How to buy a used home treadmill

  I get calls like this frequently.

   People call a few times a week asking for advice looking for a treadmill for their home.  I am happy to help answer their questions about new treadmills and used treadmills.  Just this week, a lady in Champaign, IL called and asked such questions.  She had really done her homework, and we had an excellent, thorough discussion on the how-tos of buying a treadmill for her home gym.  We discussed what to look for in a used treadmill as well as what to look for in a new home treadmill. We talked about the pitfalls and mistakes to avoid when buying a home treadmill. We talked about the expected cost of maintenance for both used treadmills and new treadmills. It was such a complete talk about the whole process, I decided to write it down here, so that everyone can benefit from all the homework this potential treadmill buyer did, and the resulting discussion on the process of buying a home treadmill.

How to buy a treadmill.

1.  Find your budget.
    Before you go shopping or even start looking for new or used treadmills, or any other home gym equipment, please sit down with everyone involved in the purchase (those doing the paying-for-it part of it) and figure out what your real budget is. Set the desired and set the max. Write it down and stick to it. 
   In that process, also consider that in the world of fitness, you get what you pay for.  There is an adage in the industry that says, "The options are Good, Fast, Cheap, and you can only pick two."  What that means is that once you arrive at the correct budget for your purchase, then you might have to adjust your shopping perspective a bit. If the budget is too low to get the machine you believe you need, then please feel free to give us a call.  We are happy to help evaluate options and identify a good treadmill for you that will help you achieve your fitness goals and stay in your budget. Or adjust your budget.  It is better to wait and get the right machine than to throw money away on the wrong machine. Treadmills are big and heavy and not something you want to be moving around a lot.  It also does not make sense to buy a machine that will not work well for you for a long time and meet your  for your specific fitness goals and needs.  

Identify your Fitness Goals and Physical needs.

    When people call and ask us about what treadmill to buy, then we start asking questions.  We ask a lot of questions. 
Is this in your home of business? 
This article is about home treadmills, and some people run training businesses out of there home.  A Residential Use Only machine is not built to be used by more than immediate family, and in no case to be used more than 3 hours per day. The warranty on a new,  home treadmill will be instantly voided if it is used by other than immediate family (not counting the occasional house guest or friend) or if it is placed in any commercial setting where customers or clients are using it. A residential use only treadmill will wear and breakdown at a frustrating rate when used more than 3 hours per day. Business owners who use residential only machines for commercial purposes, such as home fitness training studios, expose themselves to massive liability in the event there is ever a machine related injury.  Imagine the dollar signs flashing in a plaintiff attorney's eyes if they learn the defendant had their client on a machine that is specifically labelled for "residential use only".  If you are running a business, buy a minimum of a Light Commercial Rated machine.  We are happy to explain the difference between a residential, light commercial, and full commercial treadmill.  Light Commercial treadmills are not that much more expensive than a high quality, residential treadmill.

Does anyone who plans to use the treadmill have over 250 pounds of body weight?
   Yes, it is a 'personal' question.  Treadmills have "maximum user weight ratings.  Most home treadmills have a 250 or 300 pound max user weight rating.  Some home treadmills have higher weight ratings.  Light commercial rated treadmills are generally rated for 300-350 pounds for max user weight.  Full commercial treadmills are generally rated for 400-500 pounds max user weight. There is a wide range of home treadmills out there.  It is important to check the specifications before shopping for a home treadmill. 

We need to figure out how you want to exercise with, or hang laundry, on the machine

 How many family members will be using the home treadmill?
  Count all immediate family who will working out on the treadmill. Most people use the treadmill in cycles, running or walking on it for a few months and then skipping a few months while the weather is nice, or when they go to Florida for the winter.  Therefore count all the people who will use it, even if it is not all the time. 
   How will you be using the treadmill?  What are the fitness goals people have? 
Is it running?  How fast? 
Is it walking?  How fast?
  Typically some people will be walking on the home treadmill 3 times per week at 3-4 miles per hour, and some people will be running on the treadmill for 45 minutes around 6 mph 3-4 times per week.  Both those workout routines work well with most home treadmills.  When people have plans to work out more intensely, train for a race or competition, then a home treadmill with better specifications is the right answer. There are also a wide variety of these treadmills. We can help find the machine with the performance you need at a cost that fits your budget and, more importantly, help you avoid throwing money away on a treadmill that will not meet your needs.

How many hours of use will the home treadmill get in a week?
   A general number is good enough for the purpose of finding the right treadmill.  For example, consider this 2 person household:  One person walking for 45 minutes, 3 times per week is 3 hours of use.  Another person running around 6 mph, 3 times per week is another 3 hours of use. In this household, the weekly total is 6 hours of use. 

Is incline important?
   Most home treadmills have some kind of incline feature ranging from 0-12 degrees of incline.  There are specialty, 'incline trainer' treadmills that are built differently and have very high degrees of incline.  When people want to do high incline training, then these incline trainers are the correct choice.  They do come at some higher, initial purchase cost.  They are also more expensive to own, operate, and maintain. They are generally built differently than 'regular' treadmills. The motors are in the back, underneath the deck. This makes them more difficult and time consuming to service and repair, so the cost of service and repair is higher than the charges for 'regular' treadmills. 

What is your ownership style?
Do you generally buy things, use them, have them serviced and repaired for a long period of time, 5 years and older?
Do you generally buy things and replace them when the warranty is over or they have a mechanical issue?
    This is a big one.  For those people who are 'buy and keep', it is well worth the money to get a good quality machine that is easier to service and repair.  Most popular brands of home treadmills have mechanic and functional designs that support regular service and repair of the walking belt, deck, and drive belt.  These are called the wear items.  Those parts are not so expensive, and they are very good for home use.  Those popular brands of home treadmills are expensive and difficult to repair when it comes to the controls and console. Some of those treadmills have consoles that are not field repairable.  that means we cannot fix the start button if the start button stops working.  To get the start button to work again, we must replace the entire console at a parts cost of $700-$1,000.  Of course, no one really wants to pay that much for a repair.  The other option is to replace the treadmill. Both of these options are major issues, that we can help you avoid, so that you get a home treadmill that will work the way you want it to work and not cost and arm and a leg to maintain. 
Where will you keep the treadmill? In a garage, basement, bedroom, barn?
   The best location for a treadmill is in a low humidity space, on a hard floor surface.  This usually means inside a conditioned space such as inside the home. Basements are popular spots for treadmills.  If your basement is damp, then consider using a dehumidifier in the wet season for wear you live. High humidity promotes rust and oxidation.  Human sweat is extremely corrosive to  metal.  High humidity conditions make it easier for sweat to migrate from treadmill exterior surfaces to internal surfaces that are not as well protected from corrosion. 
  Consider the floor where you will place the treadmill.  The best kind of floor is a well supported floor built using modern construction techniques with a dynamic load rating of at least 30 pounds per square foot. Concrete floors are ideal. 
   If the floor is carpeted, then strongly consider using a heavy, rubber mat under the treadmill. Carpet fibers break and the treadmill will suck these broken fibers in to the motor compartment.  Dust and carpet fibers stick to major components like the control board and motor and cause excessive heat build up in those parts. Excessive heat causes pre-mature failure in those parts which will require an expensive repair.  
  If the carpet is thick, then consider placing a 3'x6' section of 3/4" OSB plywood on top of the carpet.  Put a thick rubber mat on top of the OSB.  Put the treadmill on top of the Rubber mat.
Do you plan to do the routine service, lubrication and maintenance yourself or hire someone to do it for you?