Did you know that it’s possible to align a recliner? It might seem hard, but with the right steps and tools, this task is not so difficult. We will teach you how to do this in 11 easy-to-follow steps. And don’t worry about any of these steps being complicated or expensive – they are all simple!
Steps on Aligning a Recliner
Step 1. Place one end of a level on the floor and hold it steady.
Step 2. Stand at the other end with your feet shoulder-width apart, keeping your back as straight as possible.
Step 3. Put that same side (the right or left) arm out so you can hold onto it to keep balance while holding the level next to your side.
Step 4. Put the level against your body, right below the arm you are using to keep balance and hold it up while keeping it at a 90-degree angle from your body.
Step 5. Make sure that if you were standing in front of the recliner on its side with your feet facing outwards, you would see that same 90-degree angle.
Step 6. If the level is not at 90 degrees, move it until you can see a straight line from one end of the level to where your feet are facing, and then hold it steady for 30 seconds.
Step 7. Place that same side arm out again so you can keep balance while holding the level next to your body. Keep reading to follow these steps for the other side.
What is Aligning a Recliner?
Aligning a recliner is the act of adjusting it so that both the back and seat are at an equal height. This ensures that as you sit in your chair, there won’t be pressure points on either side of you which can cause discomfort to last for hours after sitting and could potentially lead to developing serious medical conditions like sciatica.
Aligning a recliner can also improve the quality of your sleep. When you have pressure points on both sides, it disrupts the natural flow of blood and oxygen to different parts of your body which affects how well you rest when sitting in this chair for hours at night.
How Do You Level A Recliner?
There are two different ways to align a recliner. The first way is the easier way because you can do it without any tools and just by using your hands but takes longer:
Place one hand on the back of the chair seat, placing pressure down with your palm so that it pushes into the top of the frame
With the other hand, grab the front of the frame and pull it up until your arms are straightening
Once you feel resistance like a click or locking in place then release the pressure from both hands.
The second way is done with a wrench:
Place one hand on either side of the recliner’s rocker base (the base that the chair rocks on)
With your other hand, tighten or loosen each bolt until it is level with the floor.
How to Fix a Recliner that Won’t Recline?
Step 1. The first step to fixing a recliner is identifying the problem. Sometimes, it’s easy to spot an issue on your own – like if you notice that one of the feet is bent or broken. Other times, this can be harder and require some small troubleshooting. To do so:
Step 2. Check and see how tight the recliner’s bolts are. If they’re loose, tighten them up with a ratchet or wrench.
Step 3. Check and see how tight the springs in your legs of the chair are by pulling on one end to see if it moves freely without resistance from the other side. Tighten any that need tightening accordingly.
Step 4. Inspect for worn pieces that might need replacing.
Step 5. In the case of a recliner that won’t stay in an upright position, inspect the locking mechanism on both sides to make sure it’s engaged properly and can be moved up or down without any resistance.
Step 6. Inspect for loose screws – at these points follow as per above instructions: tighten with wrench/ratchet.
Step 7. Inspect the springs, and replace any that are worn or don’t have enough tension. In this case follow as per the above instructions: tighten with ratchet/wrench.
Step 8. Check for kinks in ropes that might need to be loosened by moving them left/right (see diagram below).
Benefits of Aligning a Recliner
You can experience increased comfort when you are sitting in a chair or laying on it.
Your back will be more supported, which increases your spine health and alignment.
It is easier to move around a recliner that has been aligned correctly because its front feet aren’t tilted from one side to another. This decreases the risk of tipping.
It’s easier to get in and out of the chair without worries about being too close or far from it.
Can I Align a Manual Recliner?
You cannot align a manual recliner. The only way to adjust the front feet of a recliner is by tightening or loosening nylon ropes around the chair’s legs.
If you have some slack in one rope, pull it tight and try another loose rope if there are multiple lines available on each side. In this case, follow as many steps as you can.
If your recliner is not manual, then the manufacturer’s instructions or the owner’s manual will tell you how to make adjustments and align it properly. To find these manuals online, enter the model number into Google for a PDF file of directions.