About Bruno Independent Living Aids
Bruno is a third-generation, family-owned-and-operated company committed to designing and manufacturing the highest-quality stairlifts and accessibility products to help people with mobility challenges retain their independence. Made-in-USA Bruno stairlifts are manufactured exclusively in Wisconsin, United States - and proudly installed by local experts who live in, support and serve their local communities.
Overall Satisfaction Rating
- 5 stars
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Pros
- High weight capacity
- Good warranty
- Affordable option available
Cons
- Only available through dealers
Bottom Line
Bruno Independent Living has a good range of stair lifts, with important safety features and some stylish options. Though the curved models have fewer aesthetic options, they are still compatible with most staircases.
Top Bruno Independent Living Aids Reviews
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So far, so good. It is safe, and there’s no problem learning how to use it. I just push the button and ride. I feel much better in my home with the Bruno stairlift. I will highly ...
Read full reviewBruno stair lift models
Bruno Independent Living manufactures all their stair lifts in the USA. For those wondering how to install a Bruno stair lift, you don’t need to worry about having technical expertise — only official dealers and authorized technicians can and should install a Bruno stair lift. Bruno stair lift batteries are rechargeable, so the stair lifts can run even during a power outage.
Bruno indoor stair lifts
- Elan Stair Lift (300 lbs capacity): The Elan Stair Lift, also known as the SRE 3050, is Bruno’s most popular stair lift model. One great feature of the Elan is that it can be continually charged, not just at the top or the bottom of the railing like some models from other companies. You can also flip the seat up, so it’s out of the way and doesn’t obstruct the stairs. Installed safety sensors will stop the stair lift in the case of an obstruction on the stairs. The Elan is battery-powered, so it functions during a power outage.
- Elite Stair Lift (400 lbs capacity): The Elite Stair Lift is a step up from the Elan model. While the Elan is perfectly functional and works well, the Elite can be customized to fit with your home’s decor. You can choose from various options for the seat upholstery and the power chair railing. The Elite model also has a higher weight capacity, at 400 lbs. Like the Elan, it can charge all along the strip, not just at the top and bottom of the landing. It also can fold up so it’s out of the way for people who don’t need to use it. With the Elite, you can also opt for a larger footrest or larger seat. Power swiveling is another option.
- Elite Curved Stair Lift (400 lbs capacity): The Elite Curved Stair Lift is similar to the original Elite Stair Lift but made for curved stairs. It is also chargeable from anywhere on the stairs, has a safety feature to come to a stop if it senses an obstruction, has a power swivel option and can fold up and out of the way if needed. Unlike the other units, you can remove the lift from the stairs when it’s not in use. Other options include a larger seat, larger footrest and custom colors.
Bruno outdoor stair lifts
- Elite Outdoor Stair Lift (400 lbs capacity): The Outdoor Elite has been made to withstand even the most extreme conditions, ranging from 0 degrees to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Weatherproof features include the use of durable paint on all steel surfaces as well as a complimentary sun, snow and water-resistant cover. The Outdoor Elite can flip up out of the way of the stairs and will come to a stop if it senses an obstruction blocking its path. You can think of the Elite Outdoor Stair Lift as a twin to the indoor Elite Stair Lift, just with features designed to make it compatible for the outdoors.
- Elite Curved Outdoor Stair Lift (400 lbs capacity): Like the indoor Curved Stair Lift, the Elite Curved Outdoor Stair Lift is custom made for outdoor landscapes that don’t have straightforward stairwells. The curved Elite outdoor model has a power swivel and weatherproof paint. It can fold up and will come to a stop if it senses an obstruction. It also is resistant to a wide range of temperatures and comes with a cover.
Model | Weight capacity | Best feature |
---|---|---|
Elan Stair Lift | 300 lbs | Low price |
Elite Stair Lift | 400 lbs | Chair adjustability |
Elite Curved Stair Lift | 400 lbs | Works with almost any type of curved staircase |
Elite Outdoor Stair Lift | 400 lbs | Weather-resistant paint and cover |
Elite Curved Outdoor Stair Lift | 400 lbs | Customizable to wide range of outdoor arrangements |
Bruno stair lift cost
Bruno Independent Living doesn’t advertise prices on its website. You’ll have to reach out to the company directly to obtain a quote. Generally, stair lifts in the United States cost between $2,000 and $10,000. A straight stair costs less, and a curved stair lift costs more. The Bruno Elite stair lift price is higher than that of the Elan model, which is Bruno’s most basic model. If you’re looking for a bargain, it’s best to check out the Elan model, which is Bruno’s most popular purchase. Financing is available for Bruno stair lifts through most Bruno dealers.
