Maintaining Your Treadmill

Owning a costly piece of fitness equipment like a treadmill, you will want your investment to last for as long as it can. Maintaining your treadmill regularly therefore plays a crucial part in prolonging the life of your fitness machine and enjoying the full value of your investment.

While all treadmills require regular maintenance, a quality treadmill should be easy to care for and not require frequent upkeep. While you should at least dust and lubricate your treadmill occasionally, here are some handy tips to keep your treadmill long lasting and running on optimal performance.

Before you begin, here are several basic items that you would require on-hand when maintaining your treadmill: a vacuum cleaner, a screwdriver (both a flat blade and a cross slotted screw head), Allen wrenches (your treadmill should come with these) and cleaning rags.

One of the main causes of premature malfunction in a treadmill is dirt. For this reason, you should always vacuum the dust around the motor and drive mechanisms of your treadmill. If a vacuum is not in your possession, then a cloth or a small brush will do the trick just as well. Bear in mind that with a motor that is clean, it will rarely become clogged or overheat. Dirt can also cause the premature failure of the running belt on a treadmill. Dusting between the belt and the deck at least once a week should be a cultivated habit in maintaining your treadmill. Keep the area around your treadmill as dust-free as possible to lessen the chances of any dust getting between the best and the deck.

You should develop a regular weekly and monthly schedule for maintaining your treadmill. It may be a hassle to begin doing this, however, if you think about the long-term benefits of consistent maintenance of your machine, the hassle will be worth your while. Your once a week maintenance procedure should involve wiping down your machine - this includes the display, frame, handrails, running deck and running belt - with a damp cloth. Vacuuming the area around and under your treadmill should also be carried out regularly.

Your monthly cleaning procedure should involve a slightly more detailed routine that your weekly one. The first thing you should do is to unplug your treadmill from the power socket and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. Take off the motor cover and vacuum the motor area or use a soft cloth and small brush to carefully clean the area.

Next, you should clean the running belt and the running deck just as in your weekly maintenance routine. This time, however, rotate the belt 180 degrees and clean again. This will help you clean the entire surface of the running belt as possible. If your owner's manual calls for the application of lubrication under the tread belt, you can apply this during your monthly cleaning procedure. Make sure that you get the appropriate lubrication recommended by the manufacturer. Finally, check the tension of the drive belt and make the necessary adjustments that you think are needed. This is important because even the drive belts of high-end treadmills tend to stretch slightly after initial use. Adjusting the belt monthly will to keep the stretching to a minimum.

You should also make sure that the area where you place your machine is level. Ensuring this plays a significant role in helping you maintaining your treadmill because often squeaks from your machine and belt mis-tracking arise from treadmills not place on leveled floors.

The most important thing you should do in maintaining the upkeep of your treadmill is to read the owner's manual because it will offer you with tips, advice, dos and don'ts for the proper maintenance of your fitness equipment.