You can fix an office chair that won’t stay up in three simple ways. The most straightforward fix is attaching a hose clamp to the cylinder. If seeking a cheaper method, use PVC
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer, after polyethylene and polypropylene. About 40 million tonnes are produced per year.
- Use a Hose Clamp. One of the most common solutions to fix an office chair is to use a hose clamp. ...
- Adjust the Chair to the Height You Want. ...
- Grab the Cylinder and Wrap the Hose Clamp Around It. ...
- Tighten the Hose Clamp. ...
- Test the Chair.
How often should you replace an office chair?
What will impact the lifespan of an office chair?
- Materials. Office chairs can be made of various materials, including vinyl , mesh, leather, ultra-leather, woven materials, knitted materials, and plastic.
- Environment. It goes without saying that an office chair used in a dusty and dirty environment may not last as long as a chair used in a cleaner space.
- Frequency of Use. ...
How to adjust your office chair correctly?
- Chair Height When you first get your office chair, you should set it to the tallest height that it will go to. ...
- Adjust The Lumbar position If the chair has the option for you to do so, you should next adjust the lumbar support. ...
- Alter the Recline Some office chairs give you a tilt feature. ...
- Adjust the Armrests Not all office chairs have armrests. ...
How to fix an office chair that won't stay up?
How to Fix an Office Chair That Won’t Stay Up (5 Steps)
- Step One: Prepare the Chair. In many cases, office chairs have a piece of plastic covering the metal part of the chair that holds it up.
- Step Two: Adjust the Height. ...
- Step Three: Apply the Hose Clamp. ...
- Step Four: Tighten the Clamp. ...
- Step Five: Test the Chair. ...
How do you repair an office chair?
- Restore the shaft: this is the least effective solution. Still, it’s the easiest and worth a try. ...
- Replace the shaft: this might sound like a scary thing to do yourself, but it’s actually easy. ...
- Block the shaft: this approach is to put a sort of blockage so that your office chair can’t sink anymore. ...
How do you fix office chair that doesn't go up or down?
If you have an office chair that won't go up or down, this is the problem. Usually, the culprit is a faulty gas cylinder or lift mechanism. Instead of replacing the entire chair, you may attempt to get a new gas cylinder and replace it yourself. Alternatively, opt for a professional chair repair service.Dec 27, 2018
How do you raise a stuck office chair?
Get someone to hold down the base of the chair on the ground. Have another person lift the height lever while pulling the chair up with great force to the highest position.Dec 13, 2018
Why won't my office chair go back?
If your tension adjustment knob is set too high, this means there is too much tension on the mechanism that it will seem almost impossible to push your chair back into recline. To fix this, you will simply need to turn the tension adjustment knob counterclockwise until you are able to recline your chair.May 4, 2020
How do I make my office chair go up and down?
0:122:36How To Adjust Office Chair Height-Full Tutorial - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd once my weight is off of the chair. I am then going to press and hold this down it will then useMoreAnd once my weight is off of the chair. I am then going to press and hold this down it will then use the hydraulic. Pressure to raise the chair up so check this out okay so i'm off of the chair.
How do you raise the height of a chair?
Replacing or adding a seat cushion may be the simplest and safest way to increase the chair's height. A high-density foam cushion wrapped in cotton batting offers firmness to aid in rising from the chair and a layer of softness on the surface for comfort.
Why do office chairs lean back?
By reclining the chair back, gravity does the work, keeping the chest and shoulders open and the neck and chin upright. Reclining is Good for Back Pain. When sitting for prolonged periods, without breaks, or under excessive compression, the body may lose synovial fluid, causing them to develop arthritis.Apr 14, 2021
How do you fix a desk chair?
0:000:30Fix Your Sinking Desk Chair with These Simple Steps - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce the chair is at the right height wrap a hose clamp around the metal cylinder. And tighten it asMoreOnce the chair is at the right height wrap a hose clamp around the metal cylinder. And tighten it as much as possible. So it holds the chair in place.
How do I get my chair back?
0:201:30How to adjust your Tilter chair mechanism - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf the chair tilts too easily or requires a lot of effort to tilt adjust the tilt tension to loosenMoreIf the chair tilts too easily or requires a lot of effort to tilt adjust the tilt tension to loosen turn the knob clockwise. To tighten turn the knob.
