Lift Chair Troubleshooting (2022): Common Lift Chair Problems & How To Fix Them

By jwilder

Power lift chairs are a wonderful type of furniture that help many seniors deal with a variety of health issues. They simply make it much easier (and safer) to stand, sit, and relax.

The trouble with these chairs, though, is that, like many other types of technology, they have a tendency to break down. That’s why, today, we’re going over the most common lift chair problems – and their solutions – in our guide to lift chair troubleshooting.

Let’s begin!

Most Common Lift Chair Problems And How to Fix Them

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Power Supply Issues

The Problem:

Your power lift chair isn’t responsive – you push the buttons on the remote, and nothing happens. It seems that there is something going wrong with your chair’s power supply. This could be located in the power supply itself, or it could be an issue with a wire somewhere inside your lift chair.

How to Fix It:

Failed power supplies have usually been overloaded by an electrical surge or have experienced a mechanical failure. That means the best way to fix a broken power supply is to purchase and install a new one.

Though it’s not at all difficult to find power supplies for lift chairs online, it can be hard to find the right one. If your chair has the wrong power supply, you can damage the motor easily- if the chair works at all. The owner’s manual on your power lift chair should include a list of parts. Use that to locate the part number for your power supply, and install it carefully.

Usually, it should be no more difficult than swapping out the charger for your cell phone, but some chairs might require more work. Always check your owner’s manual before removing/installing a power supply!

Motor Issues

The Problem:

Your power lift recliner turns on and seems to be working, but when you try to use the lift function, the motors don’t move. Even worse, you might hear an electric “hum” from the motor, even though the chair isn’t lifting or reclining. This is a clear sign that there is something wrong with your chair’s motor.

How to Fix It:

Actuator motors are complex pieces of technology that depend on the use of electricity and magnetic fields. This means that, barring you having an extensive background in engineering and manufacturing, you’ll be buying a replacement motor.

Replacement motors, just like power supplies, are easy to find- so long as you know which one to look for. Check your chair’s product manual to find the right product part. If the manual does not include a parts list, you can contact the manufacturer by phone or email and ask them to help you get the right part!

Creaking/Grinding Sounds

The Problem:

Your power lift chair works just fine – mechanically, that is. The trouble is that when it moves, it makes an awful and annoying creaking sound, as if the motor was grinding on something as it moved.

This could just be a case of old components that need a bit of oil to stay loose or rust that needs to be shaken off. It may also be a sign that something is broken in your chair’s lifting mechanism. For example, the motor may have come loose, or there may be screws on the chair’s base that are no longer attached to the chair itself.

How to Fix It:

Carefully lean your chair against a wall so that you can see underneath it. If you can see rust, use a wire brush to clean it off, and some lubricating oil to keep the parts working smoothly.

If any of the pieces seem bent, broken, or loose, you’re going to need more than a little lubricant. If that is the case, your best bet is to get your chair looked at and serviced by a professional.

Recliner Not Lifting/Opening/Closing

The Problem:

Your recliner doesn’t lift, open, or close when you press the buttons on your remote. Sometimes, it sounds like the motor is on, but the chair doesn’t actually move. If your chair has massage functions, these work- but the lifting function does not.

This issue can be caused by a number of things:

• Your chair might be locked into a fixed position.
• The motor on your chair might be malfunctioning or disconnected.
• The lifting motor might be unplugged from the power supply, even though the power supply itself is still working.
• The remote or receiver are not working properly, causing some of the functionality of your chair to be unresponsive

How to Fix It:

Fixing this issue is complex, because it can be caused by a number of different things. Turn your chair over carefully and try to evaluate it. If there are any obvious problems- bent pieces, unplugged wires, etc, you can respond accordingly.

If there are no easily visible problems, taking your chair in for service or cashing in on the warranty is likely your best option.

Remote Not Working

The Problem:

The remote that controls your lift chair doesn’t work. Pressing buttons results in frustration and confusion rather than lifting, reclining, and massaging. Sometimes, this problem can come and go- making your remote very unreliable This can potentially leave you trapped in your chair, unable to stand.

How to Fix It:

If changing the batteries in your remote doesn’t fix the problem, ordering a new one should. Unfortunately, with remotes, there are no solutions that don’t involve replacement. The good news is that buying a new remote for your lift chair is cheaper than buying any other replacement part. So, while you have to spend money to fix this problem, other lift chair problems are much more expensive.

