Treadmill Motor Overheating
Is your fitness treadmill overheating? Why are some of the signs and symptoms?
1) You feel that you are losing power while running on the treadmill.
A sure sign that your treadmill is overheating is when you feel that the machine is getting less powerful as you run. If you suspect that something is wrong with the motor, stop the machine immediately. Do not continue using the machine.
2) Smells coming from the motor.
Sometimes, the heat may cause the motor to give off some burning smells. The moment you see smell that something is not right, stop immediately.
3) Visual smoke.
When you can see smoke, it’s very likely that the motor is beyond repair. DO NOT continue to use the machine. An overheated motor can cause fire because of the extreme heat.
Treadmill motor overheats – how it happened.
There are three main causes.
The first cause is that the machine is old. This means that the parts are getting less efficient due to wear and tear. As a result, the motor needs to generate more power to obtain similar performance. The motor itself may also be getting old and generates less power. So it works harder, generates more heat, and overheats.
The second cause is due to the demands on the machine. Usually if you use the machine within reasonable limits, the motor won’t overheat. Most manufacuters offer 10 year or lifetime warranty for the motor anyway. It’s not easy for the motor to overheat, unless you exceed the limits for its intended use.
For example, if the max. user weight is 275 pounds, and you weight 300 pounds, you are demanding extra power from the motor. If you run at max. speed, the intensity may cause the machine to overheat.
The third cause is due to poor cooling. Don’t place the treadmill in a room that is warm and humid (e.g. basement). A room with poor ventilation encourages overheating. It’s best to place the treadmill in a room with air conditioning. This reduces the chances of overheating dramatically.
So are there any other measures you can take to prevent your treadmill from overheating besides air conditioning?
Sure!
1) If you are a fast runner, invest in a higher end treadmill. For instance, if you find it easy to run at 10mph, buy a machine that has a top speed of 12 mph (yes, they are available, but rare). Most people probably run at 6 to 8 mph. So a 10mph treadmill (which is what most home treadmills offer) will do just fine.
2) If there are multiple runners, do not use the machine consecutively. A very fit runner can run on a treadmill at a fast speed for about an hour. If multiple runners use the machine, the treadmill could be running at fast speeds for hours non-stop. Give the machine a 15 to 30 mins break before the next runner steps on to the treadmill.
3) When in the market for a treadmill, try to get commercial grade motors that offer 2.0 chp and up. A smaller heater tends to fry easily as it just doesn’t have enough power to drive the machine for long hours. If you can afford commercial grade treadmills, don’t be stingy! Invest in a good machine! Such machines usually come with lifetime warranty for the motor anyway. So you are buying peace of mind as well.