Having a revolving chair in your office can be fun until it starts making noise.
Every time you move sitting on the chair, you’ll hear a squeak, which can irritate you.
This can even become one of the reasons for lacking behind in your office work when your squeaky office chair becomes super annoying.
You don’t have to worry about it because this article is about stopping office chairs from squeaking.
It’s high time you think seriously about this problem before it becomes a headache.
I will provide a detailed guide to fixing your squeaky office chair; just keep reading!
Source of the noise
Before we jump on to the solutions, one very important thing is that we should know about the problem.
Carefully observe the source of the noise.
While sitting on the chair, try to concentrate on the main part of the chair that’s creating all the noise.
An office chair is made up of different individual pieces that are fastened together tightly.
Because the office chair is used for sitting and that too for long hours, it has to bear a lot of weight throughout its lifetime.
When you lean forward, lean backward or swing around on the chair, all the rusty parts, nuts, bolts and screws undergo a lot of pressure.
This continuous pressure and weight can become the source of the noise.
This annoying squeaky noise will not only disturb you but also become very irritating for all your colleagues.
And obviously o you won’t like it if all your colleagues come to your table with a complaint.
As for the source of noise, most probably it can be due to the friction of moving parts like screws, bolts and nuts.
If this is the main problem, then only some oiling and lubrication will work.
Fastening of nuts, screws, and bolts
Most probably, the reason behind the squeaky office chair can be the problem with the fastening of nuts, screws and bolts.
If they are not fixed together properly, your office chair will produce noise.
To ensure the problem lies in the nuts, screws and bolts, you must flip the office chair over any ragged old newspaper.
For this, you don’t need to call any professional; you can just grab a screwdriver and a wrench to tighten up all the loose screws.
Ensure you notice all the loose screws, nuts and bolts and tighten them properly.
If you find any rusty ones, replace them with new shiny ones.
Tightening a rusty bolt or nut will do no good to the office chair.
There are higher chances of getting your office chair to squeak again because of human error.
Tightening the screws and bolts yourself without the help of any machine will make them loose soon.
So for this, you need to take care that you keep noticing when your chair starts making noise again so that you can fix it as soon as possible.
This is because sitting on the same chair daily for long hours and giving it so much pressure will make it produce sounds again.
After you’re done with the fastening and tightening of the screws, nuts and bolts, turn the chair upright and see if the noise is gone or if it persists.
Grease the rusty parts
So this step comes when the noise persists after tightening all the tiny connectors.
Any rusty parts present in the chair will cause it to make noise because rust causes friction and does not allow any part to work smoothly.
So, you must lubricate, grease, or oil all the rusty parts.
Pour a few drops of machine oil on the rusty parts, which will do good.
If you think the rust is too much and grease will do no good, try replacing those parts.
Almost all the parts of an office chair are available easily around the market.
If you can’t buy new parts because your budget is not allowing you to do so, I have a home remedy for you.
Get steel wool and dip it in vinegar.
Thoroughly rub it all over the rusty parts until you see the rust has vanished.
Rubbing will help ease the rust, and as the rust vanishes, the noise will vanish too.
Seat tension springs are also sometimes the main culprit behind the noise.
So make sure you also pay attention to them.
Lubricating fasteners
It’s obvious that the fasteners also make noise when they start getting old and don’t get proper lubrication.
Remove all the fasteners and spray or oil the rust away from them.
When you fix them back, check up on the chair again.
Probably the noise would have gone till now.
Remember that oiling and lubrication will do most of the work if you want to make your squeaky office chair quieter.
Wheels
If the noise persists after all the oiling and lubrication of the nuts, bolts and screws, you need to find out who is the main culprit behind all this squeaking.
The wheels are more likely the offenders, then.
For this now, you must spray and oil the wheels to fully lubricate them.
Usually, you’ll see that the wheels are installed into the chair with the help of a metal post fixed on the top of the wheel.
After continuous usage of the chair for a long period, the metal may start to rust.
When the metal wears down, the wheels loosen themselves from the axle, which causes friction, eventually annoying you by making a continuous irritating noise.
So oil the when carefully, and if you need to remove them, remove them and then install them back to see if the noise persists or it has gone away.
Use glue
Use glue for a more firm attachment of the fasteners.
This is because sometimes the size ratio of the fasteners to chair pieces gets out.
After applying the glue, wait for it to dry before you sit and check for the squeaky noise again.
Look for the squeaks at the back
Sometimes, after all, you’ve done to the office chair, it still squeaks.
Sit on the chair and notice what type of movement on the chair makes the chair make more noise.
For example, if you lean back on the chair and the chair squeaks, then it’s most probably the problem at the back of your chair.
This annoying sound may be because of the continuous tension at the back of the chair.
Pay attention to the area where the spring’s end touches the housing end.
For this, apply lots of oil and lubricate the chair’s tension spring inside the turn knob housing of your chair.
Ask for help
After all that you’ve done and if the chair is still squeaking, ask for help from a colleague or a friend.
Ask him to sit on the office chair for you and sway the chair around.
Now your work is to peek under the office chair to see exactly from where the noise is coming.
When you find that particular area, lubricate it thoroughly.
Now you must feel the difference.
Try replacing it
If all of the above steps fail for you, it’s high time you replace your office chair before it makes you crazy.
Getting a new office chair may be out of your budget, or spending money on an emergency basis may hurt, but your priority should be your mental health.
Getting a new office chair would cost you money, but using the same old squeaky office chair will affect your mental health.
You would never want your office work to suffer merely because of a chair.
So try investing in a new chair to make your life at ease and peaceful.
Trust me; it would be a wise decision.
Conclusion
We have discussed some simple and easy strategies to make your squeaky office chair quieter.
All these steps will not cost you much, and you can easily do them without help from a professional.
After all the other strategies fail for your office chair, replacing it with a new one is the only expensive solution.
Your noisy office chair should not cost you your mental health.
Don’t forget that it is very important to maintain what you use around you; the same is true with your office chair.
Try to keep oiling and lubricating it often to keep it away from rust and friction.
Be gentle; this will make its life longer.
FAQs
1) When should I replace my office chair?
An office chair may be replaced every seven to eight years.
But there is no hard and fast rule regarding this.
If your chair still works fine after using it for more than the mentioned time, you can keep using it.
But obvious wear and tear is a good reason behind replacing your office chair.
A shabby office chair will not look good, and it will also negatively impact your posture.
To ensure your chair does not cause health issues, try replacing it before it gets shabby.
2)What tools do I need to fix a squeaky office chair?
You may need a few basic tools, including a wrench, screwdriver, or pliers, depending on the type of chair and the source of the squeaking.
3)How do I fix loose bolts or screws?
If the squeaking is caused by loose bolts or screws, you can tighten them using a wrench or screwdriver.
Be sure to check all the bolts and screws, including those on the base, armrests, and backrest.
4)How do I lubricate the chair’s moving parts?
To lubricate the chair’s moving parts, you can use a lubricating spray or oil.
Apply the lubricant to the joints and moving parts, such as the wheel axles or the piston under the seat.
5)What should I do if the chair is still squeaking after I’ve tried fixing it?
If the chair is still squeaking after you’ve tightened all the bolts and lubricated the moving parts, you may need to replace some of the components, such as the wheels or bearings.
You can contact the manufacturer or a furniture repair specialist for assistance.