Bruno stair lifts also come with a warranty. Indoor straight and curved stair lifts have a limited lifetime warranty on the major components, like the gearbox, motor, drivetrain and rail. The major components on outdoor stair lifts have a five-year warranty. All other components on every stair lift have a two-year warranty. There is also a 30-day labor coverage after installation in the case of a manufacturing defect. These warranties are only valid if the stair lift is installed by an authorized Bruno dealer.
Do we recommend Bruno Independent Living?
We recommend Bruno Independent Living stair lifts. They have a good selection of both indoor and outdoor stair lifts. The safety features and rechargeable batteries are a plus. Bruno has a long history of reliability, and you can rest assured going with them for your stair lift is a great decision.
Bruno Independent Living Aids Reviews
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I have a two-story home and I requested a stairlift from the insurance company. I was working in conjunction with JK Medical Supply and I told them that I wanted a really good stairlift. I told them that I wanted the best that the insurance company would allow and they led me to purchasing a Bruno stairlift. Jonathan did all the measurements and I was very impressed with the way he did that. I was also impressed with the layout for the engineers. I have a custom staircase with a lot of 90° angles and some offsets. And when the fellows came to install the stairlift, they were top-notch gentlemen. Everything came in boxes and nothing came tossed around in the back of the truck. They laid down a nice heavy duty drop cloth to put all the parts on it and assembled the unit perfectly. It took them a little longer than two hours, from start to finish, because it was a very intricate build.
I use the stairlift four times a day going up and down and since I got it, I’m not sequestered to the first floor anymore. I'm disabled from a spinal injury and I had a massive fusion, so it’s very hard for me to walk upstairs. I can do one or two, but there are 17 stairs to go up, plus the landing. So, the stairlift gets me up to my shower and my bedroom. But when I would go down to the bottom level where there’s a back-to-back 90-degree turn, the stairlift would land at the bottom of my stairs. Then, it would turn around so it would not be in the way of the front door and it would bump a little bit. Their rep said that that was normal but maybe somebody could come out and take a look at that to see if that is the way it has to be.
Also, I know that there's an option for a larger footrest but they gave me the standard one. Nobody measured my feet and it's such a small footrest for me. My legs don't do a full 90-degree and I have to bring my feet up, then I got to push it onto the rest. And my feet hang over a bit, especially my left foot. It hasn't hit anything, but it's very uncomfortable to hold my feet. I spoke to JK Medical Supply about it and their rep said that he'd see what he could do. Other than that, I couldn't be more happy with this fine piece of equipment. The chair is great and very nice-looking. It matches my house nicely, too.
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The reps were very accommodating when I had the chairlift from Bruno installed. They came and got my vehicle, and they took me so I could pick up the vehicle. I got the first lift about 12 years ago when I got the power chair and we’d have a way to get it in and out of the car. Then I got a second one and I got some Velcro tie downs to tie the chair because it was shifting in the back. They said I didn’t need the chairlift but I still did. So now, I'm on my third one because I was rear-ended and the second one was damaged. With COVID and everything and being the age I am, I try not to drive too far and I don't do too much. I almost didn't get it this time because I don't use it that much. But when I do need it, I need it. So I said I have to have it.
The first one had the ratcheting tie down type thing to secure the chairlift to the platform. The last two did not and my chair still shifts. So, when I turn a corner, I'm reusing what I bought at Lowe's. I have big clips and then they're attached to a strong, wide Velcro tab that is about 12 inches each end, so it gets around and it secures the chair to the platform. I don't like the chair shifting when I'm turning corners. I like the last one better than the one in between because it's a little heavier. It works good. It gets the chair out and I can go places and do stuff. If you're going to do something, you have to be able to walk from the driver side of the car to the back and get it up, which is 10 feet. I can do that and it's good for me.
We have a two-story house. My husband was very ill and was pretty much living on one floor. He was basically too weak to take the stairs. Also, my kitchen is on the other floor. I was going crazy running up and down the stairs so I killed my knees. We started researching products and the distributor for Bruno here popped up first. We had a great sales rep and he was very helpful.
Two women did the installation and I was very impressed. I was very proud of them. Ours is a very much custom-made heavy thing and it was complicated. It took pretty much all day but they did great. The video and pictures online were pretty right on, except for the installation. As elegant as the rail look, the bracket used to put it in with what must be 100 steel bolts on our stairs is beyond not pretty. I was joking with my daughter and said, “It’s like having the Golden Gate Bridge in my house.” The track looks great. It matches the beige wall and the carpet. But all those bolts are really ugly. I was offered some paint to cover those. But that'll make it even tackier-looking.
