How long do treadmills last?

Image from Unsplash

Our well-being is the number one priority. When taking care of ourselves, exercising not only improves our physical health: it also enriches our mental health to keep us happy and sane! Our workout routines need quality equipment from time to time to improve. And one way to improve it is by exercising on a treadmill.

Treadmills are motor-powered machines that let you jog in one spot. They are the perfect warmup exercise for cardio, which is a form of exercise that burns fats and calories while improving stamina. Though you’ve been wondering why you should buy one and how different it is from jogging, using a treadmill can help in the long term. 

But the question is, are they worth the price? Do they last long enough? In this article, let’s discuss how long do treadmills last and how you can maintain them in the best condition!

How long do treadmills last?

Image from Unsplash

The expected life span of a treadmill reaches 10 years, which serves a long time. But it can last up to several years alone without proper maintenance. According to Regained Wellness, you will also need to consider the surface you put your treadmill on, the quality of its machine, and how frequently you work out on it. 

Frequently used treadmills can wear out in 7 years; this is the best time to replace a treadmill. Average treadmills can wear out in 5 years, while high-quality ones can last up to 10 years if under proper care.

There are other signs that tell when you’ll need to conduct maintenance or buy a new treadmill. One way to keep it at peak performance is by having routine maintenance to ensure your treadmill’s components are up to date.

Here are some instances noted by Air Tasker that tell you when it’s time to find a replacement. 

When the treadmill belt slows down 

The belt may be too slow for walking after a sprint. There can be other factors why your treadmill is slowing down, one may be because of underlying damage such as frayed edges and minor tears in the fabric of the belt. 

Your treadmill might have improper belt tension. You can have it checked to see whether the belt would need a bit of tightening. Doing this, in turn, reduces strain and will prevent accidents like falling off.

Your treadmill’s motor may be getting too weak to roll the belt. This means you’ll need to change it. There are two types: AC motors and DC motors. Motors are the engine that pulls the treadmill’s belt to move and rotate as you run. Most house treadmills are equipped with an AC motor, while commercial gym treadmills use a DC motor.

Belt’s loss of smoothness 

There should be less friction when using your treadmill. The belt is supposed to be on a flat surface, meaning no lumps or peaks to feel when running. Once you step on something bumpy, the best advice is to check or replace the tracker of your treadmill. 

Having rocky bumps in the belt can hinder wheels from rotating altogether, causing accidents where you may end up tripping. 

Smoothness is different from extreme smoothness. This is when your treadmill speeds up on its own without any hesitation despite your controls.

Worn out treadmill

If there are any hints of discoloration on any part of the treadmill and it is no longer working at its peak performance, then it may be time to replace your treadmill.

Damaged parts with an expired warranty may also leave you no choice as treadmill parts are expensive and can be hard to find for specific brands.

Unresponsive Electronics.

If other options from your treadmill’s consoles are not working, this may mean a circuit problem in the electrical connection. This can cause a fire or electrocution, you will need to replace your treadmill immediately.

The motor is making weird noises

Your treadmill is supposed to make a smooth and minimal humming sound at most. These odd sounds may come from the motor, which means you should turn off the equipment at once. 

Motors are prone to clogging from dirt. Remember to have routine maintenance to prevent debris build-up. Check your warranty if they provide lifetime support for these components.

Why use a treadmill?

Image from Pexels

Purchasing a treadmill has its advantages for busy individuals and families. According to J reference, there has been a 40% increase from 50 million Americans who use treadmills. But most of all, it has benefits for your health and routines.

• Convenience – using a treadmill allows multitasking for busy families and individuals who do remote work and are too busy to head out to jog. You can easily exercise while monitoring your children and doing other chores, or watching television. But be mindful of your balance to prevent tripping or falling.
• Physical Health – Incorporating a treadmill improves fitness and is safer as it provides a flat smooth surface to run on compared to roads and sidewalks full of bumps. Running on a treadmill every day can strengthen your muscles and bones while maintaining good stamina. It also helps with weight loss and enriches our overall health.
• Therapy – With the guidance of a physician, treadmills are great for cardiac and physical therapy for patients to restore their body’s proper functioning. New treadmills also have updated features such as monitoring your heart rate and other advanced options created by brands today that help with medical practices.
• Helps Routine – A home treadmill can help you with your daily workout. Bad weather won’t be a problem since you’ll have workout sessions planned in your home. Treadmills also have options like increasing speed for warming up or cooling down and energy spending. Other models can also monitor your heart rate and oxygen in-flow, making it user-friendly.

What maintenance is required for a treadmill?

Image by Pexels

Treadmill maintenance is important and often overlooked. A treadmill lasts longer with proper care. This means you’ll need to keep your treadmill clean and undergo multiple repairs if needed. Buying a new treadmill from manufacturers that offer a lifetime parts warranty can save you a lot of expenses and keep your treadmill in tip-top shape.

