Treadmill Maintenance 11 Tips For The Care Of Your Treadmill

So, you’ve spent the weeks you needed to research, try out, choose and purchase your brand new treadmill. You’ve gotten it assembled and begun your daily workouts…so what now? Well, even the highest end commercial treadmills need a bit of love and affection to keep them purring like a kitten. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to keep your treadmill in tip top shape.

Tip #1

The first thing you are going to want to do is get a good treadmill mat to go underneath your unit. Despite what you think, a treadmill mat isn’t as much for protecting your floor as for protecting your treadmill. You see, a treadmill’s motor builds up a huge static charge as you work out. The charge will suck dust, lint and debris into your motor, causing it to clog and run inefficiently. The more gunk in your motor the worse it will run and the shorter its lifespan will be. Sliding a nice treadmill mat underneath your equipment will help reduce that static and the amount of stuff getting sucked up in it. As a bonus, you’ll also be protecting your floor and carpet. Watch out for cheap mats, tho. If you pick up a budget treadmill mat you run the risk of having it stain your hardwood floor or stick to your carpet. Supermat is a great brand of treadmill mat and can be purchased for as low as $35.

Tip #2

Sticking with dust and dirt, make sure to dust/clean your treadmill once every other week. Take special care with the belt area as any build up should be cleaned off right away or you’ll risk reduced performance.

Tip #3

I know it’s going to sound over obvious, but make sure to keep your power cord well away from the base of the unit and the incline mechanism. You have no idea how many cords we end up replacing on our service calls.

Tip #4

If you find your belt slipping, it may be because the belt tracking is off. You can adjust your tracking the same way you make sure the belt is properly aligned, with the alignment screws at the rear of your treadmill. An allen wrench is all you need. A quick quarter clockwise turn should tighten everything back up. Make sure never to turn either side more than a quarter turn at any given time because you the adjustments levels are very fine. Keeping your belt aligned will reduce the load on you treadbelt and belt guides. Check out your owner’s manual for more information.

Tip #5

A lot of times the cause of miss aligned on a treadbelt is from the unit not being level. Make sure to get your treadmill level.

Tip #6

Unless specifically isntructed by your owner’s manual, do not use silicone or oils to lubricate your treadmill’s deck. A clean, dry, dust-free bed and belt combination is ideal for a long-lasting treadmill. If your manual recommends the use of a silicone spray for lubrication, make sure to precisely follow application and scheduling instructions. Some treadmill decks may require initial waxing to help reduce friction with the belt. Do not wax a deck unless recommended by the manufacturer. Lubrication to pretreated wax decks may interfere with the wax.

Tip #7

The lowest level of friction between your belt and deck is desired. If the amount of friction is too high, you’ll end up with damage and wear to both your motor and your year. The best way to judge a low friction belt is that it will slide when the power is off and you can manually walk the belt when the treadmill is powered down. Improper lubrication can lead to overworking your motor.

Tip #8

One of the main problems on most treadmills (home and commercial) is in the control board. As with any computer, the treadmill’s control board is subject to power surges, improper grounding and so on. The best way to protect your treadmill’s computer brain is to unplug it when not in use and use a grounded plug when powered on.

Tip #9

Read your user’s manual. I know, I know…”who really reads those darn things?” Well, you should. Just about everything you need to know will be found in that little book that came with your treadmill. Pop it open while you’re in the bathroom for a good read.

Tip #10

Never operate your treadmill while wet. Bad idea for so many reasons.

Tip #11

Last but not least, if you are having trouble with your treadmill and need it fixed…then call the Treadmill Sensei! That’s what we do! (Ok, so it’s a shameless plug…but it’s my website so nyah).

Anyway, a few simple steps and you’ll be able to take care of your treadmill so it can continue to help take care of you for years to come

- The Treadmill Sensei

Compare Treadmills Read All Treadmill Reviews Before Buying One

Compare treadmills and their features before making a decision. The number of features plus the fact that the prices of treadmills can range from about $500 all the way to $10,000 means that you must compare treadmills as much as possible.

Some lower priced treadmills can actually have a better treadmill rating than some that cost thousands of dollars more. There are many things to consider before you buy any treadmill.

Here are just a few different points to take into account when making a treadmill comparison:

Compare treadmills tip #1: Determine how much you are will to spend before you go shopping.

As mentioned above, the cost of a treadmill can vary greatly. This is truly a case of you get what you paid for. You’ll find this true with any treadmill reviews you can find.

The cheaper treadmills simply aren’t built to last.

On the other hand you don’t have to rush out and do a treadmill comparison of only the most expensive treadmills. After all, in a lot of cases you’re only paying for the fancy add-ons and other gadgets.

Compare treadmills tip #2: Check around. Don’t go to one location and buy right away. Compare treadmills at all of your local treadmill stores.

Possibly the most overlooked place to purchase a treadmill is online. Online exercise equipment stores offer many more advantages over regular stores. Check as many of them out as well.

When searching online try to locate some good exercise equipment reviews that will help you narrow down your search.

Compare treadmills #3: What will you use it for? Before making any treadmill comparison you need to determine exactly what you will use it for. Will you be doing a casual walk now and then? Will you use it for a light jog each day? Or will you use it for intense running?

The more you intend to use it, the more money you will have to pay. Most treadmills under $2000 cannot handle daily running.

Compare treadmills tip #4: How much space do you have set aside in your home for your treadmill?



This is one area that a lot of consumers overlook. Just where will you put that treadmill once you get it? Also, you will have to leave approximately 2 extra feet of space on all sides of it.

If you are using your treadmill to run on or are a tall person, you will need a treadmill with a longer belt (the surface you run on). Running requires a longer stride so keep this in mind.

Compare treadmills tip #5: Test before you buy. Regardless if a treadmill rating is high on certain models and not on others, test for yourself. Even if one model gets good treadmill reviews online, you still have to test it if at all possible.

Most treadmills sold online will also be sold at exercise equipment stores. You have to determine if it will work for your unique situation regardless of what the online treadmill reviews say.

Compare treadmills tip #6: Performance. When you test out any treadmill make sure you take note of how smooth it runs and how quiet it is. Treadmills with cheaper parts (but a high price tag) tend to make a lot of noise and vibrate somewhat.

Compare treadmills tip #7: Warranty concerns. Check out the warranty in great detail. All manufactures are different. Most are quite different when it comes to the motor, the belt (the belt you run on), the frame and various options.

A lot of the cheaper treadmills only offer a year or less on the belt. If the belt breaks after that, you can expect to pay an additional $500 or much more for a replacement.

Compare treadmills tip #8: What safety features should you look for? Probably the biggest one is an emergency stop button. This is very helpful in case you slip and fall off the treadmill. You also have to determine if it will support your body weight.

Some treadmills don’t support as much as you think. The last thing you want to have happen is for the treadmill frame to break when you have it on an incline or are running. You could get seriously injured.

Compare treadmills tip #9: What top speed will you need. Most treadmills have different sized motors and therefore will run at different speeds. Make sure it can handle the speed you want to run at.

So there are just a few points to keep in mind when buying a treadmill. It is a big financial decision, so do your homework ahead of time. Read as many treadmill reviews or treadmill ratings as you can find.