Wear and Tear On Your Office Chair | 15+ Common Issues & How To Fix Them

Sinking Chair, Wobbly Seat, or are your wheels just not working?

Thankfully, most of the common office chair issues are easy to correct with ease... No Kits Necessary!

CLICK FOR QUICK ANSWERS

Broken Chair? Don’t Give up! How to repair office chair without kit

Stop getting muddled in the minutiae of troubleshooting your office chair. Before you read on, check with your chair’s manufacturer’s information.

Below are 15+ troubleshooting issues with their common causes and ways to resolve them all neatly on a table. A couple of step-by-step instructions on how to keep a chair from sinking. For visual learners, I’ve curated easy to understand DIY chair repair walk through videos.

Common Ergonomic Office Chair Issues & Repair Guide Tips

Ergonomic Office Chair Troubleshooting & Solutions Table

Problem	Resolution	Common Causes	Repair Info
Seat rocks side to side	Replace Column/Mechanism	Worn down mechanism pivot area metal, broken or loose column plastic liner	Replace Column/Mechanism If Linear is broken or loose
Seat jerks forward while seated	Replace Mechanism	Commonly a worn away the pivot pin metal mechanism	Replace/Install Swivel Tilt Mechanism
Seat flops back if not in use	Replace Mechanism or Adjust tension spring knob	Loose tension spring, broken mechanism, welds or missing parts	Replace/Install Mechanism
Seat lowers or rises if not in use	Replace Gas cylinder	Faulty cylinder seals (worn out)	Remove/Install Gas Cylinder
Seat lowers while in use	Replace Gas cylinder	Faulty cylinder seals (worn out)	Remove/Install Gas Cylinder
Seat will not lower or raise	Replace Gas cylinder	Faulty cylinder seals (worn out)	Remove/Install Gas Cylinder
Piston rod is hitting floor causing rocking due to high centering	Install Bearing Kit	Retainer clip and/or parts missing/broken. Frequently damages cylinder if not replaced.	Remove/Install Gas Cylinder
Piston rod is bent	Replace Gas cylinder	Excessive weight lean or worn column	Remove/Install Gas Cylinder
Nothing happens while activating lever	Replace Gas cylinder	Gas has escaped or faulty seals	Remove/Install Gas Cylinder
Cylinder Column hitting floor causing rocking due to high centering	Replace Gas base	Center hole enlarged	Remove/Install Gas Cylinder
Seat height stuck in low or high position	Replace Gas cylinder	Gas has escaped or faulty seals	Remove/Install Gas Cylinder
Mechanism is obviously cracked, broken or bent	Replace Mechanism		Replace/Install Mechanism
Chair squeaks or metal powder on floor	Replace Mechanism	Metal rubbing against metalOiling will not resolve issue	Replace/Install Mechanism
Seat is at left or right angle	Replace Mechanism	Metal fatigue, broken or excessive leaning
Entire chair rocks violently or leans to one side.		Broken or odd size castor, bent leg, broken or worn plastic inside column, loose mountings, bent cylinder rod,worn away pivot metal.	Replace/Install Mechanism
Casters difficult to roll, or steer straight	Replace casters	Dirty, worn out, wrong type, too small, cheap plastic mat.

NOTE! There are literally thousands of different office chair mechanisms, and it’s difficult to identify the exact dimensions of each individual piece on your chair. This table is NOT a professional troubleshooting guide.

Tools needed for chair repairs:

Adjustable Wrench
Long Pipe Wrench
Flat Tip Screw Driver (Medium)
Philip tip Screw Driver (Large)
Pry Bar (Small or Medium)

Already checked it and still feel stuck? Thankfully, most of the common office chair issues are easy to correct, even if you don’t have a warranty.

COMMUNITY MADE CHAIR REPAIR VIDEOS

How do you fix a squeaky office chair?

To fix a squeaky office chair, turn it upside down and use a screwdriver to loosen nuts, bolts, or screws.

After you’ve done that, spray a lubricating oil (WD-40) on all the chair’s mechanisms and dry the excess with a rag.

Compared to traditional chairs, ergonomic office chairs encourage better sitting posture, ease back pain, and are overall a healthier option for your rump.

How do i keep my office chair wheels (castors) clean & free from drag?

Most folks don’t realize that the standard castors (wheels) your chair equipped with has a specialized design used on low-pile carpet.

Most chair manufacturers recommend using a chair mat as it reduces drag and prevents damage to your floor.

Still not convinced that using a chair mat is the best way to go? I wrote in debt about the wonders of them and even a DIY project on how to make one yourself for under $30.

Why Does My Office Chair Keep Sinking?

