How to Fix a Squeaky Chair: Noise Reduction Guide
You probably know how annoying squeaking noise from furniture can be, whether it is from your old bed, door or even a chair.
This can have quite a negative effect on your ability to concentrate, especially if it is your office chair that is making the squeaking noise.
But there is no need to worry about it because there is always a way to fix every problem if you know what to do.
That’s why today I will help you to find the cause of chair squeaking noise and how to figure out the way to fix it, without too much trouble.
So, if you want to know more, stick with me and we’ll figure it out together. Without any further due, let’s begin!
What Causes Chairs to Make Squeaking Noise?
Before we move on to how you can fix your chair and remove that annoying squeaking noise, you need to know how to recognize where the noise comes from.
That way, you will be able to think of a creative and permanent solution on how to fix it, without messing up other important parts of the chair.
There can be many reasons for squeaking noise coming from the chair, and in order to find it, you must know more about the type of chair you have.
When it comes to that, you could say that there are three different categories of chairs, each with different design and build, which are:
Knowing more about the type of chair you need to fix is crucial because they are built in different ways, so there is no one final solution for all chairs.
Also, I’ve put office and gaming chairs in the same group, since they are pretty similar to each other, and you will usually be able to use similar approaches to fixing squeaking sounds they produce.
Now, let’s analyze each individual group, learn more about what can cause squeaking noise in each of them and figure out how to deal with that annoying noise.
You might also like: How to Soundproof a Home Office
Classic Wooden Chairs
The most common type of chairs are, of course, the classic wooden chair, which can be found in everyone’s home and in almost all institutions.
This type of chair is easily built and they usually come with some detachable parts, such as pillows for sitting.
When it comes to the source of the noise that can come from these chairs, usually, the cause is some loose part, for instance, a loose or rusty screw.
This is relatively easy to fix, but you still need to know how all parts come together, in order not to mess up everything.
Even though there are different types of classic wooden chairs, for example, the ones with four legs, small stools or a rocking chair, they are usually built in a very similar way, which is relatively simple to figure out.
You basically need to find screws and parts that hold everything together and you will easily find the source of squeaking.
Apart from that, some newer types of chairs, like the ones coming from Ikea, are built from relatively cheap materials, so the parts are often held with the glue, which can lead to loosening of the main parts.
This, in turn, will rub against one another and create squeaking noise.
Armchairs
Armchairs are usually a bit more durable than common wooden chairs since their legs are a bit sturdier because they need to be able to carry more weight, due to the upholstered seat they have.
But that doesn’t mean you should completely rule out loose legs as the cause of squeaking sound because it can still happen.
Therefore, before you jump to any conclusion, you should definitely take a look at the legs and check if all screws are tight.
When it comes to armchairs, there are different parts that can cause squeaking noise, so you want to check all of them.
Apart from legs being the cause of the squeaking, there is one more important part, that is not so easily checked.
I am talking about springs that are inside the cushions, of course.
In order to check if they are the cause of squeaking, you usually need to tear apart the cushion part, which is not easy and often hard to put back again, without the proper tools.
However, sometimes it is the necessary evil if you want to stop that squeaking noise.
So my suggestion is that when you do remove the fabric, you should get a new one to replace the old one, since most of the times, you have to tear it apart, which can almost be impossible to put back on.
If you are not experienced in this, you should probably hire a professional, in order not to break your entire armchair.
Office and Gaming Chairs
The last type of chairs I am going to cover here is office/gaming chairs. I put them in the same category because they are relatively similar to each other.
Anyway, this type of chair is the one that is most likely to make squeaking sounds, since there are a lot of parts to consider here.
Office chairs have a quite complex build, with a lot of moving and adjustable parts, so it is not a surprise that these chairs are capable of making a lot of squeaking noise.
Some of the most common parts that can cause squeaking sounds are:
Because of all these elements, it is really hard to fix squeaking noise of gaming and office chairs, but if you know what you’re doing, it is not impossible.
Another similar type of chair is the wheelchairs, which are built in a similar way to the office and gaming chairs, but they don’t produce as much noise as them.
The most probably fix for these chairs is to lubricate certain parts, such as joints and squeaking noise should go away.
How to Fix a Squeaky Chair
Now that we’ve covered all types of chairs and possible causes of squeaking noise, let’s focus on how to resolve the issue and remove that annoying noise.
1. Finding Out the Reason for Squeaking
Before you begin to tighten screws and lubricate moving parts, you should try to find the real source of the squeaking noise, rather than make educated guesses.
Probably the best way to do it is to listen to where the noise is coming from.
That can be done by sitting and standing up multiple times, or even better, you can get someone else to sit and stand up, while you get on the floor and try to see and hear what is causing the squeaking sound.
Then, you can simply use duct tape or a marker to mark the areas that are potential causes of the squeaking noise.
2. Using Proper Tools
When you find out where the squeaking noise is coming from, you will probably want to fix it somehow, and for that, you will need to use proper tools, so it is always a good idea to have a toolbox in your home.
That way, you will always be ready to fix everything, including faulty chairs that makes an annoying squeaking noise.
3. Getting the Parts Ready
Now that you have all the tools needed, you can move on to fixing your chair.
Most of the time, you can simply fix them by checking if parts are in good shape, but sometimes, you might need to replace certain parts.
Screws, joints, and springs can sometimes get rusty, so you might need to replace them with new ones, so it is always a good idea to have spare screws in your home.
If we are talking about office chair parts, you might need to get the part itself, since they are usually unique and cannot be simply replaced by normal screws.
4. Using Lubricants for Moving Parts
If your chair has a lot of moving parts, like for example, gaming and officer chairs have, you should probably oil them often.
The best choice for that would be to use WD-40 since it is very effective against rust and helps with reducing the squeaking noise.
One thing to note is that you shouldn’t oil any part before putting it in the wood.
Also, if you removed some part and cleaned the rust from it, make sure not to put it back while it is still wet, dry it first.
5. Making sure Screws Are Not Loose
The simplest solution to resolving the squeaking noise would probably be to check if the screws are tight enough or not.
There, take your screwdriver and start checking every screw and joint of your chair, in order to see if it helps.
Conclusion: On Squeaky Chairs
There you go, folks! Now you know what can cause a squeaking noise in chairs and how you can deal with it.
If you have anything else to add, feel free to comment down below.
How to Fix a Squeaky Chair
Does your chair squeak each time you stand up or sit down? We know how annoying it can get. Here's how to fix a squeaky chair for all types of chairs.
Instructions
- Finding Out the Reason for Squeaking
- Using Proper Tools
- Getting the Parts Ready
- Using Lubricants for Moving Parts
- Making sure Screws Are Not Loose