We have put together a list of considerations for you to help you find that perfect place for your new pain cave or peaceful escape! In recent times, we have seen a huge increase in garage conversions into home gyms. Prior to this, it has been noted that it isn’t recommended to store your treadmill in a garage, but if your garage meets all the considerations below, you’ll be covered.
Many people think that just having the physical space is all you need to be mindful of, but unfortunately, it’s a little more complex than that (if you want your treadmill to be covered under warranty anyway!)
You might need a larger space for your treadmill than you think. Firstly, the treadmill measures 1880mm (L) x 860mm (W) x 1450mm (H). Then, you need some wiggle room around the edges. We recommend at least 8 ft. (2.4 m) clearance behind the running board and 2 ft. (0.6 m) on either side (and make sure you aren’t blocking any air openings). This might seem excessive, but we assure you it is for your safety if you accidentally set the speed a bit too high or have a big foot placement error!
When not exercising, the treadmill can be folded up. It then requires less than half the floor space of other treadmills (1235mm x 850mm x 1525mm).
If you are quite tall or a very bouncy runner, the best advice we can give is the following:
Humidity = amount of water vapour in the air.
Having your treadmill in an environment where there is possibly high humidity can cause your treadmill to wear out quicker than normal or prevent smooth functioning. Humidity levels between 30-50% are optimum for treadmill storage. If this exceeds 50% humidity you may find electrical issues from the condensation. This may expose the treadmill to rusting and corrosion. Moisture sometimes short-circuit your device and cease it from working.
It is important to keep your treadmill clean and in a dust-free environment. Most garages are dust hot-spots even if they have been converted to a useable home gym environment. It is important to keep on top of dust accumulation by regularly cleaning the area around your treadmill, your treadmill belt and the areas underneath it. The best way to do this is by using an anti-static duster and rotating the belt slowly as you wipe to ensure all sides are clean.
Dust accumulation can cause electronics to deteriorate quite rapidly, thus causing damage to your treadmill’s motor functions e.g. the motor or belt.
It will minimise dust accumulation underneath your treadmill, if you place your treadmill on a suitable mat and when you aren’t using the treadmill, use a fabric or plastic material to cover it fully.
Ideally, treadmills should be kept in a space that doesn’t reach below 5°C or above 30°C.
Damage can occur to mechanical and electrical components as a result of being outside of design temperatures. Mechanical components e.g. incline motor, and the screen, could become too cold become brittle, crack and/or cease working.
Try to find an area that is warm (but not hot) and temperature-regulated all year round!
The most important floor consideration is that the surface you are placing your treadmill on is flat.
Unless your treadmill is stored on a rubber floor, we recommend getting a treadmill mat to put underneath your treadmill for all types of flooring. The mat will minimise dust and moisture from getting underneath the treadmill along with dampening noise and vibrations. A good mat will typically be between 4 and 8mm thick, minimum of 1cm away from the equipment edge and rounded at the corners.
Hardwood/laminate – without a mat, your treadmill will gradually “walk” over time, scratch your floor and also be very loud/echoey.
Cement – without a mat, you won’t keep out dust/dirt, your treadmill will gradually “walk” over time and also be very loud/echoey.
Carpet – without a mat, you won’t keep dust, dirt and carpet fibres out of the treadmill. This may lead to damage to your treadmill belt, motor and rollers.
Please ensure that your treadmill is close to a suitable power supply (min. 16 amp type C standard circuit). It is never recommended to use an extension cord when using any appliance requiring high power demands.
The treadmill must be grounded. If it should malfunction or break down, grounding provides a path of least resistance for electric current this is to reduce the risk of electric shock. Plug the power cord into a surge suppressor and plug the surge suppressor into an appropriate outlet that is properly installed and grounded in accordance with all local rules and regulations. The outlet must be on a nominal 240-volt circuit capable of carrying 16 or more amps. To avoid overloading the circuit, do not plug other electrical devices, except for low power devices such as cell phone chargers, into the surge suppressor or an outlet on the same circuit.
We hope this helps you to find the perfect home for your new treadmill!
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