Maybe you’re sitting in it right now. It’s uncomfortable but common. This could be the universe tell you it’s time to lose weight, or it could be your chair that is hitting rock bottom.

The valve of the lever that controls the seat height causes this common issue. A piston that lets air through it controls this height control. It may wear this part down and needs to be replaced.

Does yours, your significant other, or colleague’s ergonomic office chair keep sinking?

Fixing this instead of investing in another office chair over a faulty valve may be a fun project for some.. Are you a tinkerer? This challenge is best left for tinkers.

What Is The Average Recommended Maximum Weight For An Office Chairs?

Many chairs have been assessed for a maximum of 225 pounds.

If you exceed this weight, I recommended you order a specialized "Big & Large" office chair. In the market for a big and tall office chair? Read this before purchasing anything!

How to Fix An Ergonomic Office Chair From Sinking Too Low?

If you enjoy DIY projects, you can purchase a ready-made kit so you can fix your office chair with the proper materials.

Below is a multiple-step process on how to Stop the Sinking Chair Problem With PVC or Vacuum Extension Wand

STEP ONE: Manually lift the seat to your choice height. This may be its fully extended position if your big & tall.

STEP TWO: Manually lift the chair and its seat post out from the base/casters. Lay the chair on the floor horizontally.

STEP THREE: Take off any decorative or non-functioning collars around the seat post. (To Properly Measure)

1. Temporarily place the base back on the seat post.

2. Mark the top of the seat and then set the base aside.

3. Measure where you marked to the base of the seat.

STEP FOUR: Cut to fit a PVC Pipe or a similarly shaped tube between your marks.

STEP FIVE: Stick the cylinder back on the seat post, then slide the seat post back onto the base.

What Is The Average Life Span Of A Chair’s Gas Cylinder?

It's common that gas cylinders will gradually stop working with time. You may have a chair for over 10 years, and suddenly the gas cylinder sinks.

FUN FACT: Office chairs that have gas cylinders contained with air run the risk of exploding!

Alternative Method on How to Fix a Sinking Office Desk Chair

Another less than aesthetic way to solve the sinking chair problem is by clamping down.

By using a medium to large jubilee clip (Horse Clamp). Just use this clamp between both the cylinder’s tube and sleeve. Be sure to use at least 2 clamps, placed at the top and bottom of an office chair’s cylinders.

Below is a multiple-step process on how to Stop the Sinking Chair Problem With a Hose Clamp & Some Wood.

Wear and Tear On Your Office Chair | 15+ Common Issues & How To Fix Them

Broken Chair? Don’t Give up! How to repair office chair without kit

Common Ergonomic Office Chair Issues & Repair Guide Tips

Ergonomic Office Chair Troubleshooting & Solutions Table

Tools needed for chair repairs:

Adjustable Wrench

Long Pipe Wrench

Flat Tip Screw Driver (Medium)

Philip tip Screw Driver (Large)

Pry Bar (Small or Medium)

COMMUNITY MADE CHAIR REPAIR VIDEOS

How do you fix a squeaky office chair?

How do i keep my office chair wheels (castors) clean & free from drag?

Why Does My Office Chair Keep Sinking?

How to Fix An Ergonomic Office Chair From Sinking Too Low?

STEP ONE: Manually lift the seat to your choice height. This may be its fully extended position if your big & tall.

STEP TWO: Manually lift the chair and its seat post out from the base/casters. Lay the chair on the floor horizontally.

STEP THREE: Take off any decorative or non-functioning collars around the seat post. (To Properly Measure)

1. Temporarily place the base back on the seat post.

2. Mark the top of the seat and then set the base aside.

3. Measure where you marked to the base of the seat.

STEP FOUR: Cut to fit a PVC Pipe or a similarly shaped tube between your marks.

STEP FIVE: Stick the cylinder back on the seat post, then slide the seat post back onto the base.

Alternative Method on How to Fix a Sinking Office Desk Chair

STEP ONE: Manually lift the seat to your choice height. This may be at a fully extended position if your big & tall.

STEP TWO: Manually lift the chair and its seat post out from the base/casters. Lay the chair on the floor horizontally.

STEP THREE: Take off any decorative or non-functioning collars around the seat post. (To Properly Measure)

1. Temporarily place the base back on the seat post

2. Mark the top of the seat and then set the base aside.

3. Measure where you marked to the base of the seat.

STEP FOUR: Cut to fit a PVC Pipe or a similarly shaped tube between your marks.

STEP FIVE: Stick the cylinder back on the seat post, then slide the seat post back onto the base.

Related Questions

SOURCES

Claude

Most Popular

Affiliate Disclaimer