What does the knob under my chair do?
Well, the 'tension' feature is a knob which can be adjusted to increase or decrease the force needed to tilt. So, a tension tilt feature essentially allows you to decide how much you want to recline on a chair, and how much force is needed to do so.
What happens if your chair is too low?
If your seat is positioned too low, you will end up bending your upper body more while attempting to get up, which in turn causes increased stress on your hips, knees, and ankle joints. With prolonged use, a lower-level seat will cause recurrent stresses and possible pain in these joints.
How do you lower a chair without a lever?
1. Turn Chair in Clockwise and Anticlockwise directionStand up from the Chair.Start turning your chair in clockwise direction slowly. ... If the height of chair starts decreasing while you are moving in clockwise, then start turning it in anticlockwise direction until it reaches the desired height.May 15, 2021
How does a lever work on a chair?
The lever triggers the cylinder to lift the chair up. So, you can easily see how a tiny bit of malfunction in lever’s work can ruin the whole system for your chair. And this is EXACTLY what happens a lot of times. So, check for that first. If the system seems out of place, reach for the lever and adjust it a bit.
How to solve a problem?
The first step in solving a problem is to find the core reason behind it. When you know what’s wrong with something, it’s easier to fix the error; and it’s more accurate when you’re dealing with a chair that won’t go up.
Do you have to learn physics to keep a chair standing?
Nope, you don’t have to learn complicated laws of physics to keep your chair standing on its place. Understanding the structure is everything you need to restore the support you want, and it can be done by following a few easy steps.
How to replace cylinder on office chair?
Then, gently tap the base away from the chair with the removal tool that came along with your office chair cylinder replacement kit.
How to adjust a chair seat?
Step 1: Adjust the protective plastic skirt up or down around the cylinder before setting the chair to your preferred height. It’s important to get this right because once this process is done, your seat will no longer be adjustable. Try to adjust your seat about level with your knees while standing.
What is the first thing to go in an office chair?
One of the first things to go in an office chair is the pneumatic gas lift cylinder that keeps your seat adjusted to the right height.
How to make a chair with PVC pipe?
First, use your saw or cutting tool to cut the PVC pipe lengthwise (it’s helpful to hold the pipe in place with your vice). Next, adjust the plastic skirt on your chair either up or down , whichever way reveals the cylinder. Then, snap the pipe over the cylinder by pushing the slit side over it.
Why is my office chair not going up?
Sometimes, the cause of an office chair not going up or down is a fault in the lift mechanism, rather than the cylinder itself. In this case, the problem usually lies with the lever not pressing the button on top of the gas cylinder that allows the chair to move up and down. You can sometimes fix this type of fault yourself just by moving ...
How to remove gas cylinder from column?
Using a wrench, remove the gas cylinder from the column. You may need to use some lubricant (such as WD40 or Q20) and give it a twist or a tap if it’s being stubborn.
Can you replace a gas cylinder in an office chair?
Replacing the gas cylinder is relatively straightforward, but you must make sure you buy a replacement that exactly matches the old one, otherwise it won’t fit. Take the old one with you when you go and buy the new one to ensure you get the correct size. Once you’ve purchased a suitable replacement, you can fix an office chair ...
Why won't my office chair go up?
If you have an office chair that won't go up or down, this is the problem. Usually, the culprit is a faulty gas cylinder or lift mechanism. Instead of replacing the entire chair, you may attempt to get a new gas cylinder and replace it yourself.
How to lower a chair?
How To Use. To lower seat, place your full weight on the chair, and engage actuator lever or button (the lever is always on the right side towards the back.) The chair will lower gradually. When the desired height is reached, release the actuator. To raise the seat, shift your weight to your feet. Engage actuator.
What happens when a chair is too low?
If the chair is too low, a lever releases the friction clamp, letting the piston come up, raising the chair against the chair's weight. Basically, the gas cylinder and piston give it a low resistance spin and allows it to spin infinitely in any direction because it is all resting on the piston.
How to raise a chair to the height?
Place one foot against the chair's base to prevent the base from turning. Turn the chair clockwise to lower or counterclockwise to raise the height. Spin the chair until the measured height is reached.
Why Does Your Chair Keep Sinking?
