How to Conduct a Daily Inspection of Your Commercial Treadmill?

Machines made for professional usage are known to be durable. However, it does not mean that they will not need any care or inspection. A commercial treadmill is not different from others because it needs daily inspection if you want to get the best performance and lifespan.

Many users and business owners face the problem of not knowing how to check their treadmills. So, we will share our complete guide on how you can conduct a daily inspection of your treadmills for your commercial setup.

Why is it very Important to Conduct Daily Inspection of Commercial Treadmills?

Before moving to the inspection guide itself, it is very important to understand why it is important for everyone. So, here are a few key reasons why daily inspection of your commercial treadmill is crucial.

1. You Can Easily Prevent Costly Breakdowns

Costly breakdowns happen when your machine faces neglect. When you do not pay attention to small issues or early-stage issues, they end up causing huge damage. On the other hand, if you inspect your commercial treadmill daily, you can detect problems early on and fix them.

This way, you have to face only small maintenance bills. So, you save yourself from huge repair or replacement costs, and you may end up saving more in the long run.

2. Keep Your Users and Staff Safe from Any Issues

One of the worst things that can happen at your gym is that your treadmill causes an injury or other problem to someone. Inspecting the treadmill daily will ensure that any electrical issues are detected early on. Hence, allowing you to fix them and keep the commercial treadmill reliable for a long time.

3. Extend the Lifespan of Your Commercial Machine

A lot of people have this misconception that commercial treadmills are made for hardcore usage, and they do not need any care. The reality is that these machines are made using heavy-duty components like:

• A motor with more horsepower
• The console offers more features
• Bigger and wider running platform
• Better cushioning and incline functionality, etc.
• Stronger mainframe

While these qualities set the treadmill apart from the cheaper ones, it does not mean that you will never need any maintenance.

4. Improve Your Business Reputation

A well-inspected commercial treadmill can improve your business reputation in multiple ways. For example, if you inspect your treadmills daily and keep them working, the customers will never face any downtimes. Similarly, reliable treadmills will make the customers feel safe while doing intense workouts.

All these things with online reviews and verbal marketing will improve your business reputation in the competitive market.

5. Ensure You Do Not Miss Warranty Benefits

Many good brands offer after-sales coverage for their products. However, there are strict policies behind that warranty. In most cases, the policy requires you to use the machine with due care to ensure no unwanted issues happen.

If you do not inspect the commercial treadmill daily, it may develop issues that would not happen otherwise, and the result will be a voided warranty. In that case, you will need to handle any replacement or repair costs yourself, causing a huge loss.

A Complete Checklist of Daily Inspection for Commercial Treadmills

When you are inspecting your machine, you need to ensure that you go through every aspect. We have designed this checklist so that it ensures you do not miss out on anything before your customers use the commercial treadmill.

1. Power on the Treadmill and Check the Console for Any Error Messages

The inspection starts with the normal usage practice. So, you will start by plugging in the treadmill and turning it on. Most treadmills these days have digital displays that show error messages or codes. You just need to ensure that there are no codes before the motor runs and none after it runs.

No error codes are a huge sign that there are no issues with the treadmill so far, but there are multiple other things that you need to check.

2. Inspect the Belt While Running

You will see the belt slowly start moving now that the motor is working. Locate the joint in the belt and see the whole belt while it is running. The first thing that you need to look for is any signs of wear and tear. Cracks or cuts are common issues with belts, and not seeing any of these is great.

Secondly, you need to check the alignment of the belt. The belt must complete its full rotation on the treadmill deck without moving left or right too much. It must move in a smooth motion.

3. Check the Safety Key / Emergency Button

Some treadmills have both, while some have only one. The purpose of either of these features is to bring the treadmill motor to an immediate stop if something bad happens. If this feature fails, the treadmill may run at a free speed, causing the runner to fall at the back and causing severe injury.

So, you need to power on the treadmill and check if these features are working, and if the treadmill is not.

4. Go Through the Frame for Any Visual Damage

This may sound very simple, but it is not very simple. Small cracks or defects may occur in your commercial treadmill frame, but they will not be very easily visible, leading to more damage. You need to closely inspect the frame for any issues that could cause damage to the structural integrity.

While straight parts may have no issues, it is recommended to very carefully inspect the joints and sections that have steep angles to ensure there are no problems.

5. Increase Speed and Check for Any Unusual Sound

By now, your treadmill has been running for a few minutes. It is time to increase the speed gradually. You may use the + button or the direct speed interval buttons. The goal is to take the treadmill to a state where an average user runs.

Now you need to listen very carefully for any unusual sounds, both while running on the treadmill and without anyone running on it. These may include:

• Ticking
• Buzzing
• Creaking
• Sparking

If you hear any of these noises, you must call for professional help.

6. Ensure All Controls Are Working

The next thing you need to do is a complete test of the console of your treadmill. Not only the console part on the front, but some commercial treadmills have incline and speed controls on their handrails.

You just need to try everything and ensure that they are working. Most advanced users prefer using smart preset modes on the treadmills, so you must test that as well. Also, try the pulse feature to check if it is reading your heart rate and displaying it correctly.

7. Test the Incline Functions of the Treadmill

If your commercial treadmill has incline functionality, that will be the next thing you need to check. Incline working is not enough alone. You must make sure that it is going up and down smoothly. Moreover, there must not be any jerks or unusual sounds when the actuator turns on. This will ensure that there are no problems with the incline.

8. Run on the Belt to Assess Its Lubrication Requirement

Lastly, put the treadmill at an average brisk walk speed and walk on it. Whenever you put the step, the belt must not stick in its place, even for a moment. Now repeat the same test with running speed, and you must not note any resistance on the belt. If there is any resistance, it means that you need to get your deck and the belt lubricated with the right lubricant.

Final Words
Inspecting your commercial treadmill daily means that you can detect any issues in their earliest stages. One of its biggest benefits is that you can resolve the root cause early on and save yourself from huge bills later. Another amazing benefit is that your machine works for longer, and you get complete warranty perks. So, if you also own a commercial treadmill, make sure to follow our guide completely and inspect your machine daily.