How To Fix An Office Chair That Won’t Stay Up

There’s nothing more frustrating than a fancy ergonomic mesh office chair that won’t stay up. You know that sinking feeling. You need to be at the proper height level to work comfortably and efficiently. But we get it, new ergonomic office chairs like a top-rated consumer reports office chair are expensive and it can be time-consuming searching for the perfect new office chair. So you may want to fix your sinking office chair that you have. We get it. That’s why we have some tips for how to fix an office chair that won’t stay up.

How To Fix An Office Chair That Won’t Stay Up – The Pneumatic Cylinder

Most task chairs have lift mechanisms with a pneumatic cylinder that uses pressurized air which allows you to control the height of the chair.  Even if it is the best office chair under 100. This cylinder usually has retaining clips at the bottom. The pneumatic cylinder makes the chair to raise or lower to support your weight. Sadly, this is a common failure point mechanism of an office chair, Often, the seal gets damaged so that it can’t hold pressure in the way that it should. You can buy cylinder replacements, but for the cost, you may as well buy a brand new chair. And since not everyone has the extra scratch to do that, we have some tips to fix this.

Fix An Office Chair Using The Hose Clamp Method

One common fix for a sinking chair is the hose clamp. Otherwise known as a jubilee clip. These are usually used to secure hoses onto pipes, creating a seal. You’ve probably seen them used on cars and in plumbing. You’ll need some duct tape and a screwdriver here too.

Setting the chair to your preferred height that you want, hold the chair and wrap some duct tape around the uppermost part of the gas lift cylinder. Then fit the clamp into place and tighten the hose clamp with the attached screw. Now comes the moment of truth. Sit on the chair and test it. Lastly, enjoy your seat at the proper height and say goodbye to that sinking desk chair. You just learned how to fix an office chair that won’t stay up.

Use A PVC Pipe To Fix A Sinking Office Chair

Another fix involves a PVC pipe that is about the same size as the cylinder on your chair but is a bit wider. You will also need a tape measure, a saw to cut the PVC and a vice.

Once you have a PVC pipe that matches the height of your chair’s cylinder, with a slightly larger diameter, you are ready to begin. You will be sliding the plastic over the top of the office chair cylinder. It needs to be long enough to cover the cylinder from the seat to the wheel base when the chair is set at the height you want.

Secure the PVC pipe in a vise and use your saw to cut down the length of the pipe on one side. Then you simply insert the side with the slit around the cylinder to attach it. The idea is that the pipe will hold the chair in place and stop the ergonomic chair from falling lower. Some people have trouble getting the pipe onto the cylinder and if this is the case, I recommend cutting it into shorter pieces and doing it again.

The PVC pipe method lets you adjust the height easily if you need to by adding or taking away some pipe.

If you want an even easier solution try the popular chair saver kit. Also, keep in mind the best office stability chair, could mean the difference between a slouched back and an active, engaged core to improve alertness and concentration on tasks.

Bottom Line

A faulty computer chair can be very frustrating, especially when your chair keeps sinking, but it doesn’t mean that you have to rush out and buy a new chair just yet. Even if you can find a cheap task chair. Desk chairs do tend to break down after a few years. These methods allow you to live with the chair longer and get a better value for your money. And that is something we can all appreciate. Heck, maybe you can tackle your kitchen chairs next and give them a fix now that you are feeling handy.