Office Chair Problems - Sorting The 5 Commonest

Office chairs are just like any other piece of equipment, they're great when they're working well, but they can be really frustrating when they're not.

Here are the 5 commonest problems people get with their office chair and how to fix them.

1. Incorrect Office Chair Casters

Most office chairs are supplied with casters for use on carpeted floors which is fine if you use your chair like this. But, if you use you chair on smooth or hard surfaces you could have problems.

You may we find that your chair runs away from you or that the wheels leave marks on the floor, what you need to do is to change the casters to the correct type.

2. Gas Lift Keeps Dropping

This can be quite a common problem and there are a couple of reasons that this may be happening

It could be that the gas lift is worn out and can no longer carry any kind of load. The only answer if this happens is to replace the gas lift component. Here's how you replace a pneumatic gas lift.

Quite often, it can be caused by the height lever being misaligned and being stuck permanently in the lower position. Take a look under the chair and see if it looks as though this is the case and try moving it about to see if that sorts it out.

It helps if there are other chairs of the same model that you can compare it to, however if the chair is some years old, you may have no alternative than to replace it.

3. Office Chair No Longer Reclines

When a chair that previously reclined no longer does so, there's usually a simple solution. Almost always what's happened is that the back position lever or knob has accidentally been engaged into the locked setting.

Office chairs often have 3 or 4 preset positions that the chair can be locked into, what you need to do is try pulling the height control lever out as this often controls this function.

If that doesn’t work, try any other controls and knobs on the chair and see if they release it.

4. Office Chair Gives Static Shocks

Getting a static shock from your office chair can be quite painful and often it’s hard to figure out why it’s happening.

It’s usually caused by the carpets not being of anti-static grade and consequently friction builds up an electrical charge.

Here are some tips on how you can cure it.

Try, mixing some fabric conditioner and water and spray it lightly on the chair’s fabric, but don’t get the fabric too wet.

Some clothes can make matters worse as they create a charge when you move in your chair, so try different clothing and see if that helps.

If you work in an air conditioned office it can make the air very dry which makes static build up more likely. You could try a portable humidifier and see if that helps.

5. Office Chair Tension Incorrectly Adjusted

Whilst not all office chairs have a tilt tension control most of the better ones do, if yours does make sure it’s properly adjusted for your body weight.

The most common type of adjuster is a knurled knob in the middle of the underneath of the chair’s seat. This normally works by increasing the pressure when turned clockwise and reducing it if turned anti-clockwise.

You'll probably need to spend a little time setting it up correctly, and should aim to have a comfortable level of resistance as you lean back. The good thing is once you’ve adjusted you won’t need to alter it again, unless your weight changes significantly.

You will find more information at OfficeChairAdvice.com about these issues and other office chair tips as well as the vital features a good quality office chair must have.