Have you ever wondered, “why does my office chair sink,” especially during a busy day? Generally, office chairs sink because their cylinder has stopped working.
We will help you fix your sinking office chairs, inform you about why they sink, and share with you some tips on choosing a new office chair in this article, so stay tuned. Hopefully we’ll be able to help you with your office chair-related conundrum!
The reason why office chairs sink
Office chairs sink due to a faulty pneumatic system. This malfunctioning does not just happen in old chairs. Sometimes, month-old office seats drop, too.
This is actually a common problem regarding office seats, and it doesn’t mean that you should replace them the moment they sink. It just means that you need to fix the broken mechanism. You will learn more about this as you read the article.
Parts of an office chair
Before learning how to fix the office chair’s broken mechanism, you have to know its parts. This is to make it easier for you to know which part you need to fix.
As mentioned before, this happens due to a faulty pneumatic system in the chair. However, what are the components of a pneumatic chair?
First, you have the wheels of the chair. They can range from three to five rollers to support the person’s weight and let them move around with the chair.
Next, you have the padded back support. This is to make the seat more comfortable sitting in and supporting the lumbar area of the person sitting on the chair.
Another component is the lever on the bottom of the chair, which is meant to adjust the chair’s height. This is important, especially in work settings wherein you have to match your seat height with your desk height.
Lastly, the small gas cylinder that adjusts the chair’s height. This component is the one you need to fix when your chair is sinking.
How Do You Stop It From Sinking?
You don’t need to change your office chair right away; you can quickly fix it using the methods we’ve enumerated below.
Method #1: Use Oil
Sometimes, the reason why your chair sinks is because it lacks lubricant. In this scenario, you can proceed to oil your chair’s joints.
Afterward, check if smoothening them up has prevented your chair from sinking. Otherwise, we recommend you do either of the following two methods.
Method #2: Hose Clamp
Step #1. Prepare materials
You will need a 2cm hose clamp and duct tape.
Step #2. Clean the cylinder
After preparing your materials, move the plastic tube away from the metal cylinder for you to see the latter clearly. Then, clean the metal cylinder.
Step #3. Height
After cleaning the cylinder, decide on your chair’s height because this cannot be adjusted later on. Then, put duct tape on the cylinder to help your hose clamp grip the cylinder better.
Step #4. Hose clamp
After putting duct tape:
- Wrap the hose clamp around the cylinder.
- After this, loosen the hose clamp’s screw and pull the belt end out.
- Tighten the hold of the hose clamp on the cylinder with a screw.
Lastly, test the chair if it is still sinking. If it still drops, you can adjust it by repeating steps #3 to #4.
Method #3: PVC Pipe
Step #1. Prepare materials
You will need a measurement tape, a saw, a PVC pipe, and a vice for this method.
Step #2. Measure
Remove the cylinder’s plastic covering, then measure the cylinder’s diameter. After measuring the diameter, adjust your chair to the correct height, then measure the cylinder’s length after.
Step #3. PVC pipe
Fit the pipe on the cylinder, completely covering from the wheelbase to the seat. Then, slit it lengthwise. Make sure to not cut it in half starting from the center.
For your safety, wear a protective mask. Then, put the slit pipe onto the metal cylinder. If it’s too challenging to do in one go, you can cut the tube into small pieces and snap them on separately.
Step #4. Test
After placing the PVC pipe, test if the chair is still sinking; if the chair is not dropping anymore, then you have done your part!
When should you get a new office chair?
Generally, office chairs last up to a decade maximum. Most of them even have a five-year warranty.
However, sometimes, fixing your office chair does not cut it anymore, especially if your body shows signs of discomfort.
If you regularly experience pains, especially back pain, it may be time to replace your chair. This is because your discomfort may affect your productivity and your health.
Apart from not being great to look at, worn-down chairs may lead to contorting your body to avoid tears and bumps. This, again, leads to improper posture, which would ultimately lead to back pains.
Conclusion
Overall, we think you’re responsible for thinking, “why does my office chair sink,” as it leads to finding solutions. Hopefully, we contributed enough to fixing your office chair for you!