How to Maintain a Power Recliner Between Repairs

To maintain a power recliner between repairs, follow your chair's owner manual and upholstery care tag. Clean the cover the way its care code allows, check the power parts you can see, and keep the area around the chair clear so it can recline freely.

Care like this can head off some problems you could avoid, but it won't stop every failure. It also doesn't include opening the motor or adjusting the mechanism unless your manual tells you how. The examples below come from specific makers' instructions, and your own model's directions take priority.

How to maintain a power recliner between repairs

Start with the two documents that came with your chair: the owner manual and the upholstery tag. No single cleaner, check schedule, wall gap, or adjustment works for every power recliner, so those two sources decide what your routine looks like.

Clean upholstery by its care code

The cleaning method depends on the code printed on the tag, and the codes can contradict each other. Ashley's care guide is a good example. It says the tag on its upholstered pieces sits under a seat cushion or beneath the unit. On those pieces, code S means clean only with a dry-cleaning solvent and never water. Code W means use only a water-based shampoo or foam cleaner and no solvents. Code X rules out both water and solvents and allows only vacuuming or light brushing.

So a cleaner that's fine on a W-coded cover can be wrong for an S or X cover. These codes are Ashley's system, so don't apply them to another maker's chair. Read your own tag and follow that maker's guidance. If your seating has real leather, follow the leather instructions from your maker, and our real leather care guide covers routine cleaning and conditioning.

Check visible power parts and clear the reclining path

Power checks are about looking, not taking things apart. Here's what La-Z-Boy's Power Ease operating instructions tell owners of the products they cover:

• Unplug before cleaning. Pull the plug from the wall outlet before you clean, move, or service the chair, or before leaving it unused for a long time.
• Inspect the power parts regularly. Look over the power transformer (the power box), electrical cord, plug, and connectors. The manual says "regularly" and gives no set interval.
• Keep heat away. Keep the transformer and cords away from heat sources.
• Replace backup batteries on schedule. If a covered Power Ease unit has battery backup, the manual says to replace the batteries every six months and after each time they're used during a power failure.
• Leave room to move. Keep the path clear for the chair, back, and legrest. Place tables and area rugs far enough away that the legrest can fully extend without rubbing.
• Check the wall gap if your manual gives one. La-Z-Boy's PowerRecline instructions call for at least 2 inches between the fully reclined back and the wall. That figure applies only to the products that manual covers, so use the number in your own manual.

For help finding the power supply and checking its cables while the chair is unplugged, see our safe cable checks guide. Some manuals also describe owner adjustments. For example, the Power Ease manual has its own reclining-tension section. Treat an adjustment like that as a separate task, and only do it if your exact model's manual gives the steps.

When to stop and contact the maker or dealer

Stop using the chair and get service when a power part is damaged or wet, or when a fix would mean opening the motor. For the products covered by La-Z-Boy's Power Ease instructions, these conditions are outside owner care:

• A damaged power transformer, electrical cord, plug, or connector. Don't operate the unit. Contact the La-Z-Boy dealer for service.
• A damaged or wet power control, or a hand wand that has been dropped in water or any other liquid. Don't use the unit. Contact the dealer.
• Any problem with the pump or motor. Don't take apart or service either one. The manual says there are no serviceable parts inside.

Other brands may give different stop signs and service steps, so follow your own maker's directions rather than borrowing La-Z-Boy's process. Don't guess at an adjustment or open the mechanism to see what's wrong. If your chair came from us, contact seating support and describe what you're seeing, and we'll help you work out the next step. You can also check our warranty coverage details before arranging any service.

FAQs

Can I plug my power recliner into an extension cord or surge protector?

That depends on your manual. La-Z-Boy's PowerRecline instructions say to plug directly into a wall outlet and not to use an extension cord, adapter, or surge protector. They also say to keep the cord where it won't be pinched between moving parts or worn under carpet.

What should I do if I notice a strange smell coming from the chair?

The PowerRecline instructions say to unplug the power cord right away if you notice strange odors or fumes coming from the chair. Hold the plug itself when you pull it out, not the cord. Then contact the maker or dealer before you use the chair again.

How should I move a power recliner without damaging it?

The La-Z-Boy instructions say to unplug the chair and secure the mechanism first so it can't open unexpectedly. Never lift it by the mechanism, legrest, handle, or reclining back. If you have modular theater recliners, disconnect the units and move each one separately.

Is it okay to run the recliner back and forth for a long time?

Some manuals set a duty limit, meaning a cap on how long the motor should run before it rests. La-Z-Boy's PowerRecline manual says that after 1 minute of continuous operation, the system should rest for 9 minutes. Check whether your own manual gives a limit for your theater recliners.