Recliners, whether electric or manual, are quite an amazing replacement because they let you kick back and relax while you catch your favorite sports on TV all while providing perfect levels of soothing with their contoured shape.
However, when this uniquely designed furniture tends to “follow” its own rules out of nowhere once it suffers from a malfunction in its inner mechanism, the slowly sinking backrest is undoubtedly acceptable and frustrating.
Nevertheless, as annoying as the situation can be, it can be easily rectified, you just have to put your money where your mouth is!
Don’t know where to start because you are clueless on this subject? Well, it’s your lucky day because I have curated this article on How To Make Recliner Stay Reclined, in other words, it will behave like brand new, just like the day you brought it home.
How The Recliner Mechanism Works
You wouldn’t be able to fix the problem if you barely have a clue what could be the culprit behind it in the first place. Moreover, since there are typically two formats for how a recliner mechanism works, I will be explaining both of them below in an elaborate fashion so you can attain an idea of how both of these work. Feel free to skip to whichever recliner category is causing you the problem.
Manual Recliners
These are the most commonly used recliners back in the day, however, due to their popularity and versatility, they are still being preferred due to their old school low maintenance design. Apparently, they are also easy to fix because of the less sophisticated form of mechanism integrated into its structure.
For starters, manual recliners, as the name suggests require you to do all the labor by yourself because they are equipped with a lever or button, a footrest, a backrest, a tension spring, and a locking mechanism.
Depending on the type and model, some manual recliners use the combination of mechanisms mentioned above and allow a user to utilize the lever or press a button located on the side of the recliner which triggers the recliner mechanism, causing the footrest to extend outward and the backrest to recline backward.
In theory, both the footrest and backrest could be separately controlled, however, oftentimes, the footrest and backrest are connected, allowing them to move in sync.
On the other hand, most manual recliners usually have a tension spring which allows the owner to keep the backrest reclined until its position is changed with the lever mechanism.
It acts more or less to provide resistance against the weight of the individual sitting on it and in some instances, it could be easily tweaked to provide the desired effect.
Most of the problems in a recliner’s backrest arise when the spring mechanism malfunctions because the resistance aspect either acts abnormally due to weight overload and such, however, this factor shouldn’t be seen as the sole culprit behind a recliner not staying reclined.
Moving on to its another crucial aspect is the locking mechanism which works in conjunction with its other essential machinery and allows the recliner to stay put, which essentially locks the recliners, it could either be controlled by flipping a switch, turning a knob, or using a lever, depending on the design of the recliner.
Nevertheless, the spring works by providing resistance and letting the backrest recline while the locking mechanism ensures the recliner backrest or footrest stays locked, and once the lever is pressed it releases the tension in the tension spring.
Keep in mind that every day several brands try to integrate innovative features which may or may not differ from each other to cull the issues that they had in the past and that might have variations in their mechanisms, nevertheless, the core principles remain the same.
In other words, the main goal is to achieve comfort and flexibility allowing you to find the perfect position for relaxation.
Power Recliners
These are the sort of recliners that run on a completely different form of machinery, in fact, you could say that they are a whole different beast because of the sophisticated levels of machinery they usually have even if you have the most basic of entry-level of power recliner, nevertheless, that doesn’t take away from the fact that they couldn’t be fixed either.
Most of the old and newer form of recliners works by having multiple electrical motors and gears that work in conjunction with each other, these motors are connected with wires, which are then connected to the control panel, and with the press of a button, a signal is passed to the motors to perform the assigned action by the user.
As the name suggests, all of this machinery is powered by electricity which is provided through the power cord that is connected to the power outlet.
The reclining functionality of the chair is triggered once the owner presses the button which is usually located at the armrest which causes the signal to be sent to an electric motor, which is usually located inside the recliner’s frame.
In other words, the motor inside the recliner starts its operation which lets you adjust the backrest all across its axis, since these motors control the gears and depending on the model type, it might control the footrest and other parts such as the headrest and even the armrest, which further complicates the whole process and can be a bit tricky if you are planning to fix the recliner all by yourself as you have to take all of the operation that is mentioned above into the account before.
However, the complication of the repair just doesn’t stop there because you also have to keep the electrical sensors and limit switches in mind as these components monitor the position of the chair and prevent it from moving beyond certain limits.
For example, there may be a limit switch that stops the recliner from reclining too far back, preventing any potential accidents or damage, think of it as the precautionary measures built into your recliner to minimize hazards as per safety regulations of the country that usually manufactured in.
In simpler words, almost all of the operations are controlled with the buttons and you do not have to go through hoops or perform extra labor in order to utilize the reclining mechanism.
Remedies For Recliners Not Staying Reclined
As much as a headache it may sound if you are planning to fix your recliner by yourself, trust me, with these remedies mentioned below you will be easily able to rectify them in no time, here is how.