Loose In-Line Plugs

The in-line plugs are one of the common lift chair parts that are most susceptible to unwarranted damages. They might not stop working entirely, but they prevent your chair from working as efficiently as it should. However, if they are somehow disconnected, your chair might not work at all.

You can counter this problem by checking under your lift chair and reconnecting all the disconnected plugs. You can further secure the in-line plugs with a clamp or a pin. Ideally, this problem comes along after moving your lift chair hence the need to be more gentle and careful.

Broken Wires

You are probably wondering why your lift chair won’t recline or, even worse, gets stuck mid-travel when you activate the reclining mechanism. There are high chances that you have broken or cut wires within your lift chair. This becomes more evident when you have electrical sounds or sparks coming from your chair.

If you experience this problem, you can fix it by turning your lift chair upside down and looking for a cut or broken wires. If any, you can wrap them with electric tape. Furthermore, if the wires are disconnected from the respective frames, you can use fasteners to connect them accordingly.

Electric Issues

Your lift chair features many electric components, so you should be braced for electric issues. With an electric overload, underload, or surge, any of these components can get fried. If you hit the power button and your lift chair does not respond, then one of these parts could be problematic.

However, if you have an electric overload or underload, your lift chair might actually not work in a bid to protect its electric parts, including the motors. The only way to fix these issues is to ensure your lift chair gets the proper electric current.

Lift Chair Stuck in Up Position – How to Fix

Your backseat and footrest might stop in the middle of a desired position and refuse to bulge even when you hit the adjust button. This means you have an electric problem at hand that needs to be addressed. Ideally, this problem is commonly caused by disconnected in-line plugs. While you might fix these issues by reconnecting the plugs, this might not be enough. Sometimes you might be forced to get rid of connecting cables that are not in the proper condition. Having flawless internal plug connections comes in handy to fix this problem.

How to Unlock Lift Chair Remote

You might be prompted to lock up your lift chair’s remote control for safety reasons, especially if you have small kids around. You do not want them messing around with your lift chair. To lock up your chair, you just need to press and hold the lock button on your remote for about three seconds until the red led on the right side of the button lights up.

On the other hand, if you need to unlock your remote control, press and hold down the same lock button for about six seconds. When the remote control is successfully unlocked, the green Led on the left side will light up.

How do you reset a Lift Chair?

Sometimes to counter electric issues, the ideal fix option is resetting your lift chair. Most lift chair remote controls come with a reset button that you can use to take care of such problems. However, depending on your lift chair’s model, your reset button could be located elsewhere, including on your motor.

Ideally, the reset button comes in handy when you have a power surge that causes your lift chair not to work. After locating the reset button, you can use a paperclip or a small nail to click it; it is usually hidden inside a small hole between the open and close button on your remote control or near your motor in some models. If you cannot trace the reset button, another recommended drill is unplugging your lift chair for up to two minutes.

Lift Chair Maintenance and Repair Tips

Your lift chair is an expensive investment that could have dug deep into your pockets hence the need to take care of it properly. Moreover, to fully reap its benefits, you need to keep it in the healthiest operational condition possible. As such, the chair needs proper maintenance and prompt repairs when unwarranted issues arise. The following are some critical maintenance drills you can adopt:

• Clean your lift chair

Your chair might be your most used piece of furniture, especially if you have some medical conditions that demand it. Consequently, it needs to be cleaned as frequently as possible. Furthermore, you do not want it to compromise the aesthetics of your interior décor. You can always hire professional cleaners, but you can also clean it on your own. If you clean it yourself, consider using the manufacturer-recommended cleaning products.

• Replace your batteries

Most lift chair models come with two 9-volt batteries inside the supply box. These batteries come in handy in case of electric emergencies such as power outages. No emergencies might make you forget to replace your batteries, but professionals will often recommend a replacement after every six months.

• Get accustomed to common issues

You never know what problem your lift chair might encounter. As such, you should get accustomed to the common issues. Know how to handle power supply issues, in-line plug issues, and motor issues, among other common problems. Avoid situations when you cannot enjoy using your chair courtesy of a small fixable problem, and you have to spend money on a technician.

• Use your chair carefully

Avoid plopping into your chair no matter how tired you feel. This comes in handy to prevent your chair’s lift mechanism and seat from degrading before the expected service time.

