PROBLEMS WITH TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL ELEVATORS

For almost as long as elevators have existed, homeowners have looked for ways to incorporate lift technology into multilevel homes. Residential elevators are about more than prestige or the “wow” factor; many homeowners need elevators to make areas of their home accessible to those who cannot use the stairs due to injury, illness, disability, or age. PVE offers a select line of in-home lift solutions that rely on vacuum technology instead of traditional mechanics.

Here’s why:

Traditional Lifts are Maintenance-Heavy
Old-technology lifts have a lot of moving parts. Weights, cables, pulleys, and the machines that power them all require frequent maintenance. The cost of this maintenance will add up over time, dramatically increasing the total price of the elevator. Our vacuum elevators require service only once every 15,000 lifts or four to five years. Additionally, maintenance for one of our lifts includes no toxic chemicals or lubricants.

Traditional Lifts are Energy Wasters
Lifting and lowering a traditional residential elevator requires quite a bit of electricity. Vacuum elevators, however, use only a little bit of energy when the car is raised and practically no energy when it is lowered — air does all of the work. Consider the impact a traditional residential elevator will have on your energy costs and factor that in to the lifetime price of the lift. Powering all of those weights and machines day in and day out will amount to massive energy expenditures.

Traditional Lifts are Less Safe
To be clear: Most home elevators are just as safe as their commercial counterparts in terms of fall protection. But there’s one area in which home elevators are far less safe, and that’s what happens if the lift fails in between floors. Being stuck in a home elevator means you’re at the mercy of your local company representative; if you have no way to call for help, the consequences could be dire (see this story). Vacuum elevators do not get stuck because in the event of a power failure they descend safely to the bottom floor on a cushion of air.

Testimonials

My house was built in 1925 and it was hard to get something to fit in with the décor of my home, but the PVE fit in perfectly. I am thrilled with the design, engineering, and reliability of the vacuum elevator.

STAN BARTH

Testimonials

I thoroughly enjoy riding in my PVE elevator as its extremely comfortable… I would unhesitatingly, recommend it to people who are confined to a wheelchair like myself, to me it's that good and reliable!

TAMARA GORDON

Testimonials

Our work with Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators allowed us to create solutions for our clients with luxury coastline homes, working with limited space. The product installs well in small spaces utilizing closets, pantries and laundry rooms. Their engineering department assisted in crafting non-traditional installations, making for extremely satisfied homeowners. Clients appreciate the product for its modern, sleek footprint and superb functionality.

Scott L. Yanofsky, Terra Firma Group Construction, Manhattan Beach CA.

Testimonials

We moved into our dream 2 story home with bedrooms on the second floor. At 60, I thought I could manage the strairs, but soon discovered the challenges were too difficult for me. The 37” diameter PVE elevator was to be my savior. Now I go up and down as I please and stairs no longer prevent me from enjoying my new home. It has been an absolute Blessing! It also looks so gorgeous that three different guests who were admiring our modern statuesque “object d’art” were stunned to discover that it is actually a working elevator! I had to demonstrate it to prove it! Two of them remarked that they wouldn’t even care if it worked (which it does). They just thought it was ultra-attractive and interesting.

David in Cleveland, Ohio