Treadmills are popular for home exercise when you want to lose weight or experience a runner's high on a cold winter day. Though motorized treadmills can withstand hours of hard footfalls, they are not made to hold up to the elements or get wet. Treadmill manufacturers advise that you always keep your treadmill in a dry place away from sources of water.
Safety
The biggest problem that can occur if your motorized treadmill gets wet is an electrical shock. No part of the treadmill, including the display console, motors or power cord, should ever be in contact with liquids. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that any treadmill you use have an emergency shut-off safety key. Many treadmills also have a circuit breaker that will trip if a surge occurs due to the machine getting wet.
Mechanical Issues
Apart from the inherent safety risks that occur when a treadmill gets wet, liquids will also damage the components of the machine. Anything from a shorted circuit board to a malfunctioning incline motor can occur if the electric and mechanical parts of the treadmill become wet. Treadmill companies such as Smooth and Cybex recommend that you use and store your treadmill in a dry environment so humidity and condensation do not damage the mechanical parts.
Cleaning
Weekly and monthly cleaning of your treadmill will help extend its life. When you wipe down the components of the machine, use a clean cotton cloth. You may wet the rag to dampen it, but ring it out thoroughly before wiping the machine down. You also need to clean out the compartments around the motor on a semiannual basis, but you should use a vacuum for these parts to prevent them from getting any damaging moisture on them. Allow the damp surfaces of the treadmill to dry completely before you use it.
Manual Treadmills
Manual treadmills are less dangerous when they become wet because there are no electrical parts to short out. These types of treadmills operate by turning the tread belt under your feet around a series of rollers as you step. However, companies like Precor still recommend that you do not pour liquids into the treadmill when cleaning or otherwise using the machine because they can still corrode essential components.
References
- American College of Sports Medicine: Selecting and Effectively Using a Home Treadmill
- ICON Health and Fitness: Recommended Treadmill Maintenance
- SmoothFitness: Smooth 9.1 Series Treadmill Owner's Manual
- AllProExercise: Cybex 710T Treadmill Owner's and Service Manual
- Precor: Precor 903 Manual Treadmill Owner's Manual
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