If you work in an office, you might sit in an office chair for an average of 6 or more hours a day. Given a year with about 250 working days, that means that you spend approximately 1,500 hours on the chair each year. It’s no wonder that with this much use, an office chair may begin to show signs of wear and tear. In the process, it may become less comfortable and fail to provide appropriate support for your spine.
A standard office chair includes several components, including a hydraulic cylinder and lever for adjusting its height, wheels and wheel casings, upholstery, tilt, armrests, cushioning and more. To maintain your office furniture, you may need to take specific steps to maintain its components.
Wheels
If the wheels of your office chair are “catching”, rather than providing a smooth “push off”, it may be because the casters, which encase the wheels, have something caught in them. You may be able to clean the casters. However, if dirt or other items have been lodged in a caster for some time, they may have damaged the wheels, which must then be replaced.
It’s important to ensure that you use the right wheels for a particular chair. Wheels with a larger diameter can roll more easily over dirt and grit without picking it up. They also deal more easily with imperfections in flooring, allowing for an easier “push off”, and support more weight. If your office is carpeted, wheels with a rubber strip or coating can help add grip.
General Tightening
The various screws, nuts and bolts that hold the base, wheels, armrests and backrest in position may become loose over time. You may not notice the problems because the loosening is very gradual, but after 1,500 hours of sitting, your chair most likely needs a thorough going over to make sure that all the parts are securely connected.
Height & Tilt
Several signs may indicate that the hydraulic cylinder in an office chair needs to be replaced. If your chair lowers on its own or if using the height pedal makes no change, leaving the seat stuck in either a low or high position, the gas cylinder needs to be replaced. The most likely problem is that a seal is faulty and gas is escaping.
Removal requires some lubricant at the cylinder’s entry point, and some hammering to get the shaft to vibrate so that the lubricant penetrates. However, note that gas in the cylinder is under pressure so it’s important to wear eye protection to ensure safety.
Cleaning & Reupholstering
Depending on how dirty and worn an office chair is, you may need to clean the cover or remove it, clean the cushioning and then reupholster it.
You can clean the upholstery with a vacuum cleaner with an appropriate head-part attached or, for deeper dirt, use a steam cleaner. If you plan to treat stains with a chemical cleaning agent, it’s a good idea to apply some to a small, hidden area first to make sure it doesn’t bleach or otherwise damage the fabric.
Getting the Most out of an Office Chair
A chair that is well assembled and maintained will give you good service for years to come. K-Mark is a smart choice for professional cleaning, repairs, furniture installations and replacements. Our servicing and reupholstering will leave your office chairs as comfortable and attractive as they were when they were brand new.
