home elevators

Only way to go is up!

/0 Comments/in /by

When it comes to modern day home building, more and more architects and home builders are designing homes with multiple stories. Square footage for homes have doubled since 1973. With lot sizes dramatically decreasing, and the demand for larger homes increasing, building vertically is the best answer to building a [new] home. New construction can cost up to 10% less per square foot when building vertically as opposed to building out. This saves on space, saves on land costs, and can easily accommodate an elevator. The trend in home elevators continues to expand every year. In Massachusetts alone, the number of home elevators have increased 29% since 2011 (Boston Globe).

According to the Census Bureau, Characteristics of New Homes Completed SOC data, 2 story homes have increased 33% and 3 story homes by 43% since 2009. The number of 4,000 square feet homes have increased 51% since 2011.

This trend in verticality is a trend to keep in mind when planning to build a new home. In the end, you can save yourself money, space, and have and even plan for an elevator if you build ‘up’ versus ‘out’.

homes big enough for an elevator

 

 

architecture

Benefits of a Home Elevator

/0 Comments/in /by

Benefits of a Home Elevator

 

As times change and people live longer, more and more homeowners are installing elevators in their homes. Having a home elevator is an affordable solution for many needs and purposes. Whether you need to negotiate different levels of your home, looking to increase your home value or simply planning for the future, a home elevator is a wise investment.

 

Home Elevators Increase Home Value

Many home flippers are taking advantage of the instant dollar signs that come with putting an elevator in a house. Not only does it appeal to a larger home buying market, it can add $150,000 instantly to your home’s price.

Aging in Place

Aging in place is what everyone wants. When we are young and able, we don’t anticipate the effects of getting older. After age 65, many people have trouble getting up and down stair cases, in and out of bathtubs, etc. These situations can be a deal breaker for living in your own home- causing you to sell your home to live in a home that wasn’t originally your dream home, assisted living, or forced to move in with a family member or loved one. With the growing rates of assisted living and nursing homes, one could reason that the price of an elevator would cost less than three to four months of living in assisted/retirement communities.

stair chair for aging in place

Home Elevator is a Luxury

Home elevators are helpful in many ways, but also a luxury item. In larger homes, they certainly make life easier when traveling between floors. Home elevators can be customized with elaborate materials such as high end woods, marble, custom glass shaftways, and even gold.

Home Elevators Save Space

In the state of Connecticut, if you build a ramp, you must have 12 inches of length for every inch of rise (1:12). This can take up a great deal of space, very quickly. A home elevator takes up no more than 18 square feet in the home, saving far more space than that of a ramp.

ramp vs home elevator

Elevator Warranty

One of the best parts of having an elevator is being covered by warranty. Most manufacturers offer a standard 2-3 year warranty that will protect the home owner. Please note that regular service must be part of maintenance required for coverage under warranty. Elevator Service Company, Inc. has monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual maintenance contracts that save time, money, and repairs.

elevator locks

Elevator Door Interlocks

/0 Comments/in /by

Electromechanical door interlocks hold the door in place and prevent it from being opened when/if the elevator is in use. When the door closes, the interlock is engaged, enabling the elevator to operate.  Door interlocks are required by Connecticut State Code for all residential elevators and lifts.

Safety Features:

-Meets safety codes

-Reduced Potential Call-backs

-No Open or Exposed Contacts

-AMSE 17.1 and CSA-B44.1 compliant

elevator door interlock

full load test

Elevator 5 Year Full Load Test

/0 Comments/in /by

 

An elevator is a vehicle and requires maintenance just like a car, train or a plane. The required testing is for the safety of the users. Having a 5 year full load test on time saves a home owner lots of headaches and money in the long run. Not only is it required by the state of Connecticut, it is also a requirement of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Per ASME 17.1, requires testing be done every five years. Not having this test could result in your elevator being red-tagged or dubbed as unsafe and therefore disabled.

Procedure:

125% of rated load is placed inside the elevator cab and the elevator is run several times. The mechanic would then reset the governor switch and operate the car at a normal speed in each direction to ensure the ropes stay in place and make sure it stops with distance applicable to the code. This also ensures that the break system is working properly.

The 5 year full load test is not the same as a pressure test. Pressure tests should be done annually.

To schedule elevator testing please call 203-757-5000.

custom home elevators

Customize Your Home Elevator

/0 Comments/in /by

Customizing Your Home Elevator

Home Elevators

That’s right-home elevators. Architects and builders are finding their projects to include a home elevators or setting up the home for a future elevator by pre-creating a shaftway out of closets stacked in line. Having an elevator in your home can help you in several ways as a home owner.

Closet Shaftway

Converting Stacked Closets to Elevator Shaft

If a home elevator is something works with your home, you have endless options.