• Keep children away

Your chair is not a toy. Keep children from playing with its critical parts, such as the remote control. These parts are delicate and can be damaged easily.

Other tips include the following:

• Check for pets under the chair before using it
• Position your lift chair away from the wall for it to recline appropriately.
• Do not put your hands under the chair when it is on.
• Use your chair in dry environs

Your lift chair is definitely a critical part of your life, especially if you have medical conditions that make it hard to sit and stand independently. Moreover, it is also helpful if old age is taking a toll on your muscles and you can no longer sit or stand comfortably. Consequently, there is a need to keep it in the best operational condition possible. Know the common issues it is likely to face and better how to handle them.

Furthermore, adopt a regular maintenance schedule to keep these problems at bay. Proper maintenance will ensure you enjoy a long service life from your chair and save you from spending on avoidable repairs.

How to Find Warranty, Parts, and Service Info

The solution to most of the issues you troubleshoot will have something to do with buying new parts, cashing in on the lift chair’s warranty, or finding a technician who can repair it for you. So, it’s helpful to know where to go for these things.

Here’s a list of resources/links that will connect you to warranty/parts info for various brands of chairs, as well as repair companies that can handle lift chairs:

Warranty and Parts

• Pride Mobility Lift Chair Warranty Information
• Pride Mobility Lift Chair Parts
• Golden Technologies Lift Chair Warranty Information
• Golden Technologies Lift Chair Parts
• La-Z-Boy Lift Chair Warranty and Parts Information

Finding a Repair Shop

Getting a technician out to your home to service your lift chair is sometimes facilitated by the manufacturer when you activate the warranty. If the warranty has expired or the problem isn’t covered, though, finding a service provider can be a bit more tricky.

If there is a furniture store nearby that sells recliners and lift chairs, you may be in luck. Many of these stores have a service and repairs department that will fix your chair for a reasonable fee. The same is true for many appliance shops. It is possible that some shops may decline to serve you because they don’t have experience with lift chairs, but most shops will be more than happy to help!

Brand-Specific Troubleshooting

What about problems that are more common for certain brands? Just like Jeeps are known for spotty transmissions and Fords tend to have poor spark plugs, certain issues are more common to one brand of lift chair than they are to others.

Below, we’ll discuss some of the most common problems that affect popular brands of lift chairs, and how to fix them.

Golden Technologies Lift Chair Troubleshooting

How to Fix Golden Lift Chair Power Supply Problem

One of the most common issues with these extremely popular chairs is a faulty or unresponsive power supply. If your lift chair has an active warranty, calling in and getting it fixed is your best option. If the warranty is expired, however, buying a new power supply from the link mentioned above is the way to go.

Golden Lift Chair Remote Troubleshooting

Another common issue is damage/malfunction of the remote on the lift chair. Some models of Golden Technologies lift chairs have cordless remotes while others have corded remotes. This video will show you an effective way to repair a corded remote, while this link connects you to a page with all the different replacement remotes for Golden lift chairs.

Pride Lift Chair Controller Problems

The remotes on Pride lift chairs can be quite finicky and sometimes stop working altogether. If you’ve got a few tools and a fair amount of patience, you can repair a faulty remote at home using this video as a guide.

You can also order a new remote at the parts link above, or order one through Amazon. Amazon carries different Pride remotes, so make sure to find the one that corresponds to your chair to avoid further trouble.

Finally, Pride Mobility has a basic troubleshooting guide that you can use to diagnose and solve various problems.

La-Z-Boy Lift Chair Heater Troubleshooting

This is a problem that isn’t found in every La-Z-Boy chair. Rather, it’s specific to models that have heating elements included. In some chairs, the heating element will suddenly become very weak or stop working altogether.

If this issue occurs in your chair, you should first check to see if your warranty is still active. If it is, you can have your lift chair fixed or replaced at no cost to you. If the warranty has expired, though, try to see if any cables or wires have come loose in the chair. If you can easily plug them back in, you may be able to fix the issue right then and there. If not, however, you’ll have to get your

Conclusion

Troubleshooting lift chairs, finding the source of issues, and fixing them can be pretty tricky. More often than not, the solution boils down to finding a replacement part or a technician with the specialized tools and experience to help. Have you found the solution to your lift chair issues? Do you have tips for other readers? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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