How Often Should You Buy and Replace an Office Chair?

You don’t realise the value of a good, supportive, and comfortable office chair until you find yourself having to work without one. A quality office chair can support your posture. It helps you to avoid aches and strains. And it makes those long hours at your desk that little bit more bearable. But even the best office chair can’t last forever. So, how do you know when it’s time to replace your old faithful and buy a new office chair?

Top Five Tips for Deciding if You Should Replace Your Office Chair

Check the guarantee

This is something to look at before you buy an office chair. More often than not, a product’s guarantee gives a good indication of its potential lifespan. Guarantees are free and come with most sizeable purchases. Unlike a warranty, which will usually have to be paid for in addition to the product. If a chair comes with a five- or 10-year guarantee, even if you have to register for it, it shows the manufacturer is confident that it will last for the named period. After that, if you think your chair is showing signs of wear and tear, then it’s probably a good time to consider a replacement.

Think about comfort

Unlike an armchair that may need to be ‘worn in’, an office chair like the Zure High Back should be instantly comfortable. At least, it should once you’ve adjusted the various elements to your requirements. It’s when an office chair begins to feel less comfortable that it may be time for an upgrade. Think about:

• The seat padding.
• The back support.
• How you feel after you’ve been using it – whether you have any aches or strains.
• Whether you’re reaching more while sitting at your desk. · If you’re fidgeting more.
• And whether you’ve started using additional props – cushion, lumbar support, footrest.

Think about how the chair is performing

As chairs age, certain elements can wear and degrade. Some things you may be able to repair yourself. The gas lift, for example, is often the first thing to go. But you’ll reach a point where there’s more wrong than right with your chair. And that can make working frustrating. So, think about the following areas:

• Whether the wheels move smoothly.
• Whether the seat and/or base feel wonky, and less secure than they once did.
• How often you find yourself adjusting the seat height, the back rest, the arms.
• Whether the arms feel wobbly when you lean on them.
• And whether the fabric/foam is looking worn or holey.

What type of chair it is

Conventional wisdom implies that the simpler something is, the longer it will last. But while that can be true, it’s often not the case with office chairs. Generally speaking, ergonomic office chairs last longer than other types. This is usually because more thought has been put into the design and the mechanics of the chair. But also, ergonomic chairs tend to be more expensive, and made from more durable materials. That’s not to say that a sturdy wooden chair won’t last for decades. But the trade-off then is that it lacks the functionality you need to stay comfortable at a desk. If you buy cheaper wheeled office chairs, you’re probably going to need to replace them sooner.

How the chairs are used

The lifespan of a chair is strongly influenced by who they are used by and how they are used. The more weight that is put on a chair, the faster elements like the gas lift will expire. Equally, chairs used constantly will last for fewer years than those used for a few hours a day or a couple of days a week. Chairs used in a hot desking office are also likely to be less well treated and to break sooner.

Most office chairs are designed to last. But the lower the cost and the greater the use, the shorter the life expectancy will be. The best plan is to buy according to your needs. But don’t expect any office chair to last forever.

Are you ready to replace your office chair? Check out the full collection from UK Office Furniture.