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AmeriGlide Review
4.3 Overall Rating
Bottom Line
AmeriGlide Accessibility Solutions manufacturers a wide variety of stairlifts for seniors and people with disabilities to help make independent living in their homes more manageable. In addition to stairlifts, AmeriGlide is a major disability and mobility equipment manufacturer and retailer in the U.S.
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About AmeriGlide Stair Lifts
AmeriGlide Accessibility Solutions manufactures a wide variety of stairlifts for seniors and people with disabilities to help make independent living in their homes more manageable. In addition to stairlifts, AmeriGlide is a major manufacturer and retailer of disability and mobility equipment in the U.S.
AmeriGlide provides many products to help people move around every room of their homes, including elevators, stairlifts (also called chairlifts), dumbwaiters, bath lifts, pool lifts, ramps, and more. With a focus on streamlining the manufacturing and installation process for these products, AmeriGlide has a reputation for fairly-priced, reliable stairlifts and other accessibility devices. If you or a loved one finds it difficult to get around your house, AmeriGlide likely has a solution.
Two-thirds of seniors, or 15 million people, have trouble climbing stairs, and AmeriGlide is well known for its stairlifts, with over 40,000 units sold. Designed for people who have difficulty navigating stairs, a stairlift is a chair on a rail that slides up and down a staircase so you and your family members can safely use the stairs. AmeriGlide has affordable designs for standard staircases and models for curved and outdoor staircases.
Stairlifts require you to have some level of mobility to sit in and get out of the chair, so AmeriGlide also sells a line of platform lifts and wheelchair lifts, which are best for people who use a wheelchair or mobility scooter and wouldn’t be able to sit in a chair without assistance.
Pros
- One of the most popular names in accessibility devices
- Self-install or technician-install options
- Consults with customers to determine their needs and recommends custom-designed stairlifts when required
Cons
- Some products require custom design and measurements, which can drive up the price
- Customers must install most stairlifts or hire a professional
AmeriGlide Stairlift Costs and Financing
AmeriGlide makes five models of straight stairlifts, two models of curved stairlifts, and two outdoor models. Curved lifts can be customized to fit U- or L-shape staircases and accommodate 90-degree angles. Outdoor models come with a weatherproof coating to protect them against the elements. AmeriGlide stairlift costs depend on the model and features included with the model you choose.
| Model | Typical Cost | Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor Straight |
| Do it yourself or pro install. You provide measurements |
| Indoor Curved |
| Pro installation included. Measuring service included |
| Outdoor Straight |
| Do it yourself or pro install. You provide measurements |
- Straight Models: Models ranging in price from $1,999 to $6,895. You can connect two or more straight stair lift models to form an L-shape at a 90-degree angle.
- Curved Models: Models ranging in price from $8,000 to $12,000+. Curved models are more customizable and can be designed as one continuous rail to form L- or U-shaped designs.
- Outdoor Models: Models priced at $2,999 and $3,995. Outdoor models are coated with weatherproofing material to protect motors and other parts from the elements.
To help make its products more affordable, the company offers financing through its partner Bread®to AmeriGlide customers who are at least 62 years old and own their own home. Military veterans are often eligible for a VA home improvement loan or a housing adaptation grant, and many retirees are eligible for grants and loans to make both the outside and inside of their homes more accessible.
AmeriGlide Stairlift Warranties and Installation
Every new AmeriGlide stairlift comes with a two-year warranty on parts and a five-year warranty on the drive train. Reconditioned products have a one-year parts warranty and three years on the drive train. Used stairlifts sold on AmeriGlide’s website come with a one-year warranty on parts.
Most AmeriGlide stairlifts are designed for the homeowner to install, even if they aren’t mechanically inclined. Usually, it takes two or three hours to complete a stair lift installation. If you’re unable to or uncomfortable with installing a stairlift on your own, you can hire an AmeriGlide contractor to do the work for around $500 to $600. Installation services for steel, concrete, or tile cost a bit more.
