| How do
I tell which lift is right for my pool?
Who installs your products?
What are your lifts made of?
Are all of your lifts water-powered?
Why aren't there electric or battery-powered
lifts in your product line?
How much can I expect to pay?
Why do you need dimensional information about the
pool?
Do your lifts comply with the guidelines of
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers
Act (ABA)?
Who has to comply with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)
guidelines?
Are there any tax breaks for small businesses
making improvements such as adding a lift to comply with the ADA?
Do your lifts comply with the California Building
Code?
What kind of warranty do you provide on your
products?
After I place an order, how long will it be before
my lift arrives?
How do I pay for my order?
Do you buy back used lifts?
We are moving to a new home. Can my lift be adapted
to a new pool location?
Can I trade in my older model lift for a newer or
different model?
Are your lifts portable?
How much experience does your company have with
lift products?
What is the maximum weight your products can lift?
What is the minimum water pressure
required?
I cannot use a rigid seat, do you have anything
else?
How long does it take to travel on your
lifts from the deck into the water, and from the water back onto the
deck?
Can I get a cover for my lift?
How do I winterize my lift?
Is it possible to use the lift
during the winter months in a temperate climate?
I have an old Nolan or Guardian lift. Are service
parts still available for it?
Why do I need my serial number to order parts for
my lift?
How often should I clean the lift?
Where can I find
a hotel with an Aquatic Access lift?
My question is not here. Can
I ask it by email?
How do I tell which lift is
right for my pool?
If your pool is in-ground with the pool edge almost flush with the
deck or above-ground with a raised deck with the pool edge almost flush
with the deck), you'll want an in-ground lift. If your pool is
above-ground, you'll want to look at above-ground lifts. Then decide if
you want independent or assisted operation. If you are still unsure
which lift is right for you, the Aquatic Access customer service and
engineering staff have the training and experience needed to help you
decide which lift is correct for your pool or spa. They are always glad
to help you if you have any questions.
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Who installs your products?
Most often, our customers have their pool maintenance
person handle the lift installation. Each lift ships with detailed
instructions and all necessary components so anyone handy with tools can
install it. For those who prefer a dealer-installation, there are
hundreds of Aquatic Access dealers around the world. Call us at
800-325-5438 (502-425-5817) and we will be glad to provide contact
information for your area.
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What are your lifts made of?
Aquatic Access lifts are built of 316/316L and
304/304L stainless steel. The valve is brass, the seat is polypropylene,
the plastic components are UHMW polyethylene, and the hoses are
reinforced vinyl.
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Are all of your lifts water-powered?
All Aquatic Access lifts except one are water-powered.
Water is an environmentally friendly and readily available power source
that has proven to be reliable and safe. The Aquatic Access Sling Lift
20 is operated by a hand pump and offers an economical lifting
alternative for situations where ADA compliance and a rigid seat are not
desired.
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Why aren't there electric or battery-powered lifts in
your product line?
We have researched alternate power sources for our
products and determined that water is the safest, most reliable, least
expensive, and most environmentally-friendly power source available for
lifting individuals in aquatic environments. It provides an
uninterruptible power source. Batteries that have sufficient power to
lift an individual are expensive, pose disposal difficulties, can run
down and require recharging at inconvenient times, and are very
expensive to replace when they can no longer hold a charge. There is
always the risk that a person may be stuck in a pool when a battery
needs recharging. Manual emergency recovery steps in such circumstances
are awkward at best. Further, customers who replaced battery-powered
lifts with one of our products have told us that it is difficult to
clean battery-powered or electric products because water can cause a
short circuit. For these reasons, we are not currently offering electric
or battery-powered lifts.
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How much can I expect to pay?
Aquatic Access offers the most reasonable pricing in
the industry. Our industry leader, the ADA-compliant Model IGAT-180,
currently retails for $4,020 in its standard configuration. This price
includes all components necessary for installation in an average pool
setting. Our other lifts featuring powered up and down movement, with
manual rotation, currently retail for less than $4,000.00. Because we
include all components necessary for installation in our base pricing
and offer the most economical shipping rates in the industry, Aquatic
Access lifts are the best value in the marketplace today.
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Why do you need dimensional information about the
pool?
Every Aquatic Access lift is built to fit a particular
pool. It is important that our clients be able to make a safe and easy
transfer into the seat at deck level, and to be lowered far enough into
the water to allow natural buoyancy to assist them in moving to and from
the seat in the water. It is essential as well, that the user's nose and
mouth remain safely above the water at all times. We assess the relevant
distances carefully in order to build the lift correctly so that each
lift fits the pool in order to assure safety and ease of use for our
customers.