Here are some tips to ensure your treadmill will consistently have a sustained output:

Clean your treadmill’s components

Cleaning makes sure your treadmill feels smooth to use, especially for runners. There are different types of cleaning to ensure every part is well-maintained:

• Daily cleaning – this type of treadmill cleaning refers to surface cleaning. Simply grab a dry cloth and wipe off dust or sweat after your workout. Whether you work out every day or not, this will prevent the build-up of dirt from the outer part of the treadmill so fewer can get inside. 
• Weekly cleaning – You’ll need to check the inside of your treadmill, which means the motor, under the belt, and deck. Remember to unplug your treadmill first to avoid any possibility of electrocution. You can use a damp towel with warm water to wipe the belt. Push the belt with your hand to rotate it, and repeat when drying. But be careful when cleaning under the motor, avoid using liquid cleansers as much as you can, as it can damage the circuit. Vacuums are needed to clean any dust particles under the motor cover.
• Monthly cleaning –You can pay a professional cleaner from the manufacturer to clean the inside of your treadmill. Unplug the treadmill and then use a soft cloth or vacuum to clean the inside and surface. Avoid using strong cleaners, as they can remove the lubricant and other components of your treadmill. Unlike a daily and weekly clean-up, this will take at least an hour to complete. However, the results are satisfying! 

Apply Lubricant

Lubricants are important so that your treadmill belt moves smoothly. Sports Exchange notes that lubricants are made of 100% silicone, so you’ll need to check the components before buying a belt cleaner. There are two ways to lubricate a belt: 

Method 1: 

1. Use a treadmill lubricating stick with a handle and a sponge pad at its end.

2. Lift the belt on one end and stick the other end that is padded beneath the belt.

3. Spread the lubricant way down to the deck and repeat on the other side.

Method 2:

1. Pour the silicone/lubricant into the spray bottle.

2. Apply the silicone with that spray bottle.

3. Spread the silicon under the walking belt with a sponge.

After cleaning and applying lubricant, make sure to center the running belt on the treadmill.

Warranty

Manufacturers provide warranties specifically for your treadmill’s parts. Some models only work with certain components that match their model and brand.

The Health Constitution noted that some models offer lifetime warranties for motors and frames, several years for components and electronics, and a few years for labor. Older models may no longer have available parts to match. If the warranty of your treadmill’s worn-out part is expired, finding a new replacement is the best option.

How much does it cost to repair a treadmill?

Image from Pexels

Some treadmills can allow parts from different brands. You can check the manual and instructions from your treadmill to ensure whether or not it can work with other components.

But not all components can be replaced and some models can be too outdated beyond their life expectancy to have compatible parts. The safest component you can change is the treadmill’s runner belt.

Here’s a guide for the approximate prices of the runner belt:

Source from Airtasker

These prices, however, may vary as they also include treadmill lubricants and fitting tools for applying the runner belt.

Exercise tips for treadmill running

Image from Pexels

Now that you know the way around treadmill maintenance and the costs to make sure it can last as long as it can, we can talk about some exercises that will boost your fitness journey and make the most out of your workouts when using a treadmill!

1. Mixing up your run speed – Repeating your running speed on your treadmill every day can slow your calorie-burning progress down. Runners Goal states that you can spend one day running faster for a longer amount of time and slowly build up your pace from there.
2.  Running intervals – Smalls bursts of sprint running can make a big difference. If you’re only a beginner, try and do your best to run your fastest for thirty seconds, then slowly transition to jogging, and do this for a minute. Repeat this throughout your whole run.
3. Make a hill – Running up a hill can be one of the hardest but most effective ways to burn fat and build stamina. Research has found that pushing your body upward to its limit will help you impose a new normal for your body to get used to more. You can imitate running up a hill with a treadmill by using the incline feature. For other models, there are features such as preset hill workouts. Run hard with the incline at 1 or 3 for 30 seconds, then cool down for a minute. You can start this with one day a week and increase as weeks go by.
4. Stick to the Plan – Consistency is the key to ensuring your fitness journey will be fruitful. Schedule your runs how you would normally plan for your day. Allocate enough time for yourself to warm up and cool down. You need to form a routine and get used to running on the treadmill. Practice running on it for a month at least.

Bottomline

Our quality of life improves when we find ways to make it easier. Essentially, caring for ourselves also means we should take care of our tools. Most treadmills will last longer with proper care. In fact, treadmills can last a lifetime when we give them the proper maintenance.

It’s a great investment for your fitness journey. Finding a good treadmill also ensures you get better quality decks that can keep you up and running!

Other References:

www.funonfoot.com/how-to-clean-treadmill/

https://www.airtasker.com/us/handyman/treadmill-repair/price/treadmill-repair-cost/