A good riser recliner should last you for years. Mike's lasted him more than 10. But most of the broken chairs we're called out to weren't faulty. Something happened around the chair that damaged it. Here are the problems we see most, and how to avoid every one of them.
1. The chair is too close to the wall
This is the number one problem we see. When we deliver a riser chair, we set it about a foot (12 inches) away from the wall, depending on the chair, so it has room to recline.
Then the chair gets pushed back, often by a cleaner or a visitor, and nobody moves it forward again. When you press recline, the back hits the wall. If you keep pressing, it twists the frame, and the chair gets stuck or stops working.
People often tell us their chair was never against the wall. We can usually see the marks on the wall behind it.
How to avoid it: check the gap behind the chair every week, and after anyone has cleaned. If the chair touches the wall when it reclines, stop pressing and pull it forward.
2. Something stuck underneath
Things get dropped or pushed under a riser chair: a slipper, a magazine, a walking stick. Then when the legs come down, they catch on it. Forcing the legs down at that point breaks the chair.
How to avoid it: keep the area under and around the chair clear. Before you lower the footrest, check nothing is underneath, and that includes pets.
3. A power cut leaves you stuck
A riser chair runs on mains power, so in a power cut it stops. If you're reclined, you can be stuck in it.
How to avoid it: choose a chair with battery backup. It runs more slowly on the battery, but you won't be stuck. Have the battery checked every year and replaced when it needs it.
4. The chair is the wrong size
A chair that doesn't fit you won't be comfortable and won't last. You should sit right back in the seat with no wriggling. Recently, a customer tried one of our petite chairs and still had about a 2-inch gap behind her back. A different make of petite chair has a shorter seat depth, and it suited her far better. You could see the difference straight away.
The user weight rating matters just as much. Before Tracy worked here, Mike bought a second-hand riser chair that wasn't big enough, then another from a cheap shop. Neither lasted. The one we fitted properly for him lasted more than 10 years. Read Tracy and Mike's story.
How to avoid it: have the chair measured for you, and check the user weight rating before you buy. We do this as part of our free home assessment.
Features that prevent problems
- Battery backup, so a power cut never leaves you stuck.
- Dual motors, so the back and the legs move separately and you can find the right position.
- Tilt-in-space, which tilts the whole seat back. It doesn't pull your clothes up when you recline, and it moves the pressure off the same spots, which helps if you sit for long periods.
- A head cushion that comes forward when you lie back, so you can still see the TV and what's going on around you.
See our riser recliner chairs guide for more.
If your chair stops working
Stop pressing the button. Check the plug and the socket, check the chair isn't touching the wall, and check nothing is caught underneath. If it still won't move, call us on 01789 339 738. We service and repair riser chairs, wherever you bought yours. See servicing and repairs for our prices.
Frequently asked questions
How far from the wall should a riser chair be?
About a foot (12 inches), depending on the chair. That's how we set it up when we deliver.
What happens to a riser chair in a power cut?
It stops working unless it has battery backup. With battery backup it runs more slowly, but you won't be stuck.
Why has my riser chair stopped reclining?
The most common cause is the chair hitting the wall, which can twist the frame. Stop pressing and call us.
How much does a riser chair service cost?
£70, plus a travel charge if we come to you more than 5 miles from our workshop.