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Do your lifts comply with the guidelines of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act
(ABA)?
The complete ADA Recreational Guidelines can be found
on this web site or at www.access-board.gov. The most important
requirements are the possibility of independent operation, the ability
to easily call the seat from the opposite location, and a minimum 300
lb. weight capacity.
The IGAT-180 family of pool lifts is fully compliant
with both the ADA and the ABA. We offer three basic models in this
group. The Model IGAT-180 (In Ground
Automatic Turn of 180°)
has the pool to the user's right in the deck position and rotates 180°
clockwise down into the water. It is also available in an opposite-turn
version that has the pool on the user's left at deck level and rotates
counter-clockwise down into the water.
The Model IGAT-180/135 (In Ground
Automatic Turn of 135°)
is built on the IGAT-180 design, but is specially configured for
in-ground pools with built-in benches around the edge. Its seat rotates
clockwise 135° down onto the bench, ending up with the seat back near
the outer edge of the pool and the user's feet in the deeper center
area. It features a rubber bumper on the bottom of the seat to protect
the spa's bench. It is also available in an opposite turn version.
The Model IGAT-180 AD (In Ground
Automatic Turn 180°
Above Deck) is designed to accommodate
pools with covers. It features a special elevated mounting that keeps
the entire lift above the deck except when the seat is lowered. It is
also available with the 135° seat rotation for in-ground spas with
benches and as an opposite turn model. All of the IGAT-180 models can
also be customized in a heavy-duty design for larger individuals or low
water pressure situations.
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Who has to comply with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) guidelines?
The ADA and ABA provide that all facilities for
public use provide access for everyone. Private homes and some medical
facilities are not required to meet the guidelines. Some states,
including California and Florida, have added requirements to the
standard ADA guidelines. More extensive information on this subject can
be found in the
ABC's of the ADA on this web site and on the government's site at
www.access-board.gov.
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Are
there any tax breaks for small businesses making improvements such as
adding a lift to comply with the ADA?
Some small business are eligible for a Disabled
Access Credit. This credit requires that the company meet several
criteria and file Form 8826 with its taxes. You can download the form
and instructions at
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8826.pdf
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Do your lifts comply with the California Building
Code?
Yes, with the addition of two optional accessories,
the IGAT-180 models all comply with California's Building Code. Add a
seat belt and flip-up arm to any of the IGAT-180 family of lifts to meet
the California Building Code specifications. We offer three basic models
in this group.
The Model IGAT-180 (In Ground
Automatic Turn of 180°)
has the pool to the user's right in the deck position and rotates 180°
clockwise down into the water. It is also available in an opposite-turn
version that has the pool on the user's left at deck level and rotates
counter-clockwise down into the water.
The Model IGAT-180/135 (In Ground
Automatic Turn of 135°)
is built on the IGAT-180 design, but is specially configured for
in-ground pools with built-in benches around the edge. Its seat rotates
clockwise 135° down onto the bench, ending up with the seat back near
the outer edge of the pool and the user's feet in the deeper center
area. It features a rubber bumper on the bottom of the seat to protect
the spa's bench. It is also available in an opposite turn version.
The Model IGAT-180 AD (In Ground
Automatic Turn 180°
Above Deck) is designed to accommodate
pools with covers. It features a special elevated mounting that keeps
the entire lift above the deck except when the seat is lowered. It is
also available with the 135° seat rotation for in-ground spas with
benches and as an opposite turn model. All of the IGAT-180 models can
also be customized in a heavy-duty design for larger individuals or low
water pressure situations.
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What kind of warranty do you provide on your products?
Aquatic Access offers a five-year warranty on all
structural components and stainless steel parts, and a one-year warranty
of valves, seals, and seat shells.
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After I place an order, how long will it be before my
lift arrives?
Fabrication of standard lifts can be completed fairly
quickly since partially completed units are usually in stock. Call for
turn-around time. Time required for actual completion varies depending
on the amount of customization required for a particular lift, and the
number of lifts in line before yours. Because each lift is built to fit
a particular pool, we do not complete assembly of the lift until we have
received full dimensional information and arrangements have been made
for payment.
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How do I pay for my order?
Since we build each lift to fit a particular pool, we
require payment in advance. Payment for domestic orders can be made by
check, money order, wire transfer or major credit card. As a courtesy to
our credit card customers, we do not charge their card until the lift is
ready to ship.
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Do you buy back used lifts?
Not at this time.
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Can I trade in my older model lift for a newer or
different model?
We often try to help repeat customers by offering a
trade-in allowance on a new or different model. However, each situation
is different. If this is of interest to you, inquire.
