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Sitting at a low height poses a health risk to your body. Not to mention, it strains your hands and causes fatigue which may affect your productivity negatively.
While a lever is a superb height adjustment component on ergonomic chairs, it may be challenging to do so with a faulty or absent lever.
This article provides simple ways on how to raise office chair without lever.
You can make your office chair go higher without a lever by loosening your height adjustment lock, using platforms, cushions, threaded posts, woodblocks, extension cords, adjustable legs, or larger casters. Doing this is essential as spine issues or body aches may happen if your chair is too low.
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How to Raise Office Chair Without Lever
Of course, the simplest method to adjust your chair height is using your lever. But when that is unavailable, a few DIY techniques help you raise your seat without any tools.
One way to adjust pneumatic office chairs is by adjusting the tilt lock and turning your chair. But before you do, determine the height you want your chair positioned. Ideally, this should be the same as the height of the underside of your knee.
Next, determine whether your chair has a height lock. You may need to overturn your seat to get to the lock. Typically, the lock is a screw, so you need a screwdriver to unfasten it.
With your lock loose, position your office chair upright. Now, most old pneumatic chairs feature a threaded post. So, you can use the threaded post to get your office chair higher by turning your chair to the right to raise it. Step on the base to ensure it doesn’t move as you adjust the height.
After attaining your preferred height, place back the lock and tighten it. Try doing this with your chair still upright to avoid messing up your chair’s height.
Read related: How to Adjust Office Chair Seat Angle
How Can I Make My Office Chair Go Higher?
Besides the above method, you can also use other non-lever height adjustment ways to get your chair to your desired height.
So, what are other methods to raise your office chair’s height?
1. Use Platforms to Adjust Height of Chair
To raise your chair’s height with a platform, you should measure out where you want to put your platform.
This way, you won’t end up having to return it later once you realize it doesn’t fit properly. Make sure there isn’t any furniture blocking access to the spot you’ve chosen. Then take note of how much clearance you have above the floor.
For example, choose to install your platform near the edge of your table. To avoid hitting things below, you’d probably need to leave yourself some extra distance between the bottom of the table and the ground.
The next step is getting your platform. You can purchase pre-assembled ones, which means all you have to do is attach them together.
However, you can build your own by assembling multiple pieces. Whichever option works best for you depends mainly on personal preference.
2. Place Blocks Under Legs of Chairs
This technique works best for chairs whose legs extend beyond the base of the chair itself. In such cases, placing blocks underneath the chair’s feet helps increase the distance between the surface where you sit and the floor.
Here is how to use blocks to adjust your chair’s height:
First, remove all the wheels from your chair. Then, take out the footrests if present. Next, cut two pieces of wood equal in length to the width of your leg rests. Finally, glue these pieces together at their ends.
Now, put the block beneath one end of the leg rest. Repeat the process until both sides have been covered. Once done, make sure the blocks fit snugly against the legs.
Also, check that no gaps remain between the blocks and the legs.
3. Use Stilts or Step Stools
If you don’t want to buy stilts or step stools, you can always improvise something similar. All you should do is attach two pieces of wood to create an adjustable stool. The length of each piece depends upon the size of your chair.
4. Use an Extension Cord
If you don’t like the idea of having to purchase additional equipment, then you may consider using extension cords instead. So, tie one end of your rope to the backrest of your chair. Next, connect the other end to the ceiling above your head.
5. Use a Cushion
This method involves placing a thick foam pad under your desk. The idea here is to create additional support underneath your desk. To achieve this goal, simply put the cushion beneath your desk and secure it tightly.
Next, loosen the screws securing the underside of your desk and carefully lift the whole assembly upwards. Finally, tighten the screws securely.
The only problem with this approach is that it requires extra effort to install the cushion. Also, if you want to change the size of the cushion, you’ll need to buy another one.
6. Use Larger Wheels
Another alternative involves replacing your existing wheel assemblies with bigger ones. These allow you to move your desk further up and down easily.
To do so, all you have to do is purchase replacement parts online. Afterwards, follow the instructions provided below:
First, remove the old wheel assemblies. Cut off the rubber pads attached to their sides. Then, glue new pieces on top of the original ones. Lastly, reinstall the wheel assemblies back into position.
Although this process isn’t complex, it does involve quite a bit of work. Nevertheless, many office chairs feature pop-on wheels that you can remove by pulling them from your chair’s base.
However, attaching your replacement wheels may be a little challenging. So, you may need to apply WD40 or petroleum jelly on your caster stems to ease their sliding action into the heel sockets.
7. Attach Adjustable Legs
Finally, there’s also the option of purchasing adjustable leg kits. This allows you to adjust the height of your desk as needed. However, these come at a price. You’ll have to pay around $10 to $20 per kit.
In addition, they require some time to assemble. So, unless you plan to use them frequently, we suggest sticking with the cheaper alternatives listed earlier.
How High Should My Chair Be at My Desk?
Most people prefer sitting on 16 to 24-inch tall seats. In fact, according to ergonomics experts, this is the ideal distance for optimal comfort while working.
Nevertheless, if you’re not comfortable with this height, then you might want to raise or lower your seat slightly.
Alternatively, you could raise your feet higher than usual if your chair is higher than your liking. You can raise your feet using a footrest, which you can make yourself.
Else, get an affordable one at a store for about $20 to $30. Doing so helps reduce pressure points in your legs.
In short, you should have your hands placed on your desk with your elbows at right angles to be sure your chair is at a suitable height.
What Happens If Your Chair Is Too Low?
If your chair is too low, it may result in several health issues such as neck pain, shoulder strain, lower backache, etc.
But how does an uncomfortable sitting angle result in neck pain? Your head has to tilt backwards every time you lean over your computer screen.
Backache arises when your spine and muscles are strained due to prolonged use of a desk-chair combination which causes poor posture. This results in muscle tension and soreness.
On the other hand, shoulder strain results from repetitive movements while typing on a keyboard or mouse. It can also be caused by improper positioning of arms during work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should My Chair Be Higher Than My Desk?
Your chair should be higher than your desk. Ideally, you want your armrest to be the same height as your desk’s surface. This way, there is minimal hand strain, which makes typing, drawing, or writing easier.
Should Your Feet Touch the Ground When Sitting in a Chair?
Your feet should touch the ground when sitting to ensure you are healthy and comfortable. Otherwise, you risk developing knee problems later on. Moreover, sitting at an angle restricts blood flow to your legs, which can lead to leg cramps.
Also, people who sit for long periods with their legs awkwardly tend to develop varicose veins because of lack of circulation.
Should Chairs Be High or Low?
Your chair should be neither too high nor too low. If you find yourself leaning forward excessively, try raising your chair until you feel more balanced. Likewise, if your chair feels like it’s too close to the floor, consider lowering it. An uncomfortable chair height makes you less productive.
Conclusion
Raising office chairs doesn’t necessarily mean raising your desk. Instead, it means adjusting its height according to your needs.
However, you should take care not to place it too high or low in comparison to your desk.
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