A squeaky chair when leaning back can be annoying. These squeaky sounds are always announcing your every move to everyone in the office and make it very difficult to go and sneak a cup of coffee or a couple of snacks during work hours. Those squeaky noises can also be very disruptive.
This is a common issue for cheap office chairs that might not be designed to hold your weight. Ideally, you should opt for an office chair for a heavy person. But if you can’t afford a new chair right now then there are quite a few things you can do to eliminate these noises.
In this guide, we are going to take a look at the best ways to get rid of those unpleasant sounds.
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Why is My Chair Squeaky when Leaning Back?
The squeaking noises coming from your gaming chair when you lean against the backrest can be caused by a number of things. Here is a quick look at the most common causes of the annoying noise of a squeaky office chair.
- The parts might be rubbing against each other when you apply pressure to the backrest. These noises can be produced by the castor wheels, the area between the chair base and footrest, or the metal posts in the backrest itself.
- The sounds could be produced by movement when loose bolts or screws move out of place when you apply pressure on the backrest.
- The seat tension turn knob and top part of the gas cylinder could be worn out or dry.
- The gas cylinder could be worn out or might need lubrication.
How to Fix a Squeaky Chair When Leaning Back
If you want to eliminate all of those strange sounds coming from your desk chair then you should give the following methods a try.
Tighten Loose Screws
Loose screws and bolts in the backrest and in the swivel chair base could be caused by loose screws and bolts. Grab a screwdriver or a hex key that is compatible with the bolts or screws in your chair. Now firmly tighten up all the screws and bolts you see. Pay close attention to the bolts in the chair base and backrest since these are the areas the annoying sounds are most likely coming from.
Lubricate the Chair
If tightening all the bolts doesn’t solve your squeaky desk chair issue then it might be time for some lubricant. Go and get a light machine oil or a spray lubricant like WD40 as well as old clean cloth. Now follow these steps to lubricate the chair.
Turn the chair upside down so you can access all the moving parts of your quality chair.
Now grab the lubricant and add a bit of oil to all moving parts. Pay extra attention to the seat-tension springs, loose joints, caster wheels, tension control knob, height adjustment area, and backrest components.
Take your loose cloth and wipe away excess lubricant so these oils won’t discolor or stain your chair upholstery.
Use Your Chair Gently
Chairs can also become squeaky when certain parts and components become worn down. The best way to prevent your ergonomic chair from becoming squeaky is by using it gently. Sit down slowly in the chair instead of falling down onto the seat. You should also lean back gracefully instead of forcing your weight into the backrest.
Gentle movements can greatly prevent those loud noises and will also keep your chair in good condition for longer.
Replace Worn-Out Parts
Some of the parts in your chair can become worn out over years of frequent use. The two components that are most likely to produce sounds when worn out are the caster wheels, the chair gas cylinder, and the chair base.
These parts can be purchased online and can be replaced with great ease. Turn your chair upside down and inspect it carefully to see which parts are worn out.
If the casters are worn out then it might be time to replace the entire wheel. You can also buy a new pneumatic gas cylinder and replace the broken one without too much effort. If the chair base is all bent or damaged then it might be time for a new chair.
What to Do if My Chair Won’t Stop Squeaking?
If your old chair is still producing lots of loud noises despite lubricating it, using it gently, and replacing broken parts then there is only one thing left to do.
You should find an office chair that suits your body type and body weight. Even the highest quality chairs in the world will squeak loudly when their weight limit is exceeded because the excess weight is causing damage to components or bending the chair base out of place. If you keep using your current chair, it is very likely to break soon.
The best thing you can do is switch to an office chair for a heavy person. These chairs have a stronger base and can handle much greater weight. When you sit down and lean back in a chair that has a large weight limit, the parts aren’t likely to bend or shift at all, and the chair won’t produce any sound.
If you are certain that your current chair can handle your body weight then the ergonomics might be to blame. In this case, you will need to look for an ergonomic chair with lots of adjustable features. Ideally, the chair you choose should have adjustable lumbar support so your back will be fully supported without leaning as far back into the chair. Your chair should also have a recline function so it can angle backward without bending out of place.
Final Thoughts
There are many things you can do to fix a squeaky chair when leaning back. But for most people, it is much better to invest in a higher quality chair that suits their preferred sitting position and working conditions. On ChairsWiki, everyone can find a good quality office chair or shop for chairs for other parts of their home. With the right chair, you can enjoy all the comfort in the world without any annoying sounds to disturb your peace.
