How To Raise The Height Of An Old Executive Chair

A good office chair provides both comfort and orthopedic support. Executive chairs are designed to provide the user with an ergonomic way to sit at a desk with minimal discomfort. However, the chair has to be set up properly to do so. Chair height is a critical factor in ergonomic comfort. Follow a few simple steps to raise the height of an old executive chair, making sitting a comfortable experience.

Step 1

Measure the distance between the floor and the chair's seat. Write this measurement down. The chair needs to be raised to a level equal to the distance between the floor and the middle of the knee joint. Sit in the chair. Place both feet flat on the floor. Measure the distance between the floor and the middle of your knee joint. Write this measurement down. Note if there is a difference between the two measurements.

Step 2

Place a towel on the floor to protect the chair.Turn the chair upside down so its back and armrests are sitting on the towel. Older executive chairs use a threaded post to control height adjustments. This means that the chair is lowered or raised by spinning the chair around on the post.

Step 3

Lubricate the chair's threaded post. Use a rag to wipe down any dirt or debris on the threaded post. Dirt and debris build up on the post make it difficult to raise and lower the chair height. After it has been completely wiped down, apply spray lubricant to the post. Spray the lubricant along the entire length of the post and into the mounting socket at the base of the post.

Step 4

Tighten the mounting socket. The threaded post screws into a threaded socket at the chair's base. The set screws that holds the socket in place is located on the socket's side. The type of mounting screw depends on the manufacturer and age of the chair. Use either a screwdriver or an Allen wrench to tighten the set screw until it is firmly in place. This prevents the chair's threaded post from coming loose and allows the base of the chair to be used to make height adjustments.

Step 5

Flip the chair over so that the chair's feet are on the floor. Place one foot against the chair's base to prevent the base from turning. Turn the chair clockwise to lower or counterclockwise to raise the height. Spin the chair until the measured height is reached. If the chair needs to be raised two inches, spin the chair's body counterclockwise eight times. Each full turn raises or lowers the chair approximately 1/4–inch. Check the height by measuring the distance between the floor and the surface of the chair's seat. Readjust the height as needed.