How to Fix a Hydraulic Chair: The Complete Guide
Hydraulic chairs offer the benefit of adjusting your height so that you can sit comfortably throughout the workday. However, it’s normal for hydraulic office chairs to wear down or break with excessive use.
If your chair is sinking, getting stuck at a certain height, or facing any tilt issues, the gas cylinder is likely the problem. Unsuitable chair height can be the cause of your back pain.
Allowing this problem to continue will only cause more pain, discomfort, and distraction. Fortunately, there are ways to fix a hydraulic chair by lubricating the cylinder, covering the cylinder with a PVC pipe, or even replacing the cylinder altogether.
We’ll cover the best solutions to fix a hydraulic chair that is stuck or keeps sinking.
How Does a Hydraulic Office Chair Work
Hydraulic chairs have a gas lift or cylinder filled with liquid, allowing them to adjust the seat height up or down. They contain two chambers; one includes an expandable piston, and the other contains high-pressure in-compressible oil.
When raising the adjustment level, the valve opens, which triggers the fluter to enter the piston chamber. The fluid creates pressure that triggers the piston to raise its height. This force created is strong enough to lift the weight of the piston, causing the seat height to rise.
Hydraulic chairs can be found in all types of furniture, including ergonomic office chairs, recliner chairs, big and tall seats, executive chairs, massage chairs, standing desks, and more. Nowadays, hydraulic chairs are incredibly popular and offer a wide range of movement, including tilt mechanisms.
Why Do Chair Hydraulics Fail?
When hydraulic chairs are used frequently, the components of the cylinder can break down over time. The cylinder can be old and rusty from repeated use, causing the cylinder not to be able to slide up and down.
When the valve is faulty, uncontrolled fluid or gas can leak out from the cylinder. The most common solutions to fixing chair hydraulics are to oil the gas lift, replace the piston or buy a whole new cylinder. Also, you can do temporary fixes by clamping the cylinder or wrapping a PVC around it.
Ways to Fix Hydraulic Office Chairs
There are several ways to fix hydraulic office chairs. Depending on the method you are trying, you’ll need different supplies. We recommend experimenting with each method until you find the one that works best for you.
Lubrication
Lubrication is a great method if your chair sinks only when you sit on it. By lubricating the cylinder, you can prevent fix problems such as squeaking, sinking chair, and rough movements. Rust can be a key contributor to the sinking issue. Moisture in the air or air conditioners can lead to rust.
You can counteract this problem by spraying a WD-40 on the chair. Apply lubricating oils to the gas lift, bolts, nuts, and screw. It’s important to regularly lubricate the joints of your chair every few months to prevent rusting.
Clamp the Cylinder Using a Chair Saver Kit
Chair saver kits are perhaps the easiest and least time-consuming solution available. That’s because it doesn’t take any manual labor or complicated tools. Remember, this method only works for a sinking chair.
These are clamps that you attach to the gas lift to prevent the chair from sliding down. First, you would adjust the cylinder and confirm the height of the chair to be fixed. Then install the metal clips and tighten the screws. These are an easy hack to fixing your sinking chair problem and can be done in under a minute. Also, these chair saver kits can be purchased online through marketplaces like Amazon.
Use a PVC Pipe
You could use a PVC pipe as an alternative to the chair saver kit. This means drilling holes and putting metal screws on the ends. Frankly, this takes extra work since you have to measure and cut the PVC pipe to the specific dimensions of the cylinder.
You can use PVC pipes about 3.8 centimeters or 1.5 inches, which work with the cylinder. Cut the PVC pipe to fit the length of the cylinder. Then adjust the cylinder and have someone hold the cylinder at the desired height. Attached the pipe into the gas cylinder by pressing it onto the cylinder.
Fasten the Gas Cylinder With a Hose Clamp
Similar to the chair saver kit, you can use a hose clamp. Start by turning your chair over and slide off the protective plastic covering to expose the metal cylinder. Then adjust the height to the desired setting.
Wrap duct tape around the top of the metal cylinder to provide a more firm grip, which prevents your chair from sinking. Then you can slide the hose clamp around the gas cylinder and secure it tightly with screws.
When to Replace a Hydraulic Cylinder for Office Chairs
When inspecting the gas cylinder, you may find the hydraulic system damaged. Fortunately, you can replace it without much trouble.
Replacing the cylinder requires need detaching the gas lift using the pipe wrench. You will need to measure the cylinder along with the valve of the hydraulics. Then you can buy the parts of the hydraulic system online.
You may want to consult a hydraulic chair or chair installation expert to ensure that you properly replace the gas cylinder. Use a household cleaner to clean the hydraulic parts and apply a rust penetrant to prevent moisture from making contact with the cylinder.
But when is it time to replace the cylinder? Most chairs will offer warning signs before the cylinder loses its function. Here’s how you know it’s time to replace the cylinder:
When the Cylinder is Rusty
A rusty hydraulic cylinder can be dangerous to you and your surroundings. A gas cylinder that loses its protective layer and no longer has any lubricant means the metal is sensitive to external conditions. Consequently, this can lead to the gas cylinder exploding, which can cause workplace accidents.
