office chair keeps sinking

Here we put the right information on how you fix a sinking desk chair at home? The cylinder on most chairs fails within a few years, typically because the seals are too damaged to maintain pressure. The majority of desk chairs are all built the same, so many of the swivel chair parts (chair cylinder, base, caster wheels) are easily replaced. ", PVC halves around the piston with duct tape. How do I repair my chair? A sinking office chair doesn't mean the entire chair is bad. Slide it in such a way that it goes either all the way up or all the way down. If you have a gas cylinder that ceases to work correctly, you'll find that you are slowly sinking while sitting in your home office chair. Over time, the metal shaft wears out. Or worse yet, try to install a new non-returnable cylinder using special pullers, pipe wrenches and rubber mallets - and don't forget the bearing kit. Safety is a must. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 564,258 times. Slide the wheels back on. Jack just got out of a meeting where he found out the deadline on his big project was moved up. Pretty much every adjustable office chair cylinder will let you down after a few years of use. Office chair keeps sinking, is it time for a new one? "Googled how to stop a sinking chair, saw the hose clip suggestion, happened to have one the correct size, fitted, "After reading about the duct-tape-with-clamp method, I just wrapped some masking tape around the cylinder to block. To begin with, let’s talk about the two technologies your office chairs could have used if they are height adjustable: pneumatic and hydraulic. Replacing the chair cylinder is actually much more simple than you might think, and will have your office chair feeling brand new for another 6+ years. You can buy a replacement cylinder to restore full function to your chair, but this is nearly as expensive as buying a replacement. There is actually a very simple reason for why this happens. If you do not have a vise or cutting tools, just leave the pipe intact and remove the chair's wheels so you can slide on the pipe. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. We spend a lot of money on our office chairs, making sure they are comfortable and ergonomic for our long work days. Thank you. These are even cheaper and easier to install, but they may not be sturdy enough to support your weight. If you're having trouble snapping the pipe on, saw it into shorter pieces and try again. Do you have an office chair that keeps sinking under you? Office Chairs That Won’t Recline; 4. "This showed me I might as well buy a new chair. Office Chair Casters That Are Full of Hair; 9. There are many reasons due to which your office chair keeps sinking. So you might not know where to start. (it is actually quite simple and straightforward). How to fix office chair that keeps sinking. Thanks. The primary reason for this problem is that the adjustable cylinders or hydraulic parts of the chair become faulty. Inside the chair cylinder is Nitrogen gas. Pick the height you want for the chair and tighten the pipe clamp until it is firmly secured on the piston. ... Another quick and easy fix for a sinking office chair instead of replacing the cylinder is using the chair saver kit. Alternatively, scuff up this area of the cylinder with sandpaper. So, it is the cylinder causing the chair to sink. Irked That Your Budget Desk Chair Keeps Sinking? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. We spend a great deal of capital on our office chairs, making certain that they’re ergonomic and comfortable to get our very long workouts. Bought a new chair on Amazon and it, "I cut a 4 inch (the distance I needed) PVC pipe with 3.5 inch OD, the long way to make to halves. Thank you. Literally...we've been stuck at the lowest setting of an office chair that won't stay up attempting to work, and it's not fun. ", "Worked great and saved me a lot of money!". Using an extension pipe that goes to a shop vac this is a quick and easy fix or repair that works perfect and even. Using an office chair that won’t stay up can be frustrating and can potentially hinder productivity in the workplace. I thought there had to be a better, easier, more cost effective way to fix a sinking office chair other than throw it away in a landfill and buy a new one. March 19, 2019. Two common causes are either the gas strut may be defective, or the adjustment lever is not operating as it should. It held for 3-4 months. Some of the most common reasons for this happening include: Defective gas cylinder. Main Points:  Cheap Fix, Temporary, Not Adjustable, Not Professional. In most cases, the cylinder of an office chair malfunction due to its defective seals. DIY is usually not recommended as installing a new pneumatic cylinder can be a tedious task. Relevance. Answer Save. % of people told us that this article helped them. If the grip won’t tighten, you can easily use sandpaper