Treadmill Maintenance Guide

Speaking candidly about your treadmill’s various health and fitness benefits, does it occur to you that your training partner requires regular maintenance too?

The treadmills for home workout are costly, and they are subjected to the heavy-duty workload with continuous workout sessions that keep your family members fit. 

The ever-increasing stress on the treadmill machinery with every finished workout session calls for its timely maintenance to ensure its long-lasting services.

If you are clueless regarding maintaining your treadmill, read on as we discuss useful tips for keeping your treadmill functioning efficiently.  

Lubricating the Treadmill

The treadmill belt is subjected to regular friction and needs lubrication for proper functioning.

The exact procedure of lubricating the treadmill belt varies from machine to machine. 

Some advanced treadmills feature a self-lubricating mechanism that automatically releases special wax for lubricating their components over time. 

Any unnecessary lubrication may interfere with the machine’s functioning and damage the treadmill’s components. 

It is recommended that you should read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to confirm if your treadmill needs lubrication. If it does, follow the instructions as specified in the manual.

Loosen the belt. Apply a silicone- or paraffin-based lubricant to the underside of the belt. Once you are done, retighten the belt securely in its place.

Take care to avoid spilling any lubricant on the walking surface of the belt. 

You must lubricate your treadmill belt at least once a year. However, you may need to apply it more often, depending on the frequency and timings of workout sessions. 

Don’t use any cheap quality lubricant and seek guidance from the manufacturer’s support regarding any queries about using the best quality lubricants.

Vacuuming the Motor Compartment

It is recommended to vacuum your treadmill machinery at least once a year.

Turn off your treadmill and unplug it by removing the cords from the power outlet.

Keep your vacuum cleaner ready and remove the motor cover for vacuuming inside the motor compartment. 

Use proper vacuum attachments for cleaning difficult to reach areas.

Pay special attention while cleaning delicate electrical components, so that they don’t get sucked up through the vacuum nozzle.

Aligning the Belt

The belt alignment is crucial for the efficient functioning of the treadmill. The belt must run straight down the center of the track. 

The belt of your treadmill may shifts out of the alignment from time to time. 

If you feel that the belt is not properly aligned, try adjusting the bolts present both sides at the rear end of the machine. 

Check the alignment after making the adjustments. Repeat it if required.

Also, refer to your user’s guide for instructions regarding belt alignment.

Maintaining the Belt Tension

Your treadmill’s belt is maintained at a pre-set belt tension. This adjusted belt tension is kept just enough to avoid the belt from slipping.

Over time, the belt gets stretched out as it handles the pressure of numerous workout sessions.

This may result in your belt getting too loose, which causes it to slip. A slipping belt results in excessive wear to the deck, as well as the belt. 

On the other hand, if the belt gets too tight, it poses risks to motor and rollers’ normal functioning. 

Thus it is mandatory to keep optimal and balanced belt tension.  

Tighten the bolts if you find that your belt begins to slip. 

Moreover, read the manufacturer’s instructions beforehand regarding making any adjustments.

Replacing the Worn Out Belt

As your treadmill is excessively used for regular high-intensity workouts, it’s obvious that your treadmill’s belt will eventually wear out. 

Check your belt for the signs of wear after every three months. 

You may do it more often, depending upon the frequency of your workout sessions. 

When your belt gets worn out, it feels rough and worn out from the underside. Simply run your hand along underneath of belt’s surface to confirm it.

Replace the wear out belt with a new one; otherwise, it may accelerate your deck’s wearing. 

Clean Your Treadmill Regularly

Your treadmill offers great workout sessions for losing weight and attaining your fitness goals. 

It rapidly burns your calories and often leaves you bathed in sweat.

You wouldn’t like your treadmill spilled with your sweat drops. Not only it makes your machine filthy, smelly, and dirty, but it also build-up the moisture. 

This moisture contributes to the growth of bacteria and fungi. It also promotes the rusting of metallic components.

After every workout session, it is a practice of wiping the machine with a clean and wet cloth.

Regularly engage in the thorough cleaning of your home treadmill at least once every week. 

Place a Mat Underneath the Machine

Keep your treadmill machine over a treadmill mat. It provides sufficient protection to your flooring and also subsidizes the noise emanating from the machine. 

The treadmill mat also absorbs and accumulates the excess dust and dirt and keeps your machine clean. 

Moreover, it is also convenient to vacuum the mat for cleaning the surroundings of the machine.

Perform Simple Maintenance Checks Regularly

Every week perform simple maintenance checks such as checking the walking belt and deck for any signs of wear and tear.

Ensure that belt and deck are straight, centered, and perfectly aligned.

Check for the signs of scraping or rubbing on the sides of your deck and belt. 

Replace the rough and worn out belt if required to enhance the deck’s lifespan and entire treadmill.

Vacuum the area surrounding the treadmill and its underneath surfaces using specific vacuum attachments. 

Vacuuming the treadmill mat and machine collects the dust, debris, and pet hairs that may accumulate on the machine and even damage its motor compartment. 

Every month check and tighten the frame nuts and bolts to secure them in their place if required. 

Protect the electronic components of your treadmill by checking the power cords regularly, ensuring the machine’s safety during power fluctuations, and plugging the machine into a surge protector.

Call a Professional

If you feel that your troubleshooting is not rendering the desired results, call a treadmill professional to fix the issue at hand.

Being an expensive appliance, it’s unaffordable to get a new treadmill now and then. That makes the maintenance of the treadmill as our high priority task

By investing little time and effort regularly, you can save huge spending on repairing the treadmill when it gets a breakdown in the absence of regular maintenance.

With regular maintenance, you can assure of getting the maximum benefits out of your treadmill and maintain a consistent fitness regimen.