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Why Does My Chair Keep Going Down? – Fix Chair Sinking Issue

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You may not agree, but your chair is not a place to park your rear end but a major factor in your productivity at your desk. 

Imagine this: you’ve positioned yourself at the perfect chair height, but your chair keeps sinking. Whether grinding away on that big project or battling with enemies in a multiplayer gaming session, this can be incredibly frustrating and a matter of annoyance. 

You may find yourself asking, “Why me? Why does my chair keep going down?”

If you don’t know the answer, here it is: among various reasons, a core cause of your pneumatic chair sinking may be a faulty hydraulic piston. You can fix your sinking office chair by replacing or repairing the pneumatic chair piston. 

However, there may be other causes as well. How can you know if the hydraulic piston needs repair or replacement? Let’s figure it out.”

Why Does My Chair Keep Going Down? – Tips to Fix Office Chair Sinking

When your chair starts going down by itself, it’s like a never-ending magic show. That’s because your hydraulic piston is losing pressure and becomes unable to remain intact against weight. You can certainly fix a leaking hydraulic piston and in some scenarios, replacement remains the only option. Generally, the piston is categorized in classes. Budget-level ($100-$150 office chairs) to mid-range chairs mostly use class3 hydraulic pistons which is good but doesn’t sustain better than class4. So, here is some advice too: choose a chair with a better class piston.

How to Stop Chair from Sinking – Quick Fixes for Office Chair Sinking

To be honest, it’s not a matter of utmost worry if your office chair is sinking down! I mean, It doesn’t showcase that the whole chair is busted. In fact, there’s a super easy explanation for why this happens. As I Mentioned earlier, it just means that the chair cylinder has lost its lift, but don’t fret, it’s an easy fix!

Here some some techniques to stop chair from sinking;

But before we dive into the different methods, let me share my recommendation. Although some may see it as a last resort, I believe it should be your first priority.

A Permanent Fix – Replace the Hydraulic Cylinder:

Factually, hydraulic pistons are non-repairable. Some hacks and tricks may give you temporary relief, but replacement of the chair piston is the only permanent solution to the chair sinking issue. This is because cylinders may explode when someone makes tweaks to them. So, instead of risking your health with that move, it’s ideal to replace the piston and breathe a sigh of relief.

But how to replace chair hydraulics? Here are quick steps;

  • First things first, flip that chair over so you can access the star-shaped cylinder base. You’ll want to lightly tap the bottom of the cylinder base with a rubber mallet to loosen it up.
  • Next, grab a pipe wrench and clamp it around the top of the cylinder. Give it a quarter turn until you feel some movement, then continue turning counterclockwise until you can pull the cylinder out of the seat. If it’s stuck, don’t be afraid to add some WD-40 to help loosen things up.
  • Now it’s time to prepare the replacement cylinder. Remove the plastic cap from the top and insert it into the 5-star caster base of your chair. Make sure to press down firmly to secure it in place.
  • Once that’s done, it’s time to put the seat back on. Place it atop the inner cylinder and press down firmly to make sure it’s securely in place.

And there you have it – you’ve replaced the cylinder and fixed your sinking chair! Take a seat, adjust the height to your liking, and enjoy your newly refurbished office chair.

IF REPLACEMENT ISN’T YOUR THING – Use Hose, Clamp, and Duct Tape Method:

Replacing the Hydraulic cylinder is definitely a budget-taking process and if it doesn’t suit your circumstances and you still don’t want to see your chair keep going down, here is a quick and alternative remedy for that; known as Hose clamp method (also known as a Jubilee Clip). This involves using a hose clamp to wrap around the cylinder and so prevent your chair from sinking to past a certain point.

However, let me burst a bubble of Joy; it’s important to note that this method to fix the office chair sinking issue has a limitation – once you clamp the hose, the chair won’t be able to move down any further past the clamp point.

If that’s not an issue for you, and you can spend your rest of life with this compromise, let’s take a closer look at the supplies you’ll need and the process to follow.

  • First, you’ll need a hose clamp that’s the appropriate size for your chair’s cylinder, a screwdriver to tighten the clamp, and a marker to indicate where you want to place the clamp.
  • For firmer grip, you can wrap your piston with duct tape.
  • Start by flipping the chair over and locating the cylinder. 
  • Slide the hose clamp onto the cylinder and use the marker to indicate where you want to place it. 
  • Next, use the screwdriver to tighten the clamp around the cylinder, ensuring that it’s firmly in place.
  • And just like that, you’ve successfully fixed your sinking office chair with the hose clamp method. 

Need More Options? Use a Plastic Spacer Method:

If you are much serious about your chair won’t stay up and slide down itself even after the hose and clamp method, there are endless DIYs to apply. So, if the hose clamp method makes you feel “Naah, it’s not my thing,” you can use a plastic spacer method. 

So ideally, You can cut the plastic spacer down the center and wrap it around the cylinder piston to keep it from sinking. Or, if you have an uncut spacer or PVC, you’ll need to take apart the cylinder and slide the spacer on.

But one twist that can turn off your smile is that it only acts as a stopper and will block for any height adjustment. Plus, using plastic or pvc isn’t a long term concrete solution; it is likely to crack or break over time from the stress of sitting in the chair. So, this method may not be the most durable option out there. It’s also important to note that it might not be the best choice if you work in a professional environment where appearances matter.

On the flip side, this method is relatively easy and inexpensive compared to other solutions. So, it might be worth a shot if you’re willing to take the risk of potential cracking or breakage.

My Office Chair Won’t Stay Up After All These Methods! How To Avoid Further Sinkage:

Chair Sinking issues can happen to any pneumatic chair however, avoiding this situation is all in your hands when you carefully pet your comfort and working partner. 

Treat Your Chair with Care: Your chair is not just a piece of furniture but also an important tool that helps you work comfortably for hours. Treat it well by being gentle while sitting down or getting up. If you have kids or pets around, set some ground rules to avoid any accidents or mishaps.

Know the Weight Limit: Don’t overburden your chair. Remember, I mentioned earlier cylinder classes? These are also related to weight capacity. Gas cylinders come in different sizes and weight limits. So, be sure to stay under the weight limit of your particular office chair. Overloading the chair can cause damage to the cylinder and cause sinkage.

Regular Cleaning: Keep your chair in tip-top shape by cleaning it regularly. Dust and debris lead the environmental reaction to form rust. This accumulates in the cylinder and causes it to wear out faster. Wipe down your chair with a damp cloth or a cleaning solution to keep it operating smoothly.

The Bottom Line: 

So, hopefully you got answered to your query, why does my chair keep going down. This is fixable with many DIYs, but for a permanent and safe fix, try to replace your hydraulic piston. And also keep your chair clean to better avoid these issues again and again. Especially, if you are living in a more humid areas, taking care of your chair becomes a foremost duty on your shoulder.