Maintaining the Life of Your Treadmill to Get the Most Out of Your Investment

If you have just purchased your first treadmill or you bought a newer model than what you previously had, it is a meticulously planned investment in your health and getting the best performance out of your treadmill and maintaining the life of the equipment is extremely important. Take these caveats into consideration to extend the life of your treadmill investment and first things first—read the manual.

Treadmill maintenance starts from when you take your treadmill out of the box, set it up, and plug it in. Inspect all parts and accessories, making sure there are no defects in craftsmanship or damage resulting from mishandling during shipment or delivery. Don’t know how or don’t want to set up your treadmill yourself? Fitness Expo staff provides in-home service and can handle the complete setup of your equipment for you.

• Place the treadmill on a flat surface. Unstable or warped floors will compromise quality performance as well as damage the movable parts of the treadmill.
• Plugging your treadmill into a surge protector will safeguard it from electrical damage in the event of a severe storm or a power surge.
• Consider a sure-grip, heavy duty, non-compressing, and non-curling treadmill mat to place your treadmill on to protect the life of the motor. On a carpeted or hardwood surfaces, the motor will attract lint, dust, and dirt.
• Implement a maintenance schedule. A good, regular maintenance schedule is four times a year – think in terms of seasons.
• Periodically tighten the belt of your treadmill. All drive belts, like the alternator belt of an automobile or a bicycle chain, get slack over time with continual use. The owner’s manual will help you to locate the treadmill belt’s tightening bolts.
• Keep the dust bunnies away. Regularly dust all surfaces of your treadmill, using a damp cloth and water – nothing else. A lot of dust removal solutions contain emollients and will make the treadmill belt slippery, which can cause injury.
• Also, check the functions of the treadmill when you are not using it, making sure all buttons, speed, incline, etc., is fully functional.

Remember to unplug your treadmill before you start any maintenance tasks.