If you are wondering how to fix a sinking office chair, then this guide will show you how to do this quickly and easily.
If you spend a lot of time at your desk, then you know that an office chair is essential to your well-being. Without a comfortable chair, you won’t be able to stay at your desk for long, and this could affect the quality of your work. However, despite being essential, office chairs can be quite problematic.
In any case, a sinking office chair is one of the most common issues that we face. If you are in such a situation, then you should not hesitate to fix your office chair. There are many methods to fix your sinking office chair. Keep reading to find out.
How To Fix An Office Chair That Keeps Sinking
It doesn’t matter how fancy your office chair is, it is bound to lose its lift over time. This is the sad reality of life. The cylinder that connects the base to the seat is what allows us to adjust the chair up and down.
The cylinder is filled with pressurized nitrogen gas and oil and completely sealed up so they can't escape. When you pull or push the adjustment lever, the gas is pushed in or out of the chamber, respectively, facilitating a movement.
Over time and after excessive use of your chair, the seal in the cylinder starts to wear out, and the gas leaks out. This causes the chair to sink and eventually makes it impossible to adjust. So if your office chair keeps sinking, it's likely that the cylinder has failed.
In that case, you have three options: replace the cylinder, repair it, or buy a new chair. We will discuss these options and give you the best advice on how to fix your sinking office chair. Keep reading!
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Three Ways To Fix An Office Chair That Won't Stay Up
As we mentioned in the previous section, replacing the faulty cylinder, repairing it, or buying a new chair are your only choices. Let's look at it in detail!
Buy A New Chair
Buying a new chair is not a good idea as you will have to pay a lot of money for a decent chair. However, if your chair is quite old and worn out, it's better to buy a new one.
If you are thinking of buying a new chair, you could use our list of best office chairs in 2022 for an easy decision. Let us save you from the hassle of going through our long detailed list.
In our opinion, the best office chair is Herman Miller Aeron. It comes with a great design and unique features. The chair is made of durable materials and is easy to clean. In addition, it has an ergonomic design that will keep your back healthy. Read more about the chair and your other options here.
Repair Your Chair
Repairing the chair is the most economical way to get it fixed. However, if you are going with this option, you need to know that you will not be able to adjust the height once you get it fixed. Also, this is not a permanent solution and it will need to be repaired again in 3-6 months.
Replace The Faulty Gas Cylinder
Replacing the cylinder is one of the best options to go for. This will not only save you money, but it will also give you a chair that is in perfect condition. You can get a high-quality chair gas cylinder for a fraction of the cost of buying a new one. If you are looking for a long-term solution, this is the one.
Products like this Office Owl gas cylinder look to be a popular choice, and come with instructions and necessary tools to make it as user friendly as possible.
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How To Repair An Office Chair That Keeps Sinking
If you are looking for a quick, cheap fix to your sinking office chair, you can try one of the following methods. However, you should note that none of these will be permanent solutions. Here is how to stop an office chair from sinking:
Use A Hose Clamp & Duct Tape
- Start by sliding the plastic skirt off the cylinder.
- Then set the chair to the preferred height. This cannot be adjusted later.
- Wrap a hose clamp around the cylinder. The hose clamp must be size 20 or 13/16"-1-3/4" diameter.
- Now wrap a couple layers of duct tape around the cylinder to prevent the clamp from sliding.
- Pull the hose clamp tight and fasten it by rotating the screw.
- Finally, test the chair and make any adjustments that are needed.
Use An Office Chair Dropper Stopper (Simple Fix)
A dropper stopper is a hard plastic clip that can be attached to the chair's pole. As the name suggests, it prevents your seat from sinking or dropping by holding the seat up.
They are cheap, effective, and easy to install. All you have to do is to attach the dropper stopper clips to the chair's pole. No tools, screws, or disassembly of the chair is required.
The best part is that you can adjust the height of the chair. It comes in 3 pieces of clips of 4cm each; you can adjust the height by putting the pieces together according to your need. Moreover, the dropper stopper gives your chair a professional finish.
Products like this Dropper Stopper look like an effective and cheap way to stop your office chair from sinking.
