Herman Miller has manufactured some of the greatest ergonomic office chairs that are known for comfort, posture, back support, and more. While most office chairs squeak over time, you might wonder, do Herman Miller chairs squeak? After all, it’s a high-quality brand.
Unfortunately, even high-end office chairs can start squeaking over time. Specifically, if you have a Herman Miller Aeron or Embody, you may start to notice some squeaking and creaking while shifting around.
In this article, I am going to take a look at some of the common reasons that Herman Miller chairs squeak and offer some solutions to fix it.
So, let’s get started!
Why Does My Herman Miller Chair Make a Squeaky Sound?
Over time, you’ll probably notice that your Herman Miller chair is starting to squeak. While there could be any number of problems, it typically boils down to three things:
- Nuts, bolts, and screws are loose
- Components are worn out
- Food crumbs
Let’s take a look at the three most common issues, as they have fairly simple solutions.
1. Nuts, Bolts, And Screws Are Loose
When you first buy a Herman Miller chair, it shouldn’t make any kind of noise because it’s new and all the nuts, bolts, and screws are nice and tight. However, as you use the chair over time, they are going to naturally loosen up.
So if you’re chair is squeaking, it could be that the nuts and bolts have loosened up and are starting to rub against the chair’s components and are causing it to squeak.
Solution: Give the chair a thorough check, and if necessary, tighten the nuts, bolts, and screws one more time.
2. One Of The Components Gets Worn Out
While this isn’t always the case, sometimes one or two of the components gets worn out and causes Herman Miller chairs to squeak.
This shouldn’t really happen with regular use, but if you’re exceeding the chair’s weight limit, have moved it around a lot, or sit in it for long periods of time, it could damage the chair’s wheel casters and cause it to need repair.
Solution: If your Herman Miller chair is squeaking, check the casters to see if any of them are causing the squeaking sound. If so, an easy fix is to replace the caster wheels with rollerblade wheels.
If you’re not sure which one to buy, here’s our recommended office chair caster.
3. Food Crumbs Getting Stacked:
Most of us eat while we work, and it is common to leave some crumbs behind. Over time, the crumbs can start to build up and cause friction with the chair’s components or seat foam and cause a squeaking noise.
Solution: Always try to keep the chair clean. You can use a vacuum cleaner to suck all the food crumbs out.
How Do I Stop My Herman Miller Chair From Squeaking?
A lot of the time, fixing the Herman Miller chair squeak is easy. There are just a couple of simple steps that you need to follow and then things will be back in working order.
Below is a quick two-step process to get rid of the squeaky sound in your Herman Miller chair.
Step 1: Identify The Source Of The Sound
First, you need to identify the source of the sound so you know what to fix. Start at the top of the chair and check the frame, tilt mechanisms, adjustable arms, seat pan, wheels, and other components.
Once you’ve located the cause, you’ll be able to stop the squeaking.
Step 2: Take The Appropriate Action Depending On The Sound Source
Now that you’ve found the source of the squeaking in your Herman Miller chair, it’s time to figure out how to stop it.
Below is a table that you can use as a reference based on the issue.
| Reason for the Sound | Action to implement |
| Loose Screws, Nuts, and Bolts | Take a screwdriver and tighten the screws of the chair. Try to identify where the squeaking is the loudest and start there. If the sound is still occurring, then try to tighten the other screws around the area. If this is the issue, once all the screws are tightened, then the squeak should be gone. You can also add some lubricant for better results. |
| Damaged Components | If you identified a broken component while you were looking over the chair, that could definitely be the source of the squeaking. Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to fix the component and will need to replace it. If you have a warranty period still available, then you should contact Herman Miller Customer Service and make a request for the replacement. |
| Stacked Food Crumbs | If you see a lot of food crumbs inside the chair then you should clean it out immediately. The best way to clean out food crumbs is to use a vacuum cleaner. |
| Still Can’t Find the Problem? |
If you’ve followed the steps above and still cannot find the exact problem, then you should contact Herman Miller Customer Service. These chairs come with a 12-year warranty, so be sure to use it! Email: hmstore@hermanmiller.com |
Related Questions:
Does The Herman Miller Embody Squeak?
Herman Miller’s Embody has received various complaints about being squeaky after continuous use for extended periods.
The most common cause for its squeaking seems to be in the backrest or seat pan.
If your Herman Miller Embody is squeaking, check the chair thoroughly and tighten all the screws, check for damaged components, and clean out all crumbs.
If all of that fails, you should call customer service and request a replacement.
Does the Herman Miller Aeron Chair Squeak?
Yes, the Herman Miller Aeron chair will start to squeak and creak over time.
Typically, you can fix this by tightening the screws and replacing the wheel casters. However, if that doesn’t work, you’ll likely need to start replacing some of the components like the gas cylinder.
Can You Use WD40 on Herman Miller Chairs?
Yes, you can use WD40 on Herman Miller chairs and it can stop squeaking. However, you shouldn’t rely on WD40 alone as it will wear off over time.
If you’ve found that there are loose screws, nuts, or bolts on your chair, you should tighten them first and then spray some WD40 on them.
It’s a great option because it will not take long to dry and will not create any kind of a mess.
WD40 does not have any odor like other oils and will give a water-proof finish. It is safe to use on any kind of material like plastic, rubber, vinyl, and many more.
If you don’t have any, you can buy this WD40.
Final Thoughts:
Squeaky home office chairs can be irritating and reduce work productivity. Even an expensive chair can start to creak over time. It is fairly common after a few years of using the chair. However, a new chair can also make the sound if the assembling is not done perfectly.
Nonetheless, just like every problem it has a solution, and you will also be either fix it or minimize it by following the steps in our article.
For further assistance, remember Herman Miller comes with a 12-year warranty, so make proper use of that.
