Dumbwaiter Installation in San Diego and Orange County, CA
Installed and Serviced by Advantage
Dumbwaiter installation and service in San Diego and Orange County
A dumbwaiter is a small lift for things, not people. It carries groceries, laundry baskets, firewood, luggage, boxes and serving trays between floors, so nobody has to carry them up or down a staircase. In a multi-level coastal or hillside home, where the garage can sit a full level below the kitchen, a dumbwaiter turns a daily chore into a button press.
Advantage Elevator installs and services dumbwaiters in both San Diego and Orange County. We sell the Savaria Matot dumbwaiter and we also repair dumbwaiters that other companies installed years ago. We are a licensed California elevator contractor (CSLB C-11 #1027832) and a Savaria Elite dealer, with more than 20 years in business and a 4.9-star rating across more than 300 Google reviews. One customer wrote that we were the best technicians they had ever had work on their dumbwaiter.
- Load range: 100 to 750 lb, so there is a size for a laundry basket and a size for heavy loads
- Installation and repair in both counties, including older units of other brands
- Free estimate from our Carlsbad office
Advantage Elevator crew and service fleet, Carlsbad
Concealed controls
Advantage Elevator technicians
Savaria Matot dumbwaiter at a glance
Capacity and speed
Drive and car sizes
Warranty
Where a dumbwaiter earns its place in a Southern California home
Many homes in La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Laguna Beach, Newport Coast and Dana Point are built into slopes. The garage or entry sits below the living space. The kitchen is two or three levels away from the car. You come home with groceries, make two trips and think about the stairs on every one of them. A dumbwaiter from the garage level to the kitchen takes most of the carrying out of that routine.
Common uses we install for:
- Groceries and bulky shopping from a garage or lower entry up to the kitchen
- Laundry between bedrooms and a laundry room on another floor
- Entertaining trays and dishes between a kitchen and an upper or lower patio or great room
- Wine and bulk storage between a cellar or storage level and the kitchen
- Firewood, luggage and boxes in homes with several stories
A dumbwaiter is not a substitute for a home elevator when someone needs to get between floors. If a family member cannot manage stairs, a home elevator or a stairlift is the right tool. Some homeowners install both.
How a dumbwaiter is built and where it goes
The Matot dumbwaiter runs in its own small shaft, usually a framed chase that stacks through closets, a pantry or a corner of the garage. The car travels on guide rails. A winding drum drive wraps a cable on a drum, much like a small winch. A geared traction drive uses a geared machine and cables. Both are proven designs, and we help you choose based on travel, load and the space available.
The right location depends on the floor plan. We look for a spot where the shaft can stack from level to level without cutting through structure, and where the opening at each level is useful: a pass-through at counter height in the kitchen, a pantry-side landing, or a closet door on the garage level. On a new build or a major remodel, planning the shaft early is far easier than adding one later, so bring us the plans while the walls are still open. In an existing home we work with your general contractor to frame the chase and finish the openings.
Installation, permits and what to expect
After a free in-home estimate, we give you a written quote that spells out the equipment, the car size, the number of stops and what work belongs to us and what belongs to your general contractor. Our own technicians install the lift, connect it, test it and show you how to use it. We handle the permit coordination with your city’s building department. Timelines depend on the shaft work and on city review, so we give you a realistic schedule once we have seen the house.
We do not post a price for dumbwaiters on this page because the shaft work, the number of stops and the car size make each project different. Ask us for an estimate and you will have a number in writing.
Service and repair for dumbwaiters
Dumbwaiters work hard and are easy to forget until a door sticks or the car stops partway. We repair and maintain dumbwaiters of other brands, including older units whose original installers no longer exist. A service visit covers the cables or chains, the drive, the door interlocks, the limit switches and the landing doors. Catching a worn cable early is far cheaper than a stalled car full of groceries.
If you already have an elevator or a lift on an Advantage maintenance plan, we can add the dumbwaiter to the same visit. For repairs, call (833) 865-7887. We provide 24/7 emergency service across San Diego and Orange County.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install a dumbwaiter?
It depends on the number of stops, the car size, the load rating and, most of all, the shaft work in your home. We give a written quote after a free in-home estimate. The sooner we see the plans, the more we can keep the cost down.
Do people still install dumbwaiters in new homes?
Yes. In multi-level homes where the garage, kitchen and laundry are on different floors, a dumbwaiter saves hundreds of stair trips a year. We install them in new builds and add them to existing homes.
How much weight can a dumbwaiter carry?
The Savaria Matot dumbwaiter is available from 100 to 750 lb. Most households choose a size for groceries and laundry. We help you pick the right capacity and car size for what you actually move.
Can you repair a dumbwaiter you did not install?
Yes. We service dumbwaiters of other brands in San Diego and Orange County. Tell us the age and what is happening, and we will send a technician to diagnose it and quote any repair in writing before we start.
Is a dumbwaiter safe for people or pets?
No. A dumbwaiter is designed for goods only, and riders should never climb inside. If you need to move people between floors, we can show you a home elevator, through-floor lift or stairlift that fits your home.
Planning a dumbwaiter? Start with a free estimate.
Installation and service in San Diego and Orange County. Call (833) 865-7887.
