Using your own treadmill at home can make your running workout more efficient and even save you time. However, having a treadmill machine comes with the responsibility of maintaining it.
In this article, we want to talk about treadmill noise and how to stop your treadmill noise apartment. Also, we are going to tell you whether it is appropriate to put your treadmill on the second floor.
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The Causes of Treadmill Noise
Why do treadmills make strange noises? Every treadmill makes a certain type of noise due to the belt moving over the rollers. These operating noises are completely normal. However, some parts of a treadmill can cause a noisy ride from time to time. So, there are a lot of reasons why your treadmill makes annoying noise: flooring types, location, an unlubricated belt, a deck cushion, or other parts of a treadmill.
A common issue with a treadmill in an apartment is the loose anchors that hold the step saddle down.
How to Determine the Cause of a Noisy Treadmill
The first thing you need to determine is the squeak coming from the treadmill when it’s running or when it’s not running.
Step 1
Turn your treadmill machine on and walk or run on it to see if you hear the squeak when you’re planting your foot on the belt.
If it’s just running by itself and you’re hearing a squeak, it’s probably nothing to do with the deck or the deck cushions or anything like that because there’s no impact being put on there.
Step 2
Shut the treadmill off and bounce around on random spots on the deck. If you can clearly hear the noise, it has nothing to do with the drive system. You can rule out the treadmill motor, the drive belt, and the rollers because they’re not being engaged.
Sometimes what you’ll have is there’s not enough gap between the step saddle and the endcap. Those two plastic pieces will rub together at the point of impact. Remove the endcap.
Step 3
Next up, we’ve got the deck. It’s the hard surface that you walk on that’s underneath the belt. And then you have the step saddle here. And this step saddle is attached to the deck. So, you have to determine whether it is the noise with the step saddle too loose on the deck or it is underneath.
Is It the Deck Cushion?
The deck cushion is the buffer between the deck and the frame. In some cases, the deck cushion may be slightly loose. And that deck cushion is rubbing against the bottom side of the deck.
Step 1
The first thing you are going to do is find where this step saddle is attached to the deck. Find bolts and nuts that run the side length of the deck. They basically hug and pinch the step saddle down to the deck.
Step 2
Tighten up that hardware. You can use a 10-millimeter wrench. Turn the bolts a little and see if that resolves the issue. If the noise changes a little bit, even if the pitch changes by moving some hardware around, then you’re on the right track.
Step 3
Check and see if it’s the same tension on the other side. If they feel about at the right tension or the same tension, put the treadmill back down.
Step 4
If you still hear some noise, remove the step saddle by loosening up the hardware. The step saddle will slide right out. And then with this step saddle eliminated from the equation, you’re going to bounce on the deck again.
Step 5
At that point, the only thing that’s left is the deck cushion. So, take it off. There’s a groove underneath the step saddle. And then you have the washers that are kind of flanged out that basically hug inside of the groove. Remove the side step saddle.
Step 6
Now, let’s see if the noise went away. If it did, now we know that noise has something to do with the relationship between the step saddle and the deck. The anchors are the flanged washers that hold it down. Now, we’re going to make sure that the anchors are extra snug. Turn them with your screwdriver. So, get back underneath and tighten them up.
Step 7
Now, it is going to make it a little bit tricky to get that step saddle back on.
Different colored deck cushions signify different levels of softness. In the middle, there is going to be the softest part of the deck cushions. On the back and up front, it is nice and firm.
If the whole deck is equally cushioned, it’s going to fight each other and be wobbly. Now, when you’ve got the anchors tightened, you know that was your noise. Because you can’t duplicate it with the step saddle off.
Common Mistake
A common mistake that people make is they actually miss one of the flange washers. In other words, you’ll get the step saddle to go into one but it might go over the top of the other one and then under the other one. So, there will be a little bit of a hump there and then it’ll bust.
Step 8
Slide the step saddle in. It can be a little bit snugger than when you were able to kick it off. The squeaking that you hear is from a little foam strip. You can use a rubber mallet. Push the step saddle all the way.
The noise is gone!
Treadmill Noise: FAQs
Can a Treadmill Be Used Upstairs?
It’s safe to use a treadmill in an apartment upstairs. You can definitely use a treadmill on the upper floor of your house. But there are some tips:
Do not unpack your treadmill till the movers move it. Especially if you want it upstairs. This way it will be easy for the movers if you still have your treadmill in the box. In that case, they can just use a dolly to move upstairs. They secure the big box with shrink wrap or tape to the hand truck. Also, make sure to protect the staircase.
What is normal treadmill noise?
Normal treadmill belt noise is no louder than a conversational tone of voice. It ranges between 42 and 57 decibels of noise.
How do I stop my treadmill from making noise?
Firstly, you should determine what causes a treadmill to squeak. Also, you can use our tips on stopping treadmill noise apartment: Use a treadmill mat for noise reduction or place your machine on a carpet;
Perform regular maintenance;
Keep the treadmill belt lubricated;
Use the treadmill on a completely flat surface.
Why does my treadmill make a scraping noise?
There are a lot of causes of treadmill noise. Bearings, a fraying walking belt, a worn motor belt, a misaligned part, or a loose roller pulley can cause loud noises.