Issues With Spring
As mentioned above, manual recliners have multiple springs connected to their structure which act as a rubber band, allowing you to personalize resistance. Most of the time these springs malfunctioned, preventing the recliner from staying reclined. Luckily for us, it’s quite easy to fix.
- First of all, you need to flip over your recliner but before you do that, make sure you have a dense foam underneath because you don’t want to damage its upper fabric once it touches the ground, if you have carpet, then you can simply flip it without worrying about damaging it.
- Next, you need to Look underneath the seat for a metal bar or frame holding springs. You’ll likely find wingnuts or knobs attached to this frame on each side of the base. These are your tension adjusters that will be controlled with a spring.
- All you need to do now is to turn these nuts clockwise, remember, that it will increase the tension of the reclining mechanism so make sure you only increase the tension in smaller increments.
- While it might be a little hectic for you to go through the process, in order to get ideal results, it is highly crucial that you don’t skip out on these steps. The key is to not overdo the clockwise motion on the wingnuts so that they remain in the same spot once you are done with tightening.
- Keep in mind that you also need to adjust both wingnuts, otherwise, it will malfunction or put stress on one side of the spring again.
Recliner Wedge
This might seem a bit out of the equation for some individuals, however, if the springs fail to be fixed after tightening the wingnuts, you might be looking out for a locking device that will keep your recliner backrest in the same spot, kind of like a lock but with external steps.
- You can easily get your hands on a recliner backrest locker from your local repair shop, just make sure you choose a device that is compatible with your recliner model.
- Now connect the locker to the backrest and the chair base. Keep in mind every model of lock varies, so try to read the manual beforehand on how to connect it from the backrest frame to the chair base.
- That’s about, this is by far one of the easiest methods, however, it might require you to shell out a bit of cash but nevertheless, it’s totally worth it.
Keep it Against A Wall
Another effective way to ensure your recliner is always reclined is to place an against an immovable force like a wall, it is easily available in every room, you just have to position your wonky recliner against it and you are all set.
While in some scenarios it may go against the layout of your room, in the long run, you can use your recliner without spending cash or going through hoops to fix its reclining mechanism. In other words, simply use it as a wall hugger type and you may have a win-win situation at hand.
Use Pillows
While using a wall is only to keep your backrest upright, so you can sit on it without falling backward, using pillows, on the other hand, is to ensure the backrest doesn’t fall back on the chair as the weight of the pillows or cushions would ensure it always remains upright.
Keep in mind this might not be feasible for everyone or every model, so only follow this advice if you want a temporary fix.
Reset the Control Panel
As silly as it may sound, sometimes, power recliners tend to malfunction due to power outages or abnormal voltage causing the sensor to go completely haywire or act wonky.
- In order to fix the problem, you need to locate the reset button on the control panel or simply take a look at the manufacturer’s instructions to find out how to perform a reset. Press the reset button and wait for a few seconds before trying to recline the chair again.
- In some scenarios, it might not be a button at all, in that case, you may need a needle to reset your recliner, simply press the needle inside the “reset hole” for a couple of seconds and it will go back to default settings.
- Some power recliners also require you to restart it completely by removing the power cord to get the job done.
Fixing The Electrical Wires
On the other hand, it might be due to the internal wires worn out or getting damaged after years of use or mishandling. It’s pretty much textbook knowledge that if the wires in an electrical appliance aren’t in their place, you might have a problem at hand as these wiring are responsible for transmitting the electrical signals that control the reclining mechanism.
- The first and foremost thing you need to do is start by unplugging the power recliner from the electrical outlet. This ensures your safety while working with the wiring. Take a close look at the wires and cables that are visible on the exterior of the recliner. Look for any signs of wear and tear, such as frayed or exposed wires. These can be potential sources of electrical problems.
- If you need guidance, you can check the instruction manual as it will assist you with which wires have to be connected to their assigned spot, if you see something out of place, try to connect it, just make sure you are gentle with them, as they might be already frayed or damaged.
- By examining the wiring and addressing any visible damage or loose connections, you can potentially resolve issues with your power recliner’s reclining function. Remember, if you are unsure or uncomfortable with handling electrical components, it is best to seek professional assistance to avoid any risks or further damage.
In Conclusion
Hopefully, one of these tricks has gotten your recliner back to its laid-back best. If it’s still stubbornly refusing to cooperate, don’t stress too much. Sometimes, those sneaky recliner problems need a professional touch. Your owner’s manual, a trusty warranty, or a quick call to a repair person can be your lifesaver. Now, go forth and relax – your recliner woes are hopefully a thing of the past!
Nevertheless, if you feel like my guide on ‘How To Make Recliner Stay Reclined” was worth the read or required additional suggestions, feel free to let me know because I am always open to constructive criticism so that it could help me refine my guides for the betterment.
I am a furniture expert with a passion for recliners. With years of experience in the industry, I offer invaluable insights and creative ideas for selecting the perfect recliner to suit any space and your needs.