut happens while you’re using the lift, this battery makes sure you can descend safely to the ground floor, where you’ll be able to wait for the power to return or even leave your home when necessary. As soon as the power comes back on, the lift will resume normal operation immediately and switch back to the main power supply — no need for any restarting.
If you live in an area prone to frequent power cuts, we also offer an optional Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to help you get the most out of your lift.
This add-on provides additional power, allowing the lift to operate normally, even during an outage. With a UPS, you’ll be able to make multiple trips between floors rather than just descending to the lower level with the power from the battery backup.
Each of our lifts is designed to ensure you can travel safely — even in the event of a power cut.
However, if you do find that your lift has stopped working, or you need to contact loved ones quickly during a power outage, our built-in emergency phone allows you to call for assistance from within the lift itself.
Power cuts can happen for various reasons, and while they’re relatively rare here in the UK, it’s always good to be prepared. Some of the most common causes include:
Yes! Although power cuts are uncommon, certain areas may experience them more frequently. However, this doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the benefits of a home lift. If power cuts are a regular occurrence, you might want to consider adding an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which allows you to continue using the lift even when the mains power is out for a relatively small additional cost.
With the standard backup battery, your lift will only descend to the lower floor during a power outage. This design ensures you’re not stranded upstairs and can safely leave your home while waiting for the power to return. However, if you’d like to continue using your lift to travel upstairs as well, you can opt for the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which keeps the lift running in both directions until the mains supply returns.
No, you won’t be trapped in the lift if the power goes out. Thanks to the built-in backup battery, the lift will always descend to the lower floor in case of a power cut, meaning you can exit safely without worrying about being trapped inside the lift car.
Your lift should resume normal operation as soon as the mains power supply returns. If it doesn’t, the first step is to check that the power supply to the wall socket your lift is plugged into has been restored and that the plug is turned on.
If the lift still isn’t working, contact our 24/7 customer technical support line at 01943668920, and a member of our team will be happy to help.
Power cuts can be disruptive, but with a Stiltz home lift, you’ll never have to worry about being unable to reach certain parts of your home.
If you’re looking for a safe and reliable way to move between floors, explore our standard Duo model and wheelchair-friendly Trio home lifts today. Or, if you need help choosing the right setup for your home, our friendly team is always happy to help — contact us today to learn more.For more advice and inspiration on ageing in place, see our blog.
Easy to arrange lots of information, No problems with fitting, payment taken in stages, last payment when job was completed. Everyone was friendly from start to finish.
My experience with Stiltz Homelifts. Just over a month ago, I had my Stiltz lift installed and I am so pleased with it. The workmen that came and fitted it were very professional and knew what they were doing. They were so professional I would not hesitate to recommend Stiltz lifts to anybody.
Great looking product, knowledgeable sales people, fitters work clean quickly and polite. Definitely recommend.
Great stylist lift, had for six months without a hitch. Installed by company staff not subcontractors. Cannot fault the lift, buying experience, installation, service. Good company ethos and made in UK.
From the very beginning with the initial construction to the finished product. I have never seen such polite men with an equal work ethic. They cleaned as they went each day. The pets were never in harm. The finished product is awesome. Couldn’t be more pleased
Excellent from beginning to end – and beyond.
Everybody we dealt with at Stiltz was very helpful and efficient, from the initial meeting with Nick Sale, the sales rep, thorough technical inspection, the builders, installers, plumber, electrician, and excellent follow up service and attention. My husband’s life is transformed and mine is much easier. Thank you Stiltz.
Elegant lift, promptly installed by careful and tidy fitters who removed their rubbish the following day. A fair price and an envied addition to our home.
I have been astounded and gratified by the levels of service we have received from every member of the Stiltz teams we have dealt with. A superb lift with exceptional service!
An excellent company from the first contact to the completed project. All personnel were friendly and very polite but stayed extremely professional throughout. Having been in the construction industry for over 40 years I was aware the preparation work was carried out to a high standard by the best of trades people. The lift itself can not be faulted both the operation and aesthetics.
The service was better than 1st class. It was excellent in every way. We could not be more pleased with everything Stiltz applied it’s self to in any way. We would award 6 stars at the very least.
Home lifts are a modern alternative to stairlifts, offering reliability, speed, capacity, and seamless aesthetic integration for a stylish and efficient solution.
Disability Facilities Grants, up to £30,000, can fund home adaptations like Stiltz lifts, supporting independent living for disabled individuals.
Transform your home into a wheelchair-accessible space with our list of wheelchair-friendly adaptations.
