“Why does a treadmill make noise?” is a popular question by people who like to exercise on their treadmill at home. There could be several reasons behind the noise. Luckily for you, you can fix most of these issues by taking some measures. First, we’ll discuss the reasons behind treadmill noises for your understanding:
Treadmill Motor Noise
Many treadmills, when in use, transmit static electricity. This electricity attracts dust particles, lint, or hair, leading to an accumulation of debris in the motor of the treadmill. Motor brushes fail to work in such cases, resulting in noise. You should make sure to review the manufacturer’s instruction manual and clean your motor regularly to avoid such an occurrence.
The drive system could also produce squeaking noises if two parts scrape against each other. Bearings also produce squeaking noises, which is aggravating for some people. If these bearings are loose, they cause grinding noises. On the other hand, loose pullies cause screeching noises. You should check the alignment of the belt and pullies, as well as the motor fan and the fins moving inside the speed sensor to deduce the source of the hubbub.
Furthermore, the motor fan or bearings might have come in contact with moisture or water, causing them to make strange noises. In this case, you should contact professional help.
Lastly, if you hear bad brush noises, it might be possible that the motor has heated up too much, causing damage to the brushes or even a short-circuit in some cases. You can examine this by disconnecting the motor belt and hearing just the sound of the motor.
Belt Noise
If you think the sound you’re hearing is from the treadmill belt noise, check to see if it’s properly set. Sometimes, treadmill belts might be too loose or too tight and can cause the machine to malfunction. Misaligned belts give rise to squeaking, screeching, and whining noises. These noises could be very startling for you if you were to hear them out of nowhere during your workout. A fraying or worn-out belt is also a reason for excessive noise generated by a treadmill. Moreover, if your treadmill is not positioned on a leveled surface, the belts may become dislodged, causing unnecessary noise.
Humming Noise
Humming noises are generally caused by rollers. Luckily, these can be fixed at home without any professional assistance. Simply remove the covers and inspect nearby screws, nuts, and bolts. If any of these feel old, grab an appropriate screwdriver and tighten them. Also, take a look at the roller belts; if you notice a problem, lubricate them. You’re good to go!
Squeaking
Squeaking noises in treadmills commonly manifest from the bearings. However, this is not always the case. Some other reasons behind squeaking noises could be:
- A misaligned belt (it is either too tight or too loose)
- An uneven surface beneath the treadmill
- Lack of lubrication on the belt
- An increased build-up of dirt and debris
- A collection of muck in the motor and
- The metal pivot points of the treadmill scratching against each other
Make sure you fix a squeaky treadmill by taking the appropriate action!
Buzzing
In many circumstances, the treadmill belt can be the source of a buzzing noise. Fortunately, you can easily resolve this by thoroughly cleaning the underside of the belt. There is a good chance that you’ll find dust deposited on it. After the cleaning, you should choose a good-quality lubricator to lubricate your belt for further treadmill noise reduction.
Remember that too much belt lubrication causes increased friction and can cause the belt to snag, which produces noise. You should aim for low friction for ideal performance as well as for the protection of your motor.
Whining Noises
There are belt guides under the treadmill. Take a look at these because if they push too hard into the belt, they end up making a whining noise. If required, you can bend these guides to improve the noise situation.
How to Quiet a Loud Treadmill?
There are many possible solutions to fix the noisy treadmill sound you’re facing. To help you out, we’ve summed them up below:
- If the noise from the treadmill is due to its placement on an uneven surface, the most convenient solution is to keep the