Today's homeowners have an abundance of options when it comes to home elevators. Air-driven lifts, sometimes referred to as pneumatic lifts, and hydraulic lifts are two of the most widely used solutions. Although each has advantages, which one is more suitable for your house? Let’s break it down.

Understanding the Basics

What Is an Air Driven Lift?

Air driven lifts operate using a vacuum system. A cylindrical shaft houses the lift cabin, and atmospheric pressure is used to move the lift up and down. These lifts don’t require cables, counterweights, or lubricants.

What Is a Hydraulic Lift?

Fluid mechanics is the foundation of hydraulic lifts. The lift is raised and lowered using a hydraulic piston and fluid. Usually, a pit and machine room are required for the installation of these devices.

Home Fit: What's Most Important?
Space, aesthetics, maintenance, energy consumption, and safety are important considerations when selecting a lift for your house. The comparison of each type is as follows:

Space Needs

Air-driven lifts don't need a pit or machine room, and they require very little space. ideal for retrofitting tiny areas or existing residences.

Installation of hydraulic lifts is more difficult and takes up more space because they require a separate machine room and pit beneath the shaft.

Setting up and maintaining

Air-driven lifts require little civil work and can be installed quickly and neatly. There are fewer mechanical components and less frequent maintenance.

Hydraulic Lifts: The hydraulic oil, pumps, and valves require routine maintenance, and installation is more intrusive.

Which Is Better for Homes, in Conclusion?

Air-driven lifts are the obvious choice for the majority of residential customers, particularly those retrofitting an elevator into an existing property. Compared to conventional hydraulic systems, they are much less complicated, elegant, small, and environmentally benign.

Although hydraulic lifts have their place, air-driven lifts are the best option if you want a low-maintenance, aesthetically pleasing, future-ready solution.