The garage is a space where many home gyms are built and it’s only logical to add a treadmill. Treadmills are large and the garage has space, it makes sense to put them together. But are there any issues with using a treadmill in a garage?
Using a treadmill in the garage isn’t a problem although a treadmill mat helps even out the floor and to keep out dust. For long-term storage, the temperature and humidity should be controlled to keep the electronics healthy. Covering the treadmill and especially the console helps prevent damage and dust from getting in.
Let’s dive into the details of what the potential problems are with using and storing a treadmill in the garage.
Contents
Can You Use a Treadmill In a Garage?
Just talking about using the treadmill, there aren’t many issues with doing so in a garage. There are a few things to keep in mind though;
As you can see, those are minimal issues, most of which are easily solved.
Problems can arise when keeping a treadmill in the garage for an extended period of time though.
Problems With Keeping Your Treadmill in a Garage
Many people store their treadmills in the garage because it is convenient. However, the garage can be unsuitable for a treadmill due to a few reasons. None of these are impossible to overcome but you should be aware of them.
Some of the problems with storing your treadmill in the garage are:
These issues are both for storing and using a treadmill in the garage. Let’s dive into them a little deeper.
Temperatures and Treadmill Storage
Your garage’s temperature can harm your treadmill, just like it would harm your computer. Modern treadmills do have quite a lot of electronics in them after all. Treadmills aren’t built for extreme cold or scorching heat. Especially big temperature swings can become a problem. How big a problem depends on your climate and how well your garage is insulated.
To keep your treadmill in good shape, your garage should have a controlled temperature, at least preventing extreme temperatures and quick swings.
Cold temperatures can be particularly tough on the treadmill’s rubber conveyor belt. As you run or walk on it, the belt generates heat, causing it to expand. Cold temperatures, on the other hand, make it contract, harder and brittle. This makes the belt age faster and tear quicker. Maintaining a consistently warm environment for your treadmill extends its lifespan.
To achieve this, consider insulating your garage. Foam boards on the door can help, but ensure your door’s spring can handle the added weight. Professional assistance may be necessary.
By insulating your garage door and addressing any gaps and air leaks in the garage, you can protect your treadmill from the harsh swings in temperature and keep it in excellent condition.
Adding heating and cooling would of course work very well but is expensive.
Suggested: 12 Tips for buying a second hand treadmill
Garage Humidity
Often the humidity in garages is higher than in the rest of the house because they’re not that well insulated but at the same time not very well ventilated. Just like with temperature, it really depends on your local climate if this is an issue.
Excessive humidity in the environment where a treadmill is stored can lead to several problems:
Ventilation alone can be enough to reduce these problems but if you want to make sure your treadmill is well taken care of, a dehumidifier is a good idea.
Dust and Dirt
Let’s face it, the garage is usually not as clean as the rest of the house. There’s likely more dust and dirt around than on your living room floor.
This isn’t that big of a problem for a treadmill that’s just being stored. The problems start when you combine these particles with using the treadmill. Dust and dirt get into the electronics, motor, bearings, rollers, etc. When you start using the treadmill again, these particles act like an abrasive and start wearing all the moving parts more quickly.
You won’t notice this immediately but it will reduce the lifespan of your treadmill.
It’s not too difficult to prevent this by covering your treadmill when it’s put away for storage. Make sure the cover also prevents dust from getting in from the bottom. Making sure your garage doesn’t get too dusty is also good of course.
If the treadmill has been stored for a long time and looks dusty, it’s a good idea to not only clean the outside but also take the covers and belt off and clean everything carefully.
Damage
In a garage, it’s a bit easier to damage your treadmill than in other places. Especially if it’s also used for parking your car or other activities, it’s not that hard to imagine situations where something hits the mill.
Especially the consoles of many modern treadmills are vulnerable since they’re basically big screens. Dropping a can of paint on it from a higher shelf is likely enough to damage it and those are expensive repairs.
Taping a bit of cardboard or even plywood to cover the console is a great way to protect that vulnerable bit of your treadmill.
Security
A small concern, and one that is really dependent on your neighborhood, is security. It’s a lot easier to steal a treadmill from a garage than another room. Treadmills are expensive pieces of equipment although hard to move.
Summary
As you can see, there are a few concerns with storing your treadmill in the garage but none of them are dealbreakers. With some fairly easy preventative measures, it’s very possible to store your treadmill in the garage for long periods of time. Just make sure to cover it, keep the temperatures and humidity in check, don’t drop heavy things on the console, and lock your garage door.
