Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Using a hose clamp
• Method 2 of 2: Using a PVC pipe
• Necessities
• Hose clamp method
• PVC pipe method
• Tips
• Warnings

Office chairs use a pneumatic cylinder that determines the height of the chair by means of air pressure. The cylinder on most chairs usually fails after a few years because the seals are too damaged to maintain the pressure. You can buy a replacement cylinder to get the chair back to normal functioning, but that is almost as expensive as replacing the chair. Instead, use these simple DIY methods to secure the chair at a comfortable height.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Using a hose clamp

1. Slide the plastic cover off the cylinder. Most office chairs have a plastic tube over the extendable cylinder. Slide it all the way up or down until you can see the metal cylinder underneath.
2. Adjust the chair to the desired height. After this fix it will not be possible to adjust the height further, so make sure it is correct. The seat of the chair should be level with your knees when you are standing up.
   • Lay the chair on its side if it does not stay upright when no one is sitting on it.
   • You will have to remove the tube first if the plastic tube covers the cylinder at this height. To do this, turn the seat upside down, press the bottom securing clip with a screwdriver, then remove the wheels first, then the sleeve. Then slide the wheels back on.
3. Wrap the hose clamp around the cylinder. Get a 2 cm hose clamp from a hardware store. Loosen the screw on the hose clamp and pull out the strap end. Wrap the clamp around the metal cylinder, but do not tighten it yet.
4. Improve the grip of the clamp (recommended). The clamp must be very tight to keep the chair straight. Provide a better hold for the clamp by wrapping a strip of rubber or several layers of duct tape around the cylinder. Do this at the highest visible point of the cylinder,
   • Alternatively, you can rub this area of ​​the cylinder with sandpaper.
   • Clean the cylinder first if it appears dirty or greasy.
5. Make the clamp as tight as possible. Slide the hose clamp to the top of the cylinder. Double check if the chair is at the correct height. Tighten the hose clamp and secure it by turning the screw.
6. Test the chair. The seat should now not be able to slide lower than the clamp. The built-in height adjustment still won't work at will. If the chair is at the wrong height, you have to move the clamp higher or lower on the cylinder.
   • If the clamp slides off, attach it to a strip of rubber to reinforce the grip, or try the method below with a PVC pipe.

Method 2 of 2: Using a PVC pipe

1. Measure the seat cylinder. Pull the plastic tube over the extendable metal cylinder. Estimate the diameter of the cylinder by holding a ruler horizontally against it. Also measure the length of the cylinder when the chair is at the perfect height.
   • You don't need the exact size, but if you prefer to be accurate you can calculate the diameter of the circumference.
2. Buy a PVC pipe. This tube will fit over the chair's pneumatic cylinder. It should be about the same size as the diameter of the cylinder, or slightly larger. A 3.8 cm diameter tube works well with most models. Buy enough straight tubing to go from the wheelbase to the seat of the chair, when the chair is at the desired height.
   • The tube should not be in one piece. It can be easy to work with smaller pieces, although it is not difficult to cut these yourself at home.
   • One user suggests using a large stack of plastic shower rings instead of a PVC pipe. These are even cheaper and easy to install, but they may not be sturdy enough to support the weight. Try at your own risk.
3. Cut the PVC pipe in half lengthwise. Secure the tube with a vise. Use a hacksaw or handsaw to cut the pipe end to end, but "only" on one side. The end result should be a tube with an incision, not two half tubes.
   • To avoid inhaling irritating particles, it is recommended to wear a mask or dust mask while cutting PVC.
   • If you don't have a vise or cutting tools, leave the tube intact and remove the wheels from the chair so you can slide the tube over it. In most cases it is possible to remove the wheelbase by pressing in the retaining clip at the bottom with a screwdriver.
4. Click the tube on the cylinder of the chair. Pull the chair's plastic tube up or down to expose the metal cylinder. Push the cut side of the PVC pipe against the cylinder to snap it around the cylinder. This should now hold the seat in place and prevent it from sliding down.
   • Cut the tube into shorter pieces and try again if you have trouble clicking it into place.
5. Add more tube to adjust the height of the chair. Raise the seat and add another piece of pipe if the seat is still too low. It is impossible to lower the chair back without removing the tube, so make sure it is at the perfect height.

Necessities

Hose clamp method

• Hose clamp about 2 cm wide and long enough to go around the cylinder of the chair
• Sandpaper, a strip of rubber, or duct tape
• Cleaning product or degreaser (optional)
• Screwdriver

PVC pipe method

• Ruler or tape measure
• PVC pipe with the same dimensions as the seat cylinder
• Hacksaw, band saw or cutting pliers for PVC
• Vice

Tips

• Instead, by spending a little more money, you can buy a "seat repair kit" online. This is a collection of clip-on clamps that work in the same way as this DIY material.
• You can also buy a pneumatic replacement cylinder for the seat. However, this cylinder costs almost as much as a new seat and can be tedious and difficult to install.

Warnings

• Do not attempt to secure the seat by drilling into the cylinder and installing a bolt. The cylinder contains compressed air that can be released violently when you pierce the cylinder.