Massage Chair Maintenance

Ah, the wonders of a massage chair! Often I catch myself dreaming about arriving home after my 90 minute commute and plopping down with my handy pear pad on my hefty, feature-packed massage chair. Mine is actually a chair-and-a-half wide, with rich blue leather and an extra tall back. Also, it is strategically placed in front of our huge -screen TV, right next to the bar refrigerator we keep well stocked with ice cream and Milwaukee's finest.

I shopped for a chair that made maximum motion but minimum noise. There are premium chairs available, and are well worth it. You want your friends and family hearing the TV, not the chair. I admit I went all out - my unit has heat, though I seldom have to use it down here in warm, humid Sarasota, Florida. But if you live in cooler climes, just think how enjoyable a warm massage would be on a blustery day.

I periodically inspect and maintain the chair, which means I have to turn it on its side to view the spring works. I occasionally have to apply some rust remover to the springs - everything rusts down here if you let it! I also make sure the motor's brush is not worn down; if so, I replace it. It's good to check the condition of the electrical cord to make sure it's not cut or frayed. And I never spare the leather cleaner and conditioner. Once every four months seems right to me, but neat freaks might have a tighter schedule.

Get this, my unit came with a foot-massaging Ottoman. No joke! I also inspect it's working parts and keep it clean and conditioned. My wife really likes this feature of the chair, and I have to admit it's not bad. We have few rules for the kids, but one strictly enforced is to stay off Daddy's chair or it's a big timeout. Wish I could enforce this with my wife, but hey, she's bigger than me.

If your chair starts making an unfamiliar or loud sound, unplug it and get the repair guy in right away. Often you can fix the problem before it gets too bad, and thus avoid a motor transplant or other ghastly procedure. Not that I am obsessed with my massage chair, but really, it's the best seat in the house, maybe in the whole neighborhood!