If your chair keeps sinking after you adjust it, there are a few things you can try to get it back up to your preferred height. But first, you must know what is causing the problem.
1. The Pneumatic Cylinder
One of the most common causes for a desk chair to keep sinking is a broken pneumatic cylinder. These are used to control the height of your office chair through pressurized air. The cylinders are often worn out and damaged over time, making it impossible to maintain enough pressure on the seat.
A properly working cylinder uses Nitrogen gas to switch between different pressure levels, so that you can easily adjust the chair up or down. However, if the cylinder’s valve seal becomes worn and leaks, the chair will continue to sink even after you adjust it.
2. A Hose Clamp Fix
Another quick and easy way to fix a chair that keeps sinking is to put an adjustable hose clamp around the cylinder piston at the desired height. This will prevent the cylinder from sliding and give you fixed and permanent results.
You will need a hose clamp, duct tape, and a metal cylinder that fits perfectly on top of your chair’s cylinder. If you have access to a drill or saw, you can use that instead of a hose clamp. You can also wrap a few layers of duct tape over the surface to provide some additional grip.
3. A Pipe Fix
If your cylinder is too long, you can change it with a piece of pipe that is slightly bigger than the cylinder itself. This will help to increase the height of your cylinder and make it easier to adjust.
The key here is to make sure that the pipe covers the entire cylinder, from the wheelbase to the seat. If you don’t, you will have to re-do the procedure, which can be tricky!
4. A Plastic Spacer
Another way to fix a sinking office chair is to use a piece of plastic spacer to hold the cylinder up. This will require a bit of work to cut the spacer down the center and secure it around the cylinder piston. This is a more difficult fix than the duct tape method and will only work for a few days, before it starts to slide again.
5. A Cylinder Replacement
If your chair still sinks after trying the hose clamp and spacer fixes, it may be time for a new cylinder. You can buy a replacement cylinder from your chair’s manufacturer. It will be less expensive than buying a brand-new chair and it should fit most desk chairs.
It’s important to follow the instructions carefully so that you can replace the old cylinder without damaging it. The cylinder should come with a removal tool to help you detach it. You can also add a lubricant like WD-40 to the new cylinder before placing it in place to ensure that you have a smooth connection.
