There are many reasons to buy a comfortable recliner chair: if you want to renovate your home by incorporating new furniture or if you suffer from joint pain and need an ally to combat swelling - recliners are ideal to satisfy multiple demands and tastes.
Now, are you looking for a power recliner that allows you to tilt with the push of a button? Or do you opt for a manual recliner that needs a little effort but offers more aesthetic appeal? Whether electric or manual, the important thing is that you find seating that is comfortable and matches your style preferences.
The article outlines the different types of recliners that you can find on the market. Whether electric or manual, you will know how each one operates and what their pros and cons are. In this way, you will have a guide to find the perfect reclining furniture with the features that best suit your needs.
The Common Types of Recliners for Your Home: Electric vs Manual
Electric Recliners: Main Advantages
Most modern recliners require a power source or a rechargeable battery pack to run. The piece of furniture can be controlled by a remote control or with a touch of a button. They may be a bit more expensive than manual recliners, but they provide a more convenient and simple method of changing the recline angle and operating the various functions. Due to the ease of use that power recliners offer, this is a top-notch option for someone who wants to come home and relax instantly or for someone who likes a little luxury in their life. Seniors with mobility issues can benefit from such a recliner as it can be adjustable to the user's needs with not putting much effort.
These types of electric chairs often have additional features like a built-in massage that allows you to kick back and feel relaxed while enjoying a massage. They can include different massage techniques, intensity levels, and heat treatment options, making them an excellent choice for anyone who wants the therapeutic and additional benefits of a massage chair. Most electric models come with a USB port to charge your device (mobile, tablet, electric mug) while resting in a chair.
How the Mechanism of an Electric Recliner Works
In the case of electric recliners, these have a motor and a control through which signals are sent to the chair so that it adopts the different available positions. This type of chair is more suitable for people with reduced mobility or who have an injury because, in many cases, they may have a system incorporated that helps the user to get up.
For example, the Pride Mobility Ultra PLR-4955 VivaLift is a clear example of a five-star electric recliner. This model has a tilt mechanism, a zero gravity movement that elevates one’s knees about the heart and allows blood to circulate back to the heart. It also comes with a heating system - three conveniently located heat pads in the shoulders, lumbar, and seat regions of the chair, providing three heat levels.
Manual Recliners: Main Advantages
As the name suggests, manual recliners must be operated manually. This is usually done by pulling a lever, although some models can use your body weight; for example, you can recline the chair by leaning back or return the footrest by pushing with your legs.
Manual recliners require strength to operate, so they are not a good choice for people with limited mobility. They are generally cheaper to purchase and can be placed anywhere in your living room or bedroom, as they are easily moved and do not require cords to operate.
How a Manual Recliner Mechanism Works
Recliners have a very similar aesthetic to a normal chair, with the difference that recliners always include a headrest, leg rest, and lumbar support. The mechanism of a manual recliner is very basic and simple and can be used in two ways: with a lever or with inertia.
A manual recliner with a lever has a lever located on the inner side of the chair that, when pushed backward, places the backrest and leg rest in the desired position.
On the other hand, the mechanism of the manual inertia recliner means that when you lean the body back, the mechanism is activated, and the backrest goes back, and the legrest goes up, adopting a relaxing position.
So, What’s the Difference? And What Recliner to Choose?
This difference between manual and power recliners is something very relative and is left to the point of view of each client, but in any case, there are some points to take into account when choosing one piece of furniture or another. There are many people who believe that manual recliners tend to break down less simply because there is no electric motor working every now and then, and to tell the truth, this idea has its logic, but it is not very precise. It must be taken into account that manual recliners, over time, may have the problem of opening improperly, thus causing the mechanism to break down more quickly. On the other hand, with the electric system, there is the advantage that the opening will always be perfect because the system is prepared for that.
Anyway, it is important to be aware that the usage of the electric mechanism is negligible (that of the foot platform lift), so this part should not even be considered. As far as repair is concerned, there is also a certain myth that says that electric recliners are more complex to repair, but the reality is different, since you simply have to change the affected motor. In manual systems, the same thing can happen since you only have to change the mechanism.
So, which recliner should you choose? At Marc’s Mobility, we recommend that you opt for power recliners as they are not complex systems to maintain, they are easy to repair, and what is more important, they will not complicate your life when you get home tired and do not want to do anything other than take your seat, activate the massage system and watch your favorite movie.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing between power and manual recliners, there really isn’t a right or wrong answer. As long as you choose something that you like, that fits your aesthetic, and that feels comfortable to you, then it’s the right piece of furniture. If you have back problems or experience limited mobility, buying a power recliner may be the best option for you. In the case of budget-friendly options, a manual recliner is a good point to start from.
