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How to fix an office chair that wont stay up

Dec 12 read

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The chair can stop holding both a few years after its use and after 1-2 months. It depends on the intensity of its use, the quality of individual parts and fasteners, and timely repair and maintenance. Compliance with the maximum allowable load on the chair also affects: for most models, it is about 250-300 pounds. To properly fix the breakdown, it is necessary to find its causes.

How the mechanism of an office chair works

To fix such a mechanism, you need to understand the principle of its action.

An office chair with the ability to change the height is equipped with a pneumatic cylinder. It provides the movement of the mechanism due to the pressure of compressed air. An integral part of such a system is the height adjustment valve, which changes the height of the seat.

The load on the valve varies depending on whether you are sitting in a chair or getting up from it. If you stand up and there is no load on the seat, when the valve is opened, air flows upward, which ensures that the seat is raised. If there is a load when the valve is open, the air will move downward, causing the chair to lower.

Why Does My Office Chair Keeps Sinking?

how to fix an office chair that wont stay upFirst, you should figure out why your chair keeps lowering. Most often, the fact is that the pressure inside the piston mechanism becomes weaker, and nitrogen comes out. After that, the chair sinks to a lower position.

This situation can occur for the following reasons:

Sometimes the failure is due to a manufacturing defect, but this is relatively rare. Knowing the cause of the breakdown will help you figure out how to fix a desk chair that sinks.

How to fix this crash

The first thing to understand is that fixing a broken cylinder with your own hands will not work. This element of the office chair is filled at the factory with compressed gas (nitrogen), and this procedure cannot be carried out at home. Therefore, you can either replace the cylinder or fix the chair at a certain height. The first option is preferable.

Replace the office chair gas lift (optimal solution)

The only way to completely eliminate the breakdown and get a height-adjustable chair is to replace the cylinder. This process takes place in several stages:

After installing, put the seat back on and try raising and lowering the seat using the piston system. If the movements are light and smooth, then everything works out.

How To Remove and Replace Office Chair Cylinder (Video)

Install a kit that will save your chair

This method will allow you to fix the chair in one position. It’s simple and effective, but you must adjust the height. This Saver Kit must be installed so the spacers will support the seat. It’s simple: snap enough rings onto the piston to keep the seat at the height you need. The spacers will support your body’s weight, so you will feel quite comfortable.

how to stop chair from sinkingIf the ring breaks, it can be easily replaced, so it’s best to buy a few spares right away.

Use a Hose Clamp and Duct Tape

If you need a quick fix for a sinking piston, a regular size 20 hose clamp can be used. You will also need duct tape. Set the desired height, wrap the hose clamp around the hose and secure it with tape. Of course, this will not completely solve the problem: after a few days, the adhesive tape will peel off and slide off. But it will give you time to buy a new piston. This method answers the question of how to stop a chair from sinking rather than how to fix it.

Use a Plastic Spacer or PVC Pipe

Another solution is to fix the cylinder in one position with a piece of PVC pipe or a plastic gasket. The PVC strip should be cut and installed on the piston. The piston will stop sinking, but there is one significant drawback: PVC is not a very strong material and can burst under a significant load.

These methods will answer how to fix a sinking office chair. It will help you troubleshoot if the height adjustment system on your office chair is not working.

How do I Stop my Office Chair From Sinking?

If you have already experienced the need to replace the gas lift in your office chair, tips on how to extend the life of the piston will be helpful to you:

Of course, compliance with these rules does not guarantee that the office chair will last for decades, but, in any case, it will extend its life. But you already know how to fix a computer chair that keeps sinking.

Conclusions

In this article, you can learn about how to fix a desk chair that sinks. Most likely, this is a depressurization of the gas lift. In this case, replacing the piston is the only way to eliminate the problem. Other methods (for example, fixing the cylinder in one position with a hose and adhesive tape) are temporary measures and do not allow you to adjust the seat’s height. Replacing the gas lift is effective and simple, so it is better to choose this option. Fix a sinking office chair it is easy!

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FAQ

How long does it typically take for an office chair to start sinking after use?

The time it takes for an office chair to start sinking can vary depending on factors such as the intensity of use, the quality of individual parts and fasteners, and timely repair and maintenance. On average, it can happen both a few years after its use and after 1-2 months.

What factors can cause an office chair to sink?

Several factors can contribute to an office chair sinking. These include exceeding the maximum allowable load on the chair, abrupt seating or standing movements, and the wear and tear of machine parts due to long-term use.

How does the mechanism of an office chair work?

An office chair with height adjustment typically employs a pneumatic cylinder. This cylinder, powered by compressed air, enables the movement of the chair mechanism. A height adjustment valve regulates the air pressure to raise or lower the seat based on the load on the chair.

How can I fix my sinking office chair?

There are a few methods to address a sinking office chair. One option is to replace the gas lift cylinder, which requires disassembling the chair, removing the old cylinder, and installing a new one. Alternatively, you can use a Saver Kit to fix the chair at a specific height or employ a hose clamp and duct tape as a temporary solution. Another approach is to use a plastic spacer or PVC pipe to immobilize the cylinder in one position.

How can I prevent my office chair from sinking in the future?

To prolong the life of the gas lift in your office chair and reduce the likelihood of sinking, follow these guidelines: avoid exceeding the maximum weight capacity, sit and stand from the chair smoothly, and minimize frequent adjustments to the seat height. While these practices cannot guarantee long-term durability, they can help extend the chair’s lifespan.

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