SERVICE FAQ'S

Q. What is the best type of battery for my scooter or powered wheelchair?

A. That is a somewhat complex question....There are two different types of batteries; acid and gel. Not all acid batteries are of equal quality, nor are all gel batteries of equal quality. It is recommended to purchase batteries either acid, or gel from your trusted medical equipment company. Car batteries, although they are less expensive, will not hold a charge as long as the batteries intended for use in medical mobility devices. It is recommended for safety to use gel technology batteries. Acid batteries will hold a charge slightly longer, but the gel (spill free) batteries will not cause harm to the user, and do not require frequent water checks. A good gel battery should range from $79.00 to 155.00 depending on the size of the battery.

Q. Is your service staff able to come to my home for service?

A. Ofcourse, our office schedules our service technicians for in-shop days as well as offering times where they can provide service in the home. We understand that some people cannot transport the chair to our office, so we make every attempt to accommodate their needs.

Q. Is there a charge for your service techs to come to my home?

A. Yes, there is a charge for this service. It costs our company a significant amount each year to hire and educate our service staff, the costs of the vehicles, parts and additional tools that are kept on the service trucks. Contact our office with specific requests.

Q. What type of charger can I use for my power chair?

A In the past, there were two types of chargers for medical mobility equipment; chargers for acid batteries, and chargers for gel batteries. If you charged a battery with the inapropriate charger, it could cause the battery to wear out faster. Today there are either acid battery chargers, or dual mode battery chargers. The dual mode battery charger has a selector switch that you can charge either gel or acid batteries.

Q. What is the best cushion for my wheelchair?

A. What ever feels best. Cushions are used for two purposes; comfort and positioning. If the cushion is for comfort, choose the one that feels best to you.... If the cushion is for positioning, consult a qualified medical equipment supplier to discuss your needs. If you see a physical therapist they are good people to discuss this question.

Q. There are too many tire choices, please help me as to how to choose the best tires for me.

A. Generally speaking there are to major catagories of tires: either pneumatic or solid. Pneumatic or air tires provide the softest ride, however are acceptable to flats. Air tires are lighter than non-air tires, thus for manual wheelchairs, air tires can be easier to propel. If however the wheelchair user, or caregivers do not check the air in the tires regularly- low pressure tires are very hard to push- more so than solid tires.

Solid tires varieties come with tread or without. Tires without tread are usually only found on basic-institutional type wheelchairs and should only be used indoors or solid ground as the tires offer little traction. The treaded types are the most common for active wheelchair users. Today there are tires that resemble air tires, feel like air tires, and only weight slightly more than air tires.

Q. Which wheelchair is right for my needs?

A. This is a question that cannot be answered without seeing an individual and how they propel a wheelchair. Institutional wheelchairs generally should not be used for a person who can self-propel a wheelchair. A self-propeller should choose a light weight or ultra-lightweight wheelchair. The later two options allow for axle positioning that allow better access to the push rims of the wheelchair. Without proper access to the pushrims, a wheelchair user, can wear out their shoulders faster, and not propel the wheelchair efficiently.