 

Conventional Elevator vs. PVE

Conventional elevators are placed in a shaftway built by a contractor. Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators (PVE) do not need a shaftway. The “tubes” come premanufactured and only require assembly. Since the shape is cylindrical, a round hole should be cut out of a ceiling, or a half-moon platform should be constructed at the landing if the tube is not going through a ceiling.

tube elevator

Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator

 

 

The Cab of Your Home Elevator

Cabs can be customized with a wide variety of interior walls, tile, and fixtures. Most manufacturers provide various wood, metal, stone, and other standard design options, as well as customizable ones.

Residential Elevator Cab

 

Home Elevator Gates

The elevator gate (located inside the door), is a required safety fixture. Options for gates include scissor gate, accordion, and enterprise.

 

Home Elevator Gates

Home Elevator Gates

 

 

Elevator Configurations

 

 

wheelchair lifts connecticut

Connecticut Elevator Oligopoly Gives Vets a Lift

/0 Comments/in /by

Connecticut Elevator Oligopoly Gives Vets a Lift

Torrington, CT—Local small business owners and philanthropists, Steve Roth and Paul Farnsworth of Elevator Service Company, Inc of Torrington, CT, have the honor of participating in a new program surrounding Veterans in the mobility world. According to the 2014 US Census, more than 1 million Veterans were reported to have a disability rating of 70 % or higher.

“A Lift for a Vet” program, funded entirely by donation, allows the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IEUC) to buy and install vertical transportation equipment for veterans for the better use of their homes.

“Elevator Service Company follows the ‘A Lift for a Vet’ mission to provide the means to an independent life to as many veterans as possible. Through ESCO’s resources, we make ‘A Lift for a Vet’ possible.”

-Steve Roth

Elevator Service Company (ESCO) is a licensed elevator installer in the state of Connecticut. Located in downtown Torrington, satellite offices include Bridgeport and Waterbury, with field offices in Groton and Greenwich.

 

Elevator Service Company has been highly regarded in the community and has been named winner of many awards including “Business of the Year” for 2015 and 2016 by the Home Builder’s and Remodeler’s Association. Other awards include Elevator World Magazine’s Photo Contest Winner for 2015, as well as multiple HOBI (Home Building Industry) awards.

Elevator Service Company Inc., located at 47 Water Street in Torrington specializes in vertical transportation for both residential, commercial, and municipal buildings, as well as homes. Elevator Service Company Inc. was established in 1948 and is licensed in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. 80% of their business is in residences. Vertical transportation solutions for residential applications provided by Elevator Service Company Inc. include, but are not limited to, stair chairs , residential wheelchair lifts, vertical platform lifts,residential inclined platform lifts, residential dumbwaiters, conventional residential elevators, and pneumatic vacuum elevators. Products for commercial application include commercial elevators, commercial dumbwaiters , commercial inclined wheelchair lifts, commercial vertical platform lifts, material lifts.

Elevators are hugely beneficial in a residence for improving quality of life and drastically increasing the value of a home.

For a complete list of products and services, or to learn more, please visit http://www.elevatorserviceco.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eleva…

Twitter: @ElevatorServiceCo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/compa…

elevator company jobs

Elevator Service Company, Inc Welcomes New Associates

/0 Comments/in /by

Due to the immense growth in the last two years, Elevator Service Company, Inc (ESCO), has, again, grown its team. The expansion has included the addition of Project Manager, Steve Berko just three months ago. Joining Berko are Torrington native, Ora Curry, and Amber Wilder.

Ora J. Curry, former Automotive Sales Manager, graduated from Uconn with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Ora is an active member in the community’s youth programs and is a father to two teenage student athletes and two rescue dogs. He enjoys the outdoors, working out, and golfing. Ora is also a proud recipient of the 1929 Club Award.

“Winning the 1929 Club Award was a huge honor and still is to this day. It is one of my proudest moments as an athlete. Playing football and what I was able to take away from it, carved out my work ethic, and taught me how to apply those values to every area of my life.” -Curry

________________________________________________________________

Amber Wilder brings over 10 years marketing and management experience to Elevator Service Company, Inc. Her educational background is in business and psychology. Amber has a strong knowledge of digital marketing and has worked on several projects including website construction and search engine optimization (SEO). “Market research is crucial. Without it, a company could spend more time spinning its wheels and wasting money. I plan to enhance what efforts that have been put in place, as well as bring in fresh ideas that will help the company to reach its goals, both long and short-term.”

 

Elevator Service Company, Inc plans to expand, opening offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Elevator Service Company is located at 47 Water Street in Torrington with satellite offices in Bridgeport and Waterbury. For more information on Elevator Service Company, Inc and their services, please visit www.ElevatorServiceCo.com.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eleva…

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElevatorSe…

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/compa…

Elevator Service Company

CT State Board Awards Director Seat to Elevator Service Company CEO

/0 Comments/in /by

CT State Board Awards Director Seat to Elevator Service Company CEO

As of February 16, 2017, Steven Roth of Elevator Service Company, Inc. (ESCO) in Torrington has been awarded the distinct honor of serving a two-year term as Director of the State Board for the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut.