to grind the pipe a little bit. This removes a lot of the liquid or gas pressure. You shouldn't need an exact measurement, but you can. Do you have an office chair that keeps sinking under you? Jack was annoyed and frustrated, and wondered if there was anything he could do about this? In the past 10 years, we’ve bought 4 office chairs and 2 of them started sinking within a year. rowlfe. If you are the owner of a 3D printer, you can permanently fix your chair to the desired height with a simple 3D print job. "Just having the article available! That’s why it is essential to know some DIYs or quick fix tips for your office chair that keeps sinking. Luckily, there is a simple one time fix for this issue. Recently, whenever i sit down it just sinks. Keep doing this until you notice the metal cylinder is being exposed. It worked very nicely! Wearing a mask or respirator is recommended while cutting PVC to avoid inhaling irritating particles. ", pipe is great. So happy I did, too. We have outlined all of the options below for how to fix an office chair. We treat every customer as our best customer. Slide this all the way down or up, until you can see the metal cylinder underneath. 9 years ago. If the cylinder looks dirty or greasy, clean this off first. This is a collection of clip-on clamps that work the same way as these DIY materials. Once the cylinder has failed, the cushion is likely going to be in, "Brilliantly simple solution which I would not have thought of otherwise - wikiHow is so SO good in this respect. You'll have to take the bottom of the sofa off to access the mechanicals. Then, set the chair to your preferred height, laying it on its side if you need to so it stays in place. One user reports using a tall stack of plastic shower rings instead of PVC pipe. Your chair’s cylinder could be loose. ", frustrating, 'guaranteed to fail' mechanisms! Before you spend hundreds of dollars on a brand new chair, consider fixing it instead. ", "Thanks, saved me from having to buy a new chair! Now I will have to try it. This spacer, like the hose clamp, only acts as a stop and does not allow any height adjustment. Office chairs have one common thing, plastic tubes. As per the other reviews, my office chair kept sinking and I was looking for an alternative to having to buy a new chair. The sinking of the chair is usually directly connected to a pneumatic cylinder located directly below the seat. It has spacers that snap on over the cylinder and wont slide down the shaft like a straight clamp. [1] X Research source Whether you've spent $100 or $1,500 on a desk chair, no one should have to deal with an office chair that keeps sinking. Last Updated: December 31, 2020 In the past 10 years, we’ve bought 4 office chairs and 2 of them started sinking within a year. Office Chairs That Lean to One Side; 6. Over time and after excessive use of your chair, the seal in the cylinder starts to wear out and leak. Then, you can reinstall or replace what's broken or has come loose. It certainly helped with the sinking, but the problem I had with my chair is that it was slightly too short and there was still a gap of about a couple of centimetres. So I've had this office chair for about a year now. Here are three easy fixes: Lubricate the joints and other vital mechanical components. A sinking office chair doesn't mean the entire chair is bad. You’ll find it over the extendable cylinder the chair comes with. Like you, (and Jack) we have been there before. With the chair at the lowest height, it felt like he was in a kid-sized chair and could barely reach his keyboard. So, is it time to throw out the chair and buy a brand new one? This article has been viewed 564,258 times. I had been going nuts over having to buy a new chair every two years or so. If your office chair keeps sinking, that may be due to a problem with the lifting functionality. This means one thing. Tax and shipping will be calculated at checkout. But when i get back up, the chair immediately rises again. In order to fix this problem, you will either have to change the piston or buy a new chair. More technical specifics about gas springs can be found here, Click here for a complete Chair Cylinder Replacement Kit. The hose clamp is placed around the cylinder piston at a desired height and acts as a stop. You can also buy a replacement pneumatic cylinder for your chair. Can this be fixed or is it time for a new chair? So happy about the simple solution. Got that sinking feeling? The cylinder is the metal pipe that connects the wheels to the seat. ", "I have tried the second method, it really worked! So before you know it, your chair will be dropping again. I just have to make sure not to sit down too suddenly. If you want it fully sunk and need it to stay there. Or did he have to buy a brand new chair? More technical specifics about gas springs can be found here. The first thing you should do is assess the problem and check all possible sources