One great way to make the things you want from the things you have is to fix little flaws. Today’s topic is how to fix a squeaky electric recliner loveseat. The hardest part of this task is pinning down exactly where the squeak is coming from. The solution is easier than you probably expect.
The Squeak of Death
As you can see from the above photo, the loveseat is in excellent condition, other than the unpleasant noise. The previous owner enjoyed the seat for ten years or more. We have only had it in our home for a couple of days and the dogs are thoroughly enjoying it. It would be easy to conclude this piece of furniture has seen the best of its days. Who would want to use a beautiful loveseat if they were forced to endure the torturous sound every time they put their feet up or down? To make matters worse, the seat squeaks on both sides. It is like a chorus of shrieking monkeys when two people are using the loveseat. Let’s get to work and learn how to fix the squeaky electric recliner.
Finding the Squeak in the Electric Recliner Loveseat
As mentioned before, finding the source of the squeak is the hardest part. My best advice is to let all the animals go outside. Turn off all televisions, fans, and other distracting sounds so you can focus on the offending squeak. I did all of the above then pushed the control to raise and lower the footrest. I had to repeat the process several times before I determined the squeak was coming from below the seating area.
Flipping the Loveseat to Pinpoint the Squeeking Source
I enlisted the help of my oldest daughter to get to the bottom of the problem. We slowly and carefully tilted the top of the couch onto the floor so the bottom faced toward me. This provides a clear view of the loveseat mechanics. I highly recommend this position to help fix a squeaky electric recliner.
Having better access to the underside of the loveseat made finding the source of the squeak much simpler. I began pushing the button to raise and lower the footrest once again while listening closely.
Ruling Out a Few Areas the Squeak May Be Coming From
I first suspected the long, large, moving metal rod in the center was at fault. I added a tiny bit of lubricant and began testing my theory. One quick press of the control revealed I hadn’t found the guilty party. This led me to begin ruling out each moving part one at a time. There is a potential for squeaking anywhere metal meets metal. You can see there are various plastic parts underneath. These most likely would cause more of a grinding sound than a squeak. So I moved on to the metal on metal areas.
Using a Different Method to find the Source of the Sound
My arm grew tired from reaching up to raise and lower the footrest. I changed methods realizing any movement could reveal metal rubbing on metal. Holding onto the two metal brackets supporting the footrest, I gently wiggled the braces causing the joints to bend slightly. Using this motion repeatedly produced a similar squeak in the rear of the mechanism. I got my spray can of lubricant and began applying it to any screws, bolts, or metal moving parts in the area. Between each application, I wiggled the footrest testing to see if the squeak disappeared. Once I thought I hit the right spot, I tried out the control to confirm my victory.
Losing the Loveseat’s Voice
So here is the culprit:
There is a small bolt on either side of the back of the foot lift support. As the support is raised or lowered, metal on each side slowly moves around the bolt. This results in the loud long sqreeeeeeeach of metal grinding against metal. I’m sure the bolt had some type of coating or lubrication on it when it was made. That kept the friction to a minimum for at least 10 years before we received the loveseat. Next, I was on a mission to rid the loveseat of its terrible voice.
Ridding the Electric Recliner Loveseat of All Squeeking on Both Foot Lifts
I applied a spray lubricant to the inside edge of the screw as well as any attached washers and moving parts on either side. As luck would have it, the same bolt on each side was causing the shrill sound. Below are a few pictures of me applying the spray lubricant. I have been known to use petroleum jelly, candle wax, or even shortening in a pinch. These are useful short-term solutions if you don’t have spray lubricant on hand.
The Sweet Sound of Silence!
Now, both sides of the electric recliner loveseat go up and down without a peep, or squeak! See how simple it is to find and fix a squeaky recliner. A lot of people may declare a beautiful loveseat like this as beyond use. But now, you are ready to make the squeaky nuisance into something you will use for years to come. I will be uploading a video of the process on the Sawdust and Cornbread YouTube Channel so you can see and hear the difference. You can find more practical home solutions like this on our Fix-It page under Topics.
Thanks for joining me at Sawdust and Cornbread. We can do it, we can do it, we can make our couch not squeaky. Until next time ~Lora Lea
