Home Elevators FAQ’s

Q. Why should I use McKinley Elevator?

A. McKinley has been serving California for over 60 years. We have offices and service technicians scattered all over the state. McKinley has a showroom at the corporate office in Irvine and in the Hayward office, where you can ride on multiple home elevators from different manufacturers, in the combined showrooms. McKinley makes it easy for the buyer / designer to choose the home elevator that is right for the application. That is why McKinley represents more than one manufacturer. We at McKinley feel it is important to give choices since there is not one home elevator that fits all.

Q. How long does it take to install a home elevator?

A. The home elevator itself can be installed within a couple of days after arriving at the site; if the site is ready – i.e. the hoistway doors have been hung and permanent power is available.

Q. How much does a home elevator cost?

A. There are many variables when pricing an elevator. How many floors is the elevator serving? What is the travel? Where is the jobsite located? Which system works best for the home? What are the finish requirements of the home elevator cab?

Q. How long does the home elevator take to build?

A. Most elevators require 4-8 weeks to manufacture. This time starts from the framing stage of the job.

Q. How much room do I need?

A. For an elevator that will accommodate a wheelchair, 3′ x 4′ car, takes about a 5′ x 5′ area and enough room for a machine room if the elevator that has been chosen requires one. Some jurisdictions require machine room, some do not.

Q. How deep should my pit be for the home elevator?

A. Pits vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some are 6″, 8″ or 12″. If you use 12″ as a standard, most manufacturers will fit. If you are putting a commercial size elevator into your home design, then a 4′ deep pit will be required.

Q. How much overhead do I need?

A. The overhead requirement depends on the system. 8′ 6″ is a standard for most home elevator systems but there are systems that can take up to 10′. We have one home elevator system that can accommodate 89″ of overhead in special applications.

Q. How many floors can your home elevator serve?

A. Up to 5 floors can be served. 50′ of travel is the maximum for a residential elevator.

Q. Can the home elevator enter from any direction?

A. Most home elevator systems can be accessed from 3 sides of the car.

Q. Will the home elevator accommodate a wheelchair?

A. There are elevators that can and some that cannot. Most generally you would like the inside clear car to be 36″ x 48″ to accommodate a wheelchair.

Q. What is the better system hydraulic, winding drum, chain drive or vacuum?

A. The best elevator system depends on the application and code requirements. Every system has its “Best” application. Discuss your requirements with your sales rep and he will be able to point you in the right direction.

Q. Does my home elevator need to be serviced, if so how often?

A. Home elevators are like automobiles, you need to service them. There are many different service plans. Quarterly, semi-annual, oil and grease or full maintained. Check with the service department for current pricing.

Q. How do you turn the Automatic Homing Feature ON and OFF for a Waupaca Home Elevator?

A. After a time of 30 minutes with no floor calls, the Automatic Homing Feature allows the elevator to “home” to a floor of your choice. All gates and doors are required to be in the fully closed position for the timer to begin counting. The automatic homing feature will not work if you open the hoistway door and do not open the gate. This video explains how to turn it on and off.

Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/7ydxeM6Fms4