of it. Sent it back, found this website and voila, my old desk chair has new life! Fixing a sinking desk chair is not a hard job. By using our site, you agree to our. Here's a quick story. There are alternatives, as well. Office Chairs That Lean Forward; 5. Great graphics. Brilliant. And right after just a few years of using the best desk chair under 200, it merely seems to stop operating. I used the PVC pipe with cable tiers, it seemed far superior. However, it's not realistic to think that you won't run into some problems from time to time. Or you can … When the pneumatic cylinder on your office or computer chair goes kaput, as they are wont to do, often after just a few years, you may find that even the manufacturer doesn't have any suggestions on how to fix it. Thank you. ", "Thank you, it works on a dxr racer as well, thank you! How to Keep My Office Chair From Sinking By Rogue Parrish Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Written by The Office Oasis Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Yet another way of fixing an office chair that keeps sinking is by replacing its pneumatic cylinder as it tends to wear out over time. In order to fix it you will either have to replace the piston or get a new chair. Such chairs might stay up when not in use but sinks once you sit on them for work. Try these simple DIY methods instead to fix your chair at one convenient height. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. When your chair keeps sinking this means that valve also known as a chair cylinder is no longer working. If your office chair keeps sinking, the straightforward solution to the problem is to replace that cylinder. And after only a few years (or less) of using the chair, it just seems to stop working. ... Keep in mind that this has to hold the entirety of your weight, plus the upper part of the chair. ", investment in an otherwise great chair. Finally got the, "My employer had no budget to replace my sinking chair. If using an uncut spacer or PVC some extra work is involved (taking apart the cylinder to slide on the spacer). Fix A Sinking Office Chair - No Gas Lift Cylinder or Tools Required - Replacement Office Chair Gas Lift Cylinder Alternative. I finally got the bright idea to check online for a fix. So it will only make struggle your day. 4.4 out of 5 stars 25. It may be easier to work with in smaller pieces, although you can easily cut it yourself at home. Fixing a sinking office chair – Helpful tips and information. Written by officechairdesign. Like either the gas strut may be faulty, or the adjustment lever is not working, or the hydraulics cylinder ultimately fails, and you need to search out a new cylinder, look for a fixing kit, or have to purchase a new chair. As soon as he sat down in his office chair, he sank to the bottom. Most office chairs have a plastic tube over the extendable cylinder. The Dropper Stopper is a 9cm hard plastic clip that snaps onto the chair support in a couple of seconds. 1. Then, your only choice is to drill a hole in the cylinder and ensure it can't buildup nor maintain any pressure. Following these steps, I preserved an, "That was pretty good, I have been wondering how to raise the chair with some kind of metal ring but the idea of PVC, "Haven't tried it yet, but this was a very good and helpful explanation of what to do and what I'd need (for mending. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Office chairs are meant to stand the test of time - especially if you buy good quality ones. To begin with, you have to assemble tools you may require while fixing the chair. However, as durable as they are, they may fall into a state of disrepair that makes them uncomfortable, and even unsafe. Snap on one spacer at a time and press each up the cylinder rod, the shiny metal post, until the spacers are holding the seat at a … Office Chairs That Keep Losing Their Casters; 8. 4.4 out of 5 stars 200. I just re-taped it today. Learn more... Office chairs use a pneumatic cylinder that controls the height of the chair through pressurized air. Slide the plastic skirt off the cylinder. Generally our all office chairs keep sinking, but for that reason please don’t make a decision that you can move to an uncomfortable set for your office. Office Chairs That Don’t Sink; 3. Chances are, you’ve got a failing gas lift cylinder on your hands. Thanks! Office Chairs That Don’t Sink; 3. Another major downside is the plastic is likely to crack or break,  from the stress of sitting in your chair. You know when you sit down at your desk and just... sink? What if my swivel chair keeps sinking? ", "Security helped most. Do not attempt to secure the chair by drilling into the cylinder and installing a bolt. ", "Fixed two chairs using the hose clamp method. The best possible fix, in the long run, is to replace the pneumatic cylinder that controls the height of the office chair. 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