Office Chair Fixes – Fast!
Many people feel a bond with their office chairs. With all the shapes, colors, and styles available, no other piece of office furniture feels quite so personal or unique.
Ideally, your office chair will be with you for years. But what if something goes wrong? Don’t let one of these fixable mishaps send your trusty office chair out to the curb.
The Mystery Bolt
Discovery: You find a bolt on the floor underneath your office chair.
Cause: Repetitive movements, wear and tear, regular chair use.
The Problem: Since most office chairs have many connecting points, you may not notice a missing bolt or two. However, even one missing bolt puts more stress on the remaining bolts and can strip connections, damaging your office chair.
The Fix: If you find even one loose bolt, it’s time for some simple maintenance. With either a Phillips or flathead screwdriver, check the tightness of all your chair bolts. Make sure each is in properly. As you work, you should come upon the empty bolt hole. Screw your bolt back in and tighten it.
The Stripped Bolt
Discovery: A loose part or a rattling noise signals a bolt that won’t tighten.
Cause: Strain, repetitive movement, normal wear and tear, improper installation, rough use.
The Problem: A bolt becomes stripped when the bolt’s threads (the ridges on the bolt’s base that allow the bolt to screw into the bolt hole) are worn down or broken, and the bolt is no longer effective. This puts more strain on the rest of your office chair and may cause important parts to break or come loose.
The Fix: Make sure your bolt is stripped, and not the bolt hole. You can check this by unscrewing another working bolt on your office chair and making sure it works in the bolt hole. Take your stripped bolt to the local hardware store. A clerk there can help you find one that matches. Take your new bolt back to your office chair and install it.
The Squeak
Discovery: When twisting, leaning, or rolling, your office chair makes an undue amount of noise.
Cause: Wear and tear, repetitive movement, and even your office chair’s age may contribute to friction, settling, and/or a drying out of lubricated parts, all of which may cause unpleasant noise.
The Problem: Squeaky chairs can be incredibly annoying, especially in quiet offices and in close quarters with co-workers. While squeaks may signal damaging friction and should be fixed, they are more likely to inflict mental torture than hurt your office chair.
The Fix: Locate the section making the noise. Common culprits are the moving or swiveling parts along the wheel base, under the seat, and along the back. Take a bottle of spray lubricant (WD-40, oil, silicone, or an equivalent product, all found at your local hardware or super store) and apply it sparingly to the squeaky part. Work the part around, let the lubricant sit for a few minutes, and test it. If the squeaking doesn’t lessen, try another application. If the squeaking still doesn’t go away, apply the lubricant to the surrounding joints and repeat the process.
The Quicksand Chair
Discovery: Without touching the height adjustment, your office chair starts sinking.
Cause: The chair’s gas cylinder mechanism (usually concealed in the center chair support) has malfunctioned.
The Problem: Working at the wrong height puts strain on your body, leaving you with aches and pains. If your office chair suddenly plummets, it can even be a safety risk.
The Fix: The office chair’s gas cylinder needs to be replaced. Depending on the uniqueness of your office chair model and your general level of handiness, you may be able to order a replacement and install it yourself. Contact the manufacturer and inquire about the availability of a replacement.
Please Note: Many office chairs are constructed with custom-built parts, including gas cylinders. This means that a generic gas cylinder may not fit your office chair. If you do decide to make the replacement yourself, consult your owner’s manual and the manufacturer for resources.
Caster Collapse
Discovery: Usually a sudden, violent tilt to one side alerts you to a broken caster (office chair wheel).
Cause: An unevenly or over-weighted office chair, wear and tear, a bad caster.
The Problem: One bad caster will drag down the rest of your office chair, effectively rendering it immobile.
The Fix: Consult your owner’s manual for your office chair’s precise assembly instructions. If the casters are not permanently attached (most are not), turn the office chair over and unscrew or pop out the caster. If the casters stick, try adding a few drops of lubricant to aid removal. Higher-end replacement casters may need to come from the chair’s manufacturer, but many hardware and office stores offer standard replacement casters. Bring the broken caster with you when you make your purchase to make sure you get the right size and type. Install your replacement caster.
Stiff or Stuck Casters
Discovery: Your office chair begins to stick or rolls sluggishly.
Cause: The office chair’s casters are dirty, clogged, or damaged.
The Problem: Clogged and stuck casters limit your office chair’s movement. They may also cause you to push and pull too hard when you attempt to move your office chair, which can eventually cause them permanent damage.
The Fix: Turn the office chair on its side and examine each caster. (If any casters are broken or crushed, follow the ‘Caster Collapse’ steps to replace them.) Make sure the problem isn’t with the flooring—some casters will catch on shaggy carpeting. To clean dirty casters, dampen a cloth with a solution of mild detergent and warm water. Rotate the caster wheels against the cloth until they come away clean. Wipe down the caster’s outside and exposed areas. Use a dampened cotton swab to clean the difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies of the caster.
If the caster is clogged with hair or carpet fibers, use a fine-pointed pair of scissors to trim away the tangles. Matted hair also may be easily dissolved with a depilatory (hair removal) cream found in the health and beauty aisle of your local store. However, be cautious regarding the use of these creams; they could end up permanently staining your chair and flooring. (First test the cream on a unobtrusive part of the caster to determine whether it will stain.) To use this method, remove the casters from the chair. Take them to a well-ventilated area near a sink. Apply the depilatory cream directly to the hair clog with a cotton swab. In just a few minutes, the hair should begin to dissolve. Rinse away what you can of the hair clog and reapply, if necessary. When the hair is gone, make sure to thoroughly wash the cream from the caster, or else it could end up staining your floors. (Warning: Hair removal creams are powerful - wear protective gloves and follow the warnings on the packaging, or you might accidentally lose some of yours.)
If a piece of debris, such as a small rock, is jamming your caster, try ‘flossing’ it out by threading a pipe cleaner behind it. While holding either end of the pipe cleaner, pull and twist until the debris works free. When you’ve finished cleaning, dry the caster thoroughly (hint: a hairdryer will take care of hard-to-reach moisture) and apply lubricant to the caster’s moving parts. Reinstall your caster.
Don’t See Your Fix Listed?
Unfortunately, even the best office chairs have a limited shelf life. While a great many can be repaired, chair failures like a split back or seat may be fatal.
The good news is that broken office chairs may often be recycled or repurposed. If you work in an office with similar chairs, save good spare parts so that you might save other office chairs. If you’re handy, you could also experiment with modifying broken task chairs for use as footrests or makeshift copy paper dollies.
And don’t be afraid when it’s time to replace your broken office chair—today’s consumer has more choices than ever, with most office chairs available in a wide array of colors and designs that fit every budget.