When You See a Leak
Gas cylinder leaks are always a bad sign. It means the cylinder is wearing down and can no longer hold the oil. That’s why the cylinder can’t produce enough pressure to raise the chair. Over time, the cylinder will empty, leading to the possibility of explosion or combustion. Therefore it’s easier and safer to replace the cylinder simply.
When the Hydraulic Cylinder is Empty
When the seal wears down from overuse, the gas cylinder oil will begin to leak. An empty hydraulic cylinder can lower easily but struggles to rise.
If the cylinder is completely empty, there’s very little you can do. You could do the quick fixes mentioned, but they are certainly only temporary fixes. Eventually, if you want to adjust your seat height, you’ll need to replace the cylinder.
Tools for Replacing Hydraulic Chairs
Before you can begin to replace your broken hydraulics system, you’ll want to have some tools handy. The tools you’ll need include:
- Rubber mallet: By tapping the center of the base, you can remove the gas lift from the chair.
- Pipe wrench: pipe wrenches are needed to take the gas cylinder off
- Household cleaner: Once you fix the cylinder or replace it, you’ll want to clean up the parts
- Rust Penetrant: Protect your cylinder from rust and grime buildup to prevent the hydraulics from being stuck in the future.
- Replacement cylinder: If the cylinder is broken, you can replace it with a new one.
How to Change the Gas Cylinder of Your Hydraulic Chair
If you need to replace the gas cylinder, then you’ll want to follow the steps below. It’s best to consult with an office chair expert to ensure you’re buying the right gas lift mechanism. You can also contact the office chair manufacturer for instructions on how to replace it.
Wear gloves before starting for protection. Then, spread newspapers or torn garments on the flooring to protect it from stains and impact damage. Finally, flip your chair over on the protected surface to begin.
Step 1: Before trying to disassemble your hydraulic chair, wear gloves and eye goggles for safety. Also, spread torn garments or newspapers on the floor to prevent stains. Next, flip your chair over to begin.
Step 2: Use the pipe wrench on the round part of the cylinder. Twist the wrench to loosen the cylinder gradually. If the cylinder is screwed on, you’ll use a screwdriver to unscrew it.
Step 3: Use the rubber mallet by tapping the center to release the gas lift.
Step 4: If the gas lift is stubborn, spray WD-40 lubricant and let it sit for a little while. Then hit the cylinder using more force to get the cylinder off.
Step 5: Attach the new hydraulic cylinder to the base. Ensure that the cylinder is compatible with your chair and has a suitable height adjustment range.
When Should You Purchase a New Office Chair
If you’ve exhausted all options, including all the solutions above, it’s time to buy a new office chair. Sometimes fixing a chair presents more problems than it’s worth. Sitting in a broken office chair can lead to back pain and distract you from productive work.
While you may want a cheap DIY solution, it may not be worth the trouble. Even if you fix it, there’s a good chance your chair is prone to overuse, leading to parts wearing down. A highly-quality ergonomic office chair can last over a decade, meaning it’s well worth investing in
a new chair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the commonly asked questions pertaining to fixing a hydraulic chair.
Why Does My Hydraulic Chair Keep Going Down?
A sinking chair can be incredibly frustrating. The reason your chair keeps going down is because of a faulty valve. Due to excessive use of your office chair, the seal in the gas cylinder begins to wear out and leak. When the valve no longer has fluid, it can no longer shift up or down or maintain its height, thus causing your office chair to sink.
Can a Wrong Chair Height Cause Health Issues?
Sitting on an office chair with a broken hydraulics system can lead to pain and health problems. Imagine sitting at the lowest setting of your chair all the time.
A low-height chair will cause you to slump into your chair, which can lead to lower back pain. Additionally, it’ll lead to sitting with fully straight legs or cross legs. As a result, the lower to the mid limb may experience numbness, strains, tingling, or leg cramps. A proper sitting position requires your feet to be fully planted on the ground and your knees at a 90-degree angle. Improper posture will inevitably lead to lots of muscle strain and pain.
Can a Hydraulic Chair Be Fixed?
Hydraulic chairs aren’t as complicated as they seem. Whether the gas cylinder is stuck in release or keeps going down, you want to start by lubricating the hydraulics first. Then you can proceed to the various clamping solutions. If this doesn’t fix the issue, you can follow our instructions on replacing the gas cylinder. However, the easy solution would be to replace the entire gas lift.
Can You Refill Your Hydraulic Chair?
Unfortunately, you can’t simply refill your hydraulic office chair when it’s not working. Most gas cylinders have a shelf life of about ten years. However, this can vary depending on your usage. The only option is to attach a PVC around the cylinder or clamp it; otherwise, you need to replace it with another gas lift.
Final Thoughts
It can be downright frustrating to have your hydraulic office chair sinking or stuck at a certain height. You can fix your hydraulic chair by first determining the cause of the problem. Then simply follow the methods above, whether clamping or attaching pipes.
Unfortunately, not all cylinders can be fixed. Replacing the cylinder is the only guaranteed way to fix your hydraulic chair. A quality office chair is well worth the investment since it keeps you comfortable throughout your workday. Therefore, it’s imperative that you fix the problem as soon as possible. We hope this guide has helped you fix the hydraulics problem, and now you can go back to enjoying your comfortable office chair.
