Exercise & Fitness Articles

Treadmills are expensive pieces of equipment with moving parts, so poor maintenance would cause more damage than it repairs. Every treadmill is designed differently and hence, for the best maintenance, it would be best to refer to the manual supplied with it.

Even a simple thing like dust accumulation may be a deterrent for the smooth movement of the conveyor. About once a week, the treadmill should be dusted all over. Special attention must be paid to areas under the belt, and any accumulation there should be dusted off.

There are several treadmill maintenance kits available in the market. They are mostly silicone-based. These kits may be used, after dusting, on moving parts such as the belt, the deck and the motor. A few drops of lubrication fluid through a convenient dropper help in maintaining lubrication in these parts of the machine and reduces the friction. But, a word of caution! Use these kits only if recommended by the manufacturers. Using the wrong type of liquid on a treadmill may make the belt too slippery, and make it lose its grip. There may be other problems these may create with the incline. Generally treadmill manufacturers also manufacture their own treadmill maintenance kits. Instead of using commercial kits, one can also use any other non-abrasive, non-acidic cleaner fluid with equal impact.

Waxing the deck must be avoided unless specifically mentioned in the treadmill manual. Many treadmill manufacturers have their own coatings on the belt for grip. Waxing them may just make the surface gummier and make it lose its grip.

There are little things that must be done regularly, like wiping the console and the handrails with a damp cloth, keeping the deck clean, etc. Do not use wet cloths on the console. As in any electronic device, grounding is necessary. An AC power supply with grounding would prevent the digital parts of the treadmill from crashing. A loss in the artificial intelligence of the treadmill may translate into loss of inclines and speeds, and may also render the treadmill totally dysfunctional.

However heavy the treadmill may be, with time it moves a little. There may be changes in the belt, which may gradually move on one side. About once a month, the belt must be realigned with the center. Belt tracking is also done if the belt falls loose and begins to sag. But be careful that you do not tighten the belt too much.

The treadmill itself may move over time and lose its level with the floor. This may cause squeaking noises while the belt is in motion. Adjust the treadmill regularly for its horizontality.

These simple maintenance procedures can be done by the users themselves. It is not necessary to contract professionals for maintenance and pay their heavy bills. However, for more complicated things like a blown fuse or component replacement, it is best to approach the company.