An ergonomic chair provides maximum support and comfort to office workers. If you are working at your desk for 8 hours every day and your office chair won’t stay up for more than 10 minutes at a time, it’s time for some serious troubleshooting.
So, the office chair you bought a month ago is suddenly sinking into the carpet. You’ve tried everything—you’ve checked the bolts for tightness, you’ve flipped it over to see if the cushions have slid down, but nothing works. It just isn’t responding to the adjustments you make.
In this post, we’ll share easy DIY methods for when your office chair wont stay up.
Why does the Office Chair wont Stay Up?
Whether your office chair is expensive or cheap, it is likely to wear off with time. The most common reason for a broken office chair is a malfunctioning Chair Lift Mechanism or Gas Cylinder.
The lift mechanism is a key component of the chair that moves the seat back and forth. The gas cylinder allows for the lifting of the seat to the height of the seatback.
What is the Mechanism of a Chair?
When assembling an office chair you’ll know about its height adjustment mechanism. The mechanism is what makes it function as a chair. There are three main types of the mechanism used:
- Mechanical,
- Electro-mechanical,
- and Hydraulic.
Mechanical chairs rely on springs and pneumatic cushions to provide back support. This type of mechanism is simple, durable, and cost-effective. However, spring-loaded chairs lack adjustment and the cushioning may become uneven over time.
Electro-mechanical chairs use a combination of springs and an electric motor. The spring system provides back support, while the motor moves the seat to the desired position.
Hydraulic chairs are very popular among professional office workers. They are typically made of steel and have a fluid-filled chamber. The seat is moved by a piston inside the chamber.
The piston is connected to a motor which is controlled by a lever. This mechanism allows for precise, adjustable movement of the seat.
How to Fix a Sinking Office Chair?
The office chair that won’t stay up, is a constant source of frustration for office workers. Whether you’re an office worker yourself, or just hate watching people squirm around your desk because they can’t find a comfortable position.
If your chair is sitting on a stable smooth surface then it should have a fixed adjustable height. Here are a couple of things you can do to keep your office chair from sinking into the floor:
Change the Gas Cylinder
You can follow 3 basic steps to replace the chair’s gas cylinder which controls the height adjustments.
Step 1: Remove the Wheelbase
Step 2: Remove the Cylinder
Step 3: Install a New Cylinder and Assemble the Wheelbase
To replace the chair gas cylinder, all you need is a regular cylinder and a compressor. In this case, the regular cylinder is the empty one sitting on top of the chair, while the regular cylinder in the basement is the full one.
The compressor is the device that moves the air around. If there is a leak in the cylinder on top of the chair, there will be a pressure drop.
Once the full cylinder is connected to the top cylinder, it will be pressurized. This can take up to an hour for the pressure to stabilize and the chair to start working normally again.
Try a Plastic Spacer or PVC Pipe
The easiest way to make your chair look like it’s been there for years is to use a spacer. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it works. If you’re looking to get a professional-looking chair that you can use for years, this might not be the best option.
You can use one or two PVC pipes to fix the cylinder of your sinking chair.
To use a plastic spacer follow these 2 steps:
- Measure the Cylinder’s Diameter
- Cut the PVC Pipe And Install
Although it isn’t a permanent solution and it will adjust your chair at a fixed height.
Add a Jubilee Clip/Hose Clamp And a Duct Tape
The best part about this hack is that it’s cheap! But it is the least effective of all the other methods. You can buy a bunch of hose clamps on Amazon for around $1.50 each.
The drawback is that you need to do this hack every time you want to move your office chair. To solve this problem, add a piece of wood between the piston and the clamp, or use a rubber band to prevent the clamp from sliding.
The hose is placed around the cylinder at the desired height. The duct tape helps with the sliding. For a few days, this may work but eventually, it will slide. Before you know it, your chair will fall again. This is not a good look for your home or office.
Use a Chair Saver Tool Kit
The chair saver tool is an inexpensive and simple replacement for a sinking chair. It acts as a temporary solution to the problem at hand.
The saver kit can get your chair in working order in no time at all. The gas cylinder lift has a series of rings on it. The rings will support the seat if you lift it.
When a chair breaks or you need a better height, you can always add a new ring to it.
Use a Manual Chair Riser
A chair at the wrong height impedes your productivity and should be fixed as soon as possible. The manual riser is an easy DIY trick to adjust a chair’s height. It is not very attractive to look at but will fix a chair that won’t stay up temporarily.
Adding buttons to the bottom of the chair’s legs increases its height. Depending on your furniture’s legs, they can be either circular or another shape. Most chair risers are either screwed to the legs or placed inside the grooves in the risers.
How does a Sinking Office Chair Affect You?
Research has proven that the right seat height ranges from 16 to 21 inches off the floor. An office chair is important to work in a proper posture. For instance, when you are sitting in an office chair, your feet should be flat on the floor and your legs straight. Your back and neck should be straight.
You should also be conscious of your posture. It is good to keep your head up and your eyes open when you are reading. If your eyes get tired, you should change positions so that you can get more rest.
It is meant to increase your productivity and for that, it should be adjustable and comfortable. A sinking chair will negatively impact your:
- spine health
- productivity
- neck
- feet
Can I Fix my Office Chair that Wont Stay up
Yes, you can easily do it yourself. If you have experience with building or fixing things, you may be able to fix your gas cylinder. You’ll need the right tools and materials to get started.
Just gather the right tools, put them on a table, and fix them.
Watch this video to better understand the sinking chair mechanism and troubleshooting:
Is Professional Chair Repair Worth It?
A professional repair can be expensive depending on the chair itself, but most chairs last a few years.
But if you are thinking about spending hundreds of dollars for a repair, you may want to think twice.
Sometimes the warranty can help you get a fix at no cost. The company will give a cylinder during the said warranty period.
Bottom Line
In the end, now you know what to do when the office chair wont stay up. You can use a new gas cylinder, hose clamp, PVC pipe, or chair risers to lift it and sit ergonomically. We aim to help you increase your productivity and comfort at the workplace.
FAQs
1. Why does the office chair keep going down when I sit on it?
It sinks because of a broken or worn-out gas cylinder mechanism.
2. How do I fix a chair that keeps going down?
Replace the gas cylinder or use temporary solutions like PVC pipes or chair risers.
3. How do I get the office chair to stay up temporarily?
Try using duct tape to hold it together. You could also use duct tape to make a band around the seat.
4. Does a sinking chair affect my back?
Yes, it can cause pain in the lower back and neck.