My husband died a few days before the stairlift was put in. But he was hopeful that that would have helped him get to treatment. I have been trying to see if I can get my knees to recover from the months of trauma I inflicted on them. I have not used the stairlift as much as I would have earlier on. But it reassures me that if my knees don't really recover, I'll still be able to get up and down.
My mother needs to get down the stairs now that she has lung cancer. I got connected to James Medical and they were very pleasant and easy to deal with so I went with them. Their rep was really nice and excellent. We got the Elite stairlift. I wanted that because the seat was better for my mother. There were two models set up at the retail store and my mother sat on both of them. She looked like she was fighting out of the lower model but she fit comfortably in the upper model. The seat was broader and she felt more secure.
The initial installation was not good. The crew did not tighten the bolts down so when I was testing the stairlift, it would make a lot of noise and my husband was concerned. When he checked it, he found the bolts weren’t tightened and that was a safety issue. Techs came right out and fixed it. Everything else I've had with them has been excellent. I liked their professionalism and they were very honest about the product. The display was excellent too.
With the stairlift, we have to wiggle around it a little bit but not dangerously so. I'm happy with it. The stairlift has the appropriate safety beeps and things. I wish it turned automatically but that would have been another thousand-dollar adjustment so we didn't do that. I would have loved to have the feature where you don't have to use your feet to rotate at the top of the stairs. That was available to me but I needed to pay the extra money and I elected not to. Other than that, it's doing very well.
I had a Bruno stairlift for 16 years, and it was fine. I just got a new one. I like them. The rep I just dealt with was professional. I went back and forth between the salesperson and the technician who installed it, so I wasn't sure which person I was gonna talk to the next time I talk to them. The tech was very amiable. We had a problem originally, and he came back and fixed it. So, I'm completely happy with it now. I got the straight indoor stairlift. I have a wide stairwell so it leaves plenty of room for people to go up and down.
I preferred some of the features on the old one as opposed to the new one. The new one is the Elan. The older model had a padded armrest, and the new one doesn't. On the new one, the arms are bowed out farther, which wasn't necessary. Also, I don't care for the new up and down switch on the arm. It looks like a bird's tail fin sticking out there. It looks like it would be easy for someone to catch and break off. The old rocker switch was just fine. I enjoyed that one.
I would recommend Bruno to a friend because the quality is high. However, they have a bad design in the rail because when it was first installed and went up and down, you expect it to be smooth and quiet and it sounded like someone banging on a tin can with a metal spoon. It rattled all the way up and down. It was driving me nuts. I talked to the installer, and he said, "Well, they have a crimping tool to address that." It was 30 days out on order, but he did get it within two weeks of his original installation. He brought it and worked on it with that tool and it quieted it. If it was designed correctly, it wouldn't make that noise the first time that they went up and down. So, I was kind of disappointed in that but it's working okay and it's quiet now, so the problem was solved.
I had a good experience working with the reps. The installers were very professional. The stairlift is working fine and it has made day-to-day life much better.
The installation of our Bruno chairlift was very easy and so far, the quality is good. It's helping my husband up and down the stairs. I would suggest it to our friends.
I've been having problems with these stairlifts since they've been put in. They're beeping. They put something new in the one down my basement and it's still beeping. Now, the one in the front room is also beeping. But I will recommend them.
The two gentlemen that came to install the chairlift were terrific. They cleaned up everything. They went over everything, like any possibility why the chair would stop working. They gave us a number to call. I told them, in a year, I'll call for a service call to have them come back out. The actual chairlift is great. The first day that I went down after the installation, my dad had somehow pulled the little knob that's on the handle. But fortunately, I was able to push it back in. Overall, he does pretty good with the chairlift, but sometimes, he'll get on there and forget what he's supposed to do. I would recommend the Bruno chairlift.
I was happy to hear that they had refurbished ones of various ages available. We purchased one of those. They didn't have another one refurbished in the one to two-year category that would fit our situation, a left-hand stairlift. So they gave us a brand new one at the refurbished price. We got two of them. I was very happy with that. That was very nice.
Bruno Independent Living Aids Company Information
- Social media:
- Company Name:
- Bruno Independent Living Aids
- Year Founded:
- 1984
- Address:
- 1780 Executive Dr
- City:
- Oconomowoc
- State/Province:
- WI
- Postal Code:
- 53066
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.bruno.com