A dumbwaiter is a simple machine with a long list of uses. In Oregon we install them in three kinds of place: private homes, wineries and tasting rooms, and restaurants.
In the home
Oregon houses often have the garage below and the kitchen above. A residential dumbwaiter carries:
- Groceries from the garage
- Firewood to the hearth
- Laundry between bedrooms and the wash
- Bottles from a cellar
- Supplies to an upper deck
It needs a shaft about the size of a small closet and has a locking door at each level.
In wineries and tasting rooms
Willamette Valley wineries are frequently built into hillsides, with the cellar below and the tasting room or event space above. A commercial dumbwaiter moves cases, glassware and catering between them, sparing staff the stairs during a busy weekend.
In restaurants and brewpubs
Many Portland restaurants occupy old buildings with a basement prep kitchen or storage and a dining room upstairs, or a mezzanine above the bar. A dumbwaiter speeds service and reduces the risk of carrying loads on stairs.
Residential and commercial units compared
- Residential. Sized for household loads and occasional use.
- Commercial. Higher capacity, more robust, built for constant use, with finishes suited to food service.
Installation
In new construction the shaft is framed in. In an existing building we look for a vertical route through storage, closets or an unused corner.
Rules
Commercial dumbwaiters are subject to permitting and inspection. We explain what applies.
Maintenance
A commercial unit in daily use should be serviced regularly.
Find out more
See our residential and commercial dumbwaiter pages, or call Nationwide Lifts of Oregon on (503) 545-6586 for a free quote.