You may have a gas loss problem if your computer chair isn’t staying up. On many occasions, chairs lose gas and refuse to stay up.
Is It Possible to Fix a Sinking Chair?
Fortunately, it is possible to fix a sinking chair. You can do it yourself if your computer chair isn’t getting up.
How to Know When You Need to Buy a New One
On some occasions, you might not be able to fix an office chair. Your chair is just like any other item. That means that you need to eventually replace it.
Pros and Cons of Fixing Your Office Chair
You get both benefits and disadvantages when you fix an office chair. The following are the pros and cons of fixing your office chair.
Keynote Takeaways
It’s possible to fix your office chair on many occasions. Nonetheless, you need to learn the right process to succeed. Once you have mastered the steps, it is time to try them!
Why won't my office chair lift?
If your office chair keeps sinking or won’t lift, it’s due to the loss of its gas lift mechanism. You can fix a sinking chair by replacing the gas cylinder, using a Chair Saver Kit, a Plastic spacer (or PVC pipe), or a hose clamp (or a jubilee clip) and duct tape combination. All these are DIY solutions. Before you think of throwing out that office ...
Why does a chair sink?
The lever is again used to lock the desired height. A chair keeps sinking because the seal inside the gas cylinder becomes weak and lets the nitrogen gas out.
What is a chair saver kit?
The Chair Saver Kit is a cheap option to the gas cylinder which can get your chair in working condition in no time. It’s a series of rings which you snap on the piston of the current gas cylinder lift. This way, you can lift the seat then the rings will support it in place at a desired height.
How long will a gas cylinder last in an office chair?
When done properly and with a quality gas cylinder, your chair will be in good working condition for at least 6 years more. To be safe, go with the brandname of your particular office chair to the store to determine the right gas cylinder to buy.
How to put a spacer on a cylinder?
In one, you remove the part of the piston connected to the seat of the chair then insert the pipe and screw it back. In the second method, you cut the pipe along its length, open it up then insert it on the cylinder piston.
Why does the Office Chair Fail to Stay Up?
To fix the issue, it is essential to understand why this issue occurred and how the mechanism works in chairs.
How to fix a Sinking Office Chair
Several methods are used to fix the issue, including the hose clamp method, PVC pipe method, and jubilee clip method. We’ll discuss each process one by one.
Final Thoughts
Hence, a sinking and dysfunctional chair can be a headache for you and significantly reduce your productivity. But as we have mentioned that there are some innovative and easy solutions to repair your chair. You can use any of these methods, and it depends upon your available resources.
Step One: Prepare the Chair
In many cases, office chairs have a piece of plastic covering the metal part of the chair that holds it up.
Step Two: Adjust the Height
You don’t want to spend an eternity fixing the chair every day because it is at the wrong height, so make sure to adjust the chair before you ever put the clamp on.
Step Three: Apply the Hose Clamp
Once you have it at the height you need, wrap some duct tape around the metal part of the chair you have exposed. This will give the clamp some extra grip.
Step Four: Tighten the Clamp
Double check that you have the chair at the right height for you and that the duct tape is snug against the metal.

Understanding The Pneumatic Gas Lift Cylinder
Methodology
- While researching this article, RAVE consulted DIY office chair authorities all across the internet. Our objective was to filter out their advice to present only the easiest and most effective ways to fix a sinking office chair, with minimal tools required. These are the solutions for the anti-DIY-er, the person who has to think for a moment before reaching for a Philip’s head screwdriver and a r…
How to Fix An Office Chair That Won’T Stay Up
- PVC Pipe Method
Tools required: PVC Pipe, a saw (or some other method to cut the pipe), a vice, and a tape measure. - Jubilee Clip Method
Tools required: A Jubilee clip or hose clamp (a common device used for retaining hosepipes on taps; you can find these at most hardware stores). What’s important is that your Jubilee clip is long enough to wrap all the way around the cylinder of your chair at about three-quarters of an in…
Replacing The Cylinder
- However, there is a third option to fix a sinking office chair, and that’s to replace the cylinder entirely.Replacement office chair cylindersare available from Amazon. These kits include the following: 1. Instructions 2. Gloves 3. Removal tool 4. Heavy-duty gas lift hydraulic/pneumatic piston Afraid this might be too difficult and time consuming for you? Or that you won’t be able t…