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We are moving to a new home. Can my lift be adapted to
a new pool location?
Aquatic Access maintains detailed records on each lift
we build. Often, we can adapt the lift for a new location with a few
simple adjustments and the installation of a new socket in the deck.
Call and speak to our engineering staff about this.
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Are your lifts portable?
While all of our lifts can be removed from their deck
location for storage, the IGAT units are the most portable. All IGAT
units, except the above deck models, feature a wheel on the base of the
cylinder. When lifted from their sockets, these units can be simply
rolled away. All of the lifts that mount in a deck socket include a
rubber socket cover for the socket when the lift is not at poolside.
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How much experience does your company have with lift
products?
Aquatic Access principals basically wrote the book on
water-powered lift products. John Nolan developed the first bathtub
lifts in the 1960's and the first pool lift in 1981. His son, David
Nolan, holds the patent on the Aquatic Access Model IGAT-180, the
standard in ADA-compliant, water-powered pool lifts. For over 30 years,
the Nolan name has been synonymous with quality water-powered lift
products.
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What is the maximum weight your products can lift?
The standard IGAT- models can lift up to 400 pounds at
55-65 PSI. The IGAT-180 AD lifts can lift up to 350 pounds at 55-65 PSI.
The various manual-turn lifts can lift up to 300 pounds at 55-65 PSI.
All Aquatic Access lifts, except Model IGMT, can be customized with
larger diameter cylinders to lift greater weights at 55-65 PSI. Inquire
for details.
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What is the minimum water pressure required?
While 55-65 PSI is required to lift the maximum rated
load, lower pressures will lift lesser weights. A lower pressure may be
more than adequate for your needs. If you are unsure of your water
pressure situation, call our engineering office.
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I cannot use a rigid seat. Do you have anything else?
Aquatic Access can adapt a sling-type seat to fit our
various products. There are also stretcher and spine board options
available for IGAT-180 and IGRC lift models. These optional items
provide access for patient who cannot sit and must be ordered at the
same time as the original lift order.
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How long does it take to travel on your lifts
from the deck into the water, and from the water back onto the deck?
Travel time depends on a number of factors. Which lift, what water
pressure is available, weight of the accessories and seat occupant, and
custom design features all impact the speed of the travel from deck to
water and back again. Inquire.
Return to Questions
Can I get a cover for my lift?
We do not recommend covering our lift products at poolside. We find
that such covers trap moisture around the lift and increase the
likelihood of corrosion. However, a towel draped over the seat alone can
help keep it clean.
Return to Questions
How do I winterize my lift?
We recommend purging all of the water from the system
before freezing temperatures are a possibility, and removal of the
plastic seat shell is a good idea if the lift is to be left outdoors
over the winter. If the lift will not be used for the winter, it is a
good idea to store it indoors.
Return to Questions
Is it possible to use the lift during the winter
months in a temperate climate?
Yes, if some measures are taken to protect the water
in the cylinder from freezing. Most often, this question comes up when
the lift is installed in an above-ground spa. For above-ground lifts, a
cabinet can be built which allows the heat from the pool's heater to
reach the cylinder. Some customers have installed a pump and a vessel to
store and recirculate non-petroleum based liquids (e.g. windshield
washer fluid) that do not freeze to power the system.
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How often should I clean the lift?
Although we use marine-quality stainless steel, stains are still
possible depending on the chemical concentrations in the atmosphere
around the pool. To keep your lift looking new, inspect, clean and wax
the lift at least every three months, or more ofen as needed. Never use
steel wool on stainless steel surfaces. Use a Scotchbrite® plastic pad
with Formula 409® or Fantastic® for cleaning and a good quality car wax
containing carnuba wax.
Return to Questions
I have an old Nolan or Guardian lift. Are
service parts still available for it?
The original Nolan pool lift has been out of
production for many, many years, but there are hundreds of them still in
operation around the world. Because some modern lifts have parts in
common with these, we can occasionally find parts for them. After the
design was sold to Guardian in the 1980’s, some modifications were made
to the design, and that company would be your best source for those
parts. Parts for these modified lifts are extremely rare and difficult
for Aquatic Access to locate. If Guardian is unable to help you, you can
call with your serial number and we will try to find parts that can be
substituted to enable your lift to continue operating. Given the age of
these pool lifts, it would be wise to consider upgrading your lift to
one of the more modern Aquatic Access lifts.
Return to Questions
Why do I need my serial number to order parts for my
lift?
Aquatic Access maintains specific records on every lift it builds. By
providing your serial number to us, you enable us to send you exactly
the right parts for your lift. The serial number is found on the
Aquatic Access label located on the cylinder of each lift.
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