Having a comfortable desk is one of the biggest contributors to working hard and staying productive. But since the COVID-19 pandemic caused so many workers to start working remotely, a new type of desk has been on the rise.
The standing desk.
But what is a standing desk, what are the benefits associated with them, and what are the common issues users can experience? Let's find out.
What is a Standing Desk?
A standing desk is a desk that's built at a height for standing at it, not sitting. Standing desks are great for people who want to avoid the sedentary lifestyle that can sometimes accompany sitting at a desk.
In fact, standing desks can lower your risk of weight gain, lower your risk of heart disease, and even reduce back pain. Some standing desks have sufficient room underneath for a treadmill, so users can walk while they attend meetings or work.
There are plenty of studies showing why sitting down all day can be bad for health, so investing in a standing desk that allows you to stay active even when working can be great for your mental and physical health.
Height adjustable desks are also becoming increasingly common as they allow users to adjust the desk to a height that feels most comfortable for them, avoiding the aches and pains associated with sitting improperly at a desk.
Many standing desks themselves are adjustable, so you can set them to a standing height that works for you, or a height under which you can fit a treadmill.
Flexispot is one of the UK's leading suppliers of standing desks and height-adjustable desks. Below you'll find a guide to troubleshooting these products in the unlikely event of any issues.
Common Standing Desk Issues
While standing desks are typically super-reliable, there are some common issues that can occur. When this happens, it's important to know how to fix them. With that in mind, here are some of the most typical problems for users with standing desks and what to do about them.
No response when pressing and holding the DOWN button
It can be stressful when your desk isn't responding to commands and the height isn't changing. In the event of this issue occurring, start by checking the cable connection.
If the cable is plugged in, check the power supply by trying another electronic product in the same socket. If the other product works, indicating that there's no problem with the power supply, contact the manufacturer for support.
Work surface sliding downward
If your work surface is sliding downward, it can be a hazard for belongings such as your laptop, which can easily slide down the desk, fall, and break.
Standing desks are designed only to hold 220 lbs or less, so start by checking whether there are more than 220 lbs on your work surface. If the load weighs more than 220 lbs, remove part of all of the load from the desk.
If the issue persists, or the load isn't heavy, contact the distributor or manufacturer.
The distance lifted or lowered isn't accurate
If you find that your desk isn't lifting or lowering to the height requested, the first port of call is to press and hold the M and 3 buttons simultaneously for three seconds or more until you hear the beep sound twice. Doing this restores factory settings, which should solve the problem.
If the distance continues to be inaccurate, contact the distributor or manufacturer of your product.
The desk can lift but cannot lower down
As with the previous issue, the best practice in this scenario is to restore factory settings and reset the desk. You can do this by pressing and holding the M and the 3 buttons for three seconds or more until the beep sounds twice.
If the issue continues even after you've reset the desk, this count point to a manufacturing issue. In this instance, get in touch with the manufacturers or distributors directly for more advice.
The speed of lifting is slow
If you notice that your desk isn't rising as quickly as it usually does, check that the load isn't too heavy for the desk. The load shouldn't be more than 220 lbs. If the load is light or you remove it and the problem still occurs, contact the company you bought the desk from.
More often than not, you can troubleshoot issues yourself. In the event that you follow all the advice and your standing or height adjustable desk still isn't working as it should, the best course of action is to contact the manufacturer or distributor to see if you have a faulty model.