December 4, 2015

Putting a Treadmill in Your Garage? Read This First

Treadmill

Garage Treadmills

Garages are typically one of the least compelling spaces in the field of real estate, so there’s a good chance that your garage isn’t used to it’s potential. Considering the amount of space that a treadmill requires, and the noise that these fitness machines tend to generate, the garage appears to be perfect fit for this type of hardware.

However, before setting up the treadmill in the garage, there are several issues that you should take into account.

Temperature Issues

Before you place your treadmill in the garage, you should understand that this type of exercise equipment is generally not set up to function in cold weather conditions.

The track is often the part to become compromised first. Usually made of rubber, the combination of repeated footfalls along with cold temperatures end up placing a large amount of stress on the surface. Running on the track creates kinetic energy that heats and expands the track, while the cold causes it to contract. These swings in temperature affect the integrity of the track at a much greater rate than if the temperature of the treadmill remains warm.

Not only does the track quickly become affected, but parts such as the screen and the incline function will become worn and broken at a much quicker rate. If you have a heated garage, this temperature change won’t be an issue. However, if your garage is unheated or without insulation, there’s a good chance that damage will take place.

In fact, manufacturers often specifically mention that warranties aren’t honored when the treadmill is placed in the garage. Regardless of where you live in Canada and the U.S., changes of temperature between day and night and during shifts in season will result in extra wear and tear on the system in a garage that isn’t climate controlled.

Keeping the Treadmill Clean

Another reason that manufacturers usually don’t honor the warranty of a garage treadmill is the fact that the garage often has more grime compared to other places in your home. Dust, crumbling leaves, grass, dirt and other particles collect at a much greater rate than in other spaces. This debris ends up making its way into the moving parts of the treadmill. In particular, the belt and the motor capture the grime within.

Treadmills that are set up within the home require frequent maintenance of moving parts. Placing the treadmill in the garage accelerates the accumulation of debris within the belt and motor, which increases the amount of damage that occurs to these and adjacent parts. If you place your treadmill in your garage, at the very least, place a treadmill cover on it when the machine isn’t in use. Clean the garage thoroughly before setting up the treadmill and place it on a mat. This will help to reduce the amount of debris that makes it into the treadmill.

Space Considerations

Garages vary greatly in terms of size, space and layout. One of the most important safety issues when setting up a treadmill involves having enough space to safely operate the machine. While it may seem comical, when you fall on a treadmill, rather than simply hit the floor, you will be propelled away from the machine and towards whatever lies behind you.

For this reason, it’s crucial to give yourself at minimum a body length of open space behind you wherever you decide to set up the treadmill. If your garage simply doesn’t’ have the space necessary to give you this buffer zone, you definitely need to find another place to set up the machine.

Treadmill Desks

Medical research has been warning people about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle for many years. One response to this problem is the treadmill desk, which combines a treadmill with enough space to set up a full range of office equipment.

If you already have a workspace set up in the garage and you plan on adding a treadmill to that space, it’s not a bad idea to consider combining the two functions. Since you will be using the treadmill desk at a reduced speed, you don’t need to worry as much about having a lot of space to operate.

When set up properly, treadmills provide a great way for individuals to exercise without having to visit the local gym. If you decide to set up your treadmill in the garage, make sure to heed the manufacturer’s warning, and try to keep the space at a consistent temperature while getting rid of as much dust and dirt as possible.

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