Of all the ways to move between floors, the pneumatic home elevator is the one that makes visitors stop and stare. A clear cylinder rises through the house with no cables or counterweights in sight. Behind the striking look is a simple idea.
The principle
The elevator is a sealed tube with a cab inside it. To go up, fans at the top draw air out of the space above the cab. The pressure below is now higher than the pressure above, and that difference lifts the cab. To come down, air is let back in gradually and the cab descends at a controlled speed. Mechanical locks hold it in place at each floor.
What it does not need
- No pit dug beneath the lowest floor
- No separate machine room
- No hoistway built by a contractor, because the tube supports itself
This is why a pneumatic elevator suits houses that were never planned with an elevator in mind.
Where it fits
The round footprint tucks into the curve of a staircase, the corner of a great room or a spot beside a balcony. Because the walls are clear, it lets light through and does not close in a room the way a boxed shaft can.
Sizes
Models range from a single-passenger cab to one wide enough for a wheelchair. The right size depends on who will ride and how much floor space you can give it.
Things to weigh up
- The cab is smaller than most traditional elevators of the same footprint
- The fans make some noise while the cab is travelling upward
- It is a statement piece, so it is very much on show
How it compares
A traditional elevator gives more interior room and can be hidden behind an ordinary door. A shaftless elevator is simpler still, but serves two floors only. A pneumatic elevator sits between the two: quick to install, able to serve more than two stops, and a feature in its own right.
See if one suits your home
Nationwide Lifts of New York installs the Vision range of pneumatic elevators around Albany, Glens Falls and Poughkeepsie. Call 888-323-8755 for a free home visit.