Treadmill & cardio machine maintenance

Maintaining a home gym is a crucial but sometimes overlooked part of the process. When you’ve spent thousands of pounds on equipment, the last thing you want is the materials wearing out sooner than they should.

The way to avoid this? Implementing some quick and easy maintenance habits to make sure your gym is running at full performance, full time.

We’ve already talked about looking after squat racks and floor tiles, so this post is all about futureproofing your treadmill and cardio equipment.

1. Place cardio equipment on proper gym flooring

Investing in purpose-built gym flooring has a number of benefits. It’ll protect your house or garage floor, soundproof the room and cushion your weights when setting them down.

Cardio machines should also be on appropriate flooring. Placing a treadmill or an exercise bike on an uneven patch of carpet, for example, can make the equipment unstable and increases the chance of it overheating. We stock easy-clean gym flooring in a variety of thickness levels to combat this.

2. Check your treadmill belt’s tension regularly

A treadmill belt should have a slight tension to it, to the point where it’s firm but not rigid. If you notice your belt getting loose, stop using the treadmill and check the product manual or reach out to the manufacturer and ask how to tighten the belt.

3. Dust your equipment regularly

We all want to workout in a clean space, but it’s especially important to make sure your cardio machines are free of dust due to the motor and electric components. Dust can get into the electrics and contribute to overheating. Avoid this by wiping your machines down regularly with a dry cloth or a feather duster.

4. Keep your machines dry

Any moisture that your equipment is exposed to, like sweat or water, increases the chance of the parts rusting and getting weaker. If you’ve had a particularly strenuous workout, take the time to wipe down your surfaces with a damp cloth to clean them and once again with a dry cloth to prevent any moisture build ups.

5. Lubricate the treadmill’s belt

A treadmill—especially one that gets a lot of use—can develop additional friction between the belt and running deck over time. This leads to it feeling clunkier and puts the treadmill’s motor at risk of overheating since it’s working overtime to keep up the speed. We recommend lubricating the treadmill belt every three months, but it’s important to check that your manufacturer also recommends this for your product. Here's a demo video to help you.

6. Check for loose bolts and materials

With treadmills especially, you should be vigilant for parts loosening over time. Whether it’s the running deck that absorbs all of your impact or the rails that support you when hopping to the sides of the treadmill, even the toughest of builds can weaken over time. Check bolts and fastenings regularly and tighten them if needed.

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Maintaining your home gym is absolutely worth the time commitment. You’ve spent a lot of money putting it together so you want it to last!

Follow our advice here and you’ll be safeguarding your future workouts. Check out our other maintenance tips on squat racks, floor tiles or general home gym maintenance.