How to Buy an AmeriGlide Stairlift
AmeriGlide sells a diverse selection of new and used stairlifts and mobility products on its website and has about 20 stores located around the U.S., mostly in the eastern states. You can speak with a salesman or service representative seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. The customer service and tech support phone numbers are available on the AmeriGlide website. Each product on the website includes warranty information, return policy, and product specifications. AmeriGlide accepts major credit cards, PayPal, and e-checks as payment on the site.
AmeriGlide Stairlift Complaints
AmeriGlide receives a “B-” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), averaging 10 to 11 complaints per year, with all but one resolved by the company. AmeriGlide made ConsumerAffairs’ list of the top stairlift companies, and reader reviews rank the company at 2.8 out of 5 stars. ConsumerReviews.com gives AmeriGlide a 9.4 on a scale of 10. The majority of customer reviews on AmeriGlide’s website ranged between four and five stars.
The complaints we found mostly revolved around customer service being unresponsive, sometimes taking months to resolve an issue. Other complaints mentioned that the quality of the stair lift motor was underwhelming.
AmeriGlide Stairlifts FAQs
Standard AmeriGlide stairlifts have a weight capacity of 275 to 350 pounds, which includes the Cardinal Indoor straight stair lift and the AmeriGlide Rave 2. The heavy-duty lifts, such as the Harmar Pinnacle Stair Lift-HD, can carry up to 600 pounds.
AmeriGlide stairlifts require almost no maintenance, which helps tremendously with affordability since there are no regular service appointments. Just place a little grease on the track twice a year.
When the chair is folded up, an AmeriGlide stairlift needs 14 inches of space. The track requires just under a foot of space on the stairs. For staircases over 36 inches wide, an AmeriGlide stairlift should not get in the way of those who use the stairs. If your staircase measures 36 inches or less, sit on a chair against a wall, then measure the distance from the wall to your knee to see how much space will be needed and to determine if a stairlift will work without widening the staircase.
You can return some AmeriGlide mobility products, but not all. Dumbwaiters and vertical platform lifts are custom-made, so you can’t send these products back for a refund, and there is no return on walk-in tubs for sanitation reasons. Customers can return lift chairs, wheelchair lifts, and electric scooters within 10 days of receipt. Stairlifts are somewhat custom-built but are usually returnable within five days of receipt. AmeriGlide charges various restocking fees, and the buyer pays for return shipping costs for most products.
One in every ten seniors over 65 has severe issues with mobility, and that number becomes one in five by the age of 75. If you have suffered an injury that will leave you with a lack of movement in your hips or knees, or arthritis is causing you to dread using the stairs, it’s time to consider a stairlift. Over three million seniors each year are sent to the emergency room after a fall, and a number of those falls could have been avoided with the use of a mobility device like a stairlift. If you’re having trouble getting around or feel unsafe while using the stairs, AmeriGlide will help you to remain active in your home.
Yes, AmeriGlide stair lifts come with many safety features and comply with standards and codes established by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Intertek (ETL), and the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Standard safety features include a footrest safety sensor, a swivel seat switch, a safety belt, cable tension safe guards, limit switches, and pressure controls.
Yes, AmeriGlide stairlifts are customizable, especially curved stairlifts, which are built specifically for your staircase, so both the length and shape can be customized. However, you can also add features like different seat and rail colors, padded armrests, power footrests, additional call stations, folding rails, and potentially flip-up seats. You can even customize the install, either handling the entire process yourself or hiring a professional.
Conclusion
If it’s time to get some help navigating stairs, a stairlift from AmeriGlide is a good place to start looking. This company works with each customer to determine specific needs and designs a custom stairlift for curved staircases. We saw thousands of reviews from people who have used AmeriGlide to maintain an independent lifestyle with affordable prices, reliable quality, and responsive customer service.