The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut is a component of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) with four associations under it at a local level—the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Fairfield County, Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Central Connecticut, Builders and Remodelers Association of Eastern Connecticut, and Home Builders Association of Northwest Connecticut.

“It is truly an honor and a significant responsibility to represent 800 statewide firms which employs more than 30,000 people.” -Steven Roth

Roth’s involvement with the Home Builders and Remodelers Association has been a contributing factor to its growth. The HBRA of CT writes proposed legislation and amendments, testifies at public hearings, and actively promotes the industry at meetings with state legislators, regulators, coalition partners, and other stakeholders.

Roth has served as a board member at a regional level for the HBRA of Fairfield as a board member as well as co-chair of the Associates council and his employees are affiliate members of the local Associations. Apart from being on the State Board of Directors, Steven Roth is also a part of National Association of Elevator Contractors, Better Business Bureau, and a proud sponsor of the NW Chamber of Commerce, Warner Theater, Susan B. Anthony Project, YMCA, AM Vets, Friendly Hands Food Bank, and Hartford Hospital Zero Prostate program.

Elevator Service Company, Inc. will be making another announcement in early April of this year.

To stay up to date on Elevator Service Company’s activities, please follow ESCO:

 

https://www.facebook.com/ElevatorServiceCoInc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElevatorServCo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevator-service-co-inc

To learn more about Elevator Service Company, Inc. and its products and service, please visit www.ElevatorServiceCo.com or email inquiries to info@elevatorserviceco.com.

Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators: Elevators of the Future

/0 Comments/in /by

Primitive elevator designs have existed since 287 BC. Since then, of course, elevators have come a long way. The first shaft-based elevator debuted in New York City in 1857, and the first electric elevator showed up in Germany in 1880. Every few years, the elevator industry sees the efficiency and safety of its products improve through innovation and hard work.

But doesn’t it seem like there should be a new solution by now? With all of our modern technology and knowledge, shouldn’t we be able to build a better elevator? Why are we still relying on a hundred-and-fifty-year-old solution to provide vertical mobility to our homes?

The truth is that the future is already here, and it’s pneumatic vacuum elevators.

A New Way of Doing Things

Thanks to major advancements in technology, it’s now possible to replace the old design for residential elevators with that of a vacuum elevator. Vacuum elevators use clever manipulation of air pressure in the shaft to raise and lower the car, which means there is no pit, no clunky weights and no extra space taken up by heavy machinery.
Here are a few advantages to pneumatic vacuum elevators:

• No pit excavation or hoist way construction needed
• Quick installation, usually one to two days
• Minimal space requirements
• Self-supporting structure
• Perfect panoramic views from the car
• Minimal maintenance – service needed every five years or 15,000 lifts

When you look at the way vacuum elevators change the equation, it’s easy to see that the best solution for a home elevator is easily one of pneumatic design. Without the need for major structural work, a big dig in the middle of your home and other complex procedures, pneumatic vacuum elevators provide a safer, more cost-effective and modern option for the savvy consumer. PVE has over 4,500 home elevators installed and hope you will be next!

For more information on our Elevators please visit www.vacuumelevators.com or contact us at 203-757-5000 with any questions.

Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators: Solutions for Retrofits and New Construction

/0 Comments/in /by

Pneumatic vacuum elevators are the next big innovation in residential elevator technology. Powered by air and low on energy consumption, vacuum elevators are safe, efficient and attractive ways to increase the number of upward mobility options in your home. Unlike older elevator designs, pneumatic elevators do not rely on a system of heavy weights and pulleys to function.

Instead, the vacuum elevator uses a careful manipulation of the air pressure above and below the elevator car to deliver passengers safely and quickly to their destination. Here’s why this matters: Because pneumatic elevators do not require tons of complex construction (most of our installs are done in two days), they make the absolute best choice for both retrofitting old homes and building new ones.

If you’re working on a new home, you can work a PVE elevator into the design from the outset. Vacuum elevators require very little space beyond that which the cylinder takes up, and any architect or designer should be able to find the perfect spot to put one when working out the final layout of your home. If you’re remodeling or need an elevator added to an existing home, the small space requirements and low-impact construction process make pneumatic elevators even better.

Look at it this way: Residential elevators were once clunky, massive installations that required weeks of construction and a full overhaul of your house’s layout. Sometimes structural changes would even need to be made. But that time has come and gone, and pneumatic elevators make it easy to add a home elevator to both new and old residences.

Check out our fascinating line of vacuum elevators and you’ll quickly see how attractive and low-maintenance they are.
For more information please visit www.vacuumelevators.com or contact us at 855.783.5438 with any questions.