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Investing in an ergonomic chair is important for your health, comfort, and productivity, but sometimes, your chair squeaks. To save money, replacing your chair isn't always necessary; perhaps you just need to inspect it and address the issue.
Causes of Squeaky Office Chairs
Possible Causes:
- Loose screws and bolts
- Worn tilt mechanism, insufficient lubrication
- Faulty air lift cylinder
- Worn or damaged parts
- Dust and debris
Repair Tools
For a quick and effective repair, we need to have the following tools ready:
- Screwdriver set
- Allen wrench
- Lubricant (WD-40)
- Clean cloth or rag
- Gloves
Squeaky Office Chair Repair Steps
1. Determine the Source of the Squeaking Chair
The best way to determine where the squeaking is coming from is to test different parts of the chair.
For example:
- Does the squeaking occur when you sit down and stand up without leaning on the backrest?
- Does the chair squeak when you adjust the height (gas lift)?
- Does it squeak when you adjust the backrest tilt?
- Does it squeak when you adjust the headrest (if you have one)?
- Does the caster squeak only when sliding?
After testing, you can pinpoint the source of the sound to several components. Follow these steps and try them all. This will definitely resolve the issue.
2. Loose Screws and Bolts
After determining the source of the squeaking, you need to turn the chair over. Place the chair base on a table or carpet. A simple way to check for loose screws or bolts in that area is to inspect them. Loose bolts can cause friction or movement in other parts of the chair, resulting in squeaking.
Use a screwdriver and Allen wrench and carefully inspect the screws and bolts in that area. Gently tighten each part again. Don't use excessive force, as this can wear out the chair. Try tightening gently to confirm the loose screws, then tighten them to the desired level.
If any screws or bolts are missing or missing, you can purchase replacements at a hardware store.
3. Tilt Mechanism
Please inspect the gasket on the tilt mechanism to see if it is damaged. Ensure that all screws on the tilt mechanism are securely tightened. Then, following the instructions provided in the pictures and videos, spray WD-40 on the area where the tilt mechanism connects to the backrest. Please apply a generous amount, as the noise may be due to a lack of lubrication. This method usually resolves the issue. We recommend asking someone to assist you during this process. You can sit on the chair and gently lean back to reproduce the noise. While doing this, have your helper spray WD-40 directly onto the area shown in the picture.
Additionally, we suggest spraying WD-40 on the connection area a few times, then leaning the backrest back repeatedly to help the lubricant penetrate the mechanism. After that, apply a bit more WD-40 and repeat the backrest motion.
This process ensures that all parts of the screw and connection area are fully lubricated, helping to minimize or eliminate any noise caused by friction. Continue applying the lubricant until the noise starts to fade.
4. Wheels
If the noise persists after following the above steps, the problem may be with the wheels. The metal rod of the wheel rubs against the wheelbase hole, causing the squeaking sound. We recommend removing all wheels and reinstalling them in different positions to see if the noise changes.
If the noise changes, it's likely caused by the wheels. If it's a Boulies chair, we'll arrange to ship you a set of replacement wheels. If not, you can purchase replacement wheels.
Related Article: How to Disassemble an Office Chair
5. Gas Lift
If there's a squeaking sound when adjusting the chair's height, it's usually due to a gas rod problem and needs to be replaced.
Squeaking may occur with lower-quality gas rods, but Boulies uses top-quality Grade 4 gas rods and heavyweight Grade 3 gas rods, which generally don't cause squeaking. However, if it does occur, please contact us and we'll ship you the correct gas rods (for Boulies Chairs).
Related Article: How to Replace a Gas Lift
6. Clear Dust and Debris
Check for accumulated dust, dirt, or even debris stuck in the office chair's components, causing friction. If so, wipe and clean them, then test to see if the squeaking noise persists.
Related Article: How to Clean and Maintain Your Office Chair
Testing
Repeat the previous steps to test the office chair. If there's no squeaking noise, that's great.
If there is, we have a final solution:
If the noise persists, the tilt mechanism may be the source of the problem. To further assist you, please film a short video demonstrating the noise and send it to the manufacturer. This will help them better assess the issue and, if necessary, provide a replacement tilt mechanism. The more detailed these steps are, the more we can help resolve the issue.
Which Chair to Buy for the Best Guarantee of Service?
Material
- Foam: High-density cold-cure foam
- Gas Lift: CLass 4 Top/CLass 3 Heavy Duty Gas Lift
- Frame: Metal frame
- Casters: Five-star casters (6cm or larger)
Warranty
The warranty should be at least two years, with a clearly detailed warranty.
Summary
We're happy to provide further assistance if needed, so please leave a message or contact us with any questions and we'll be happy to provide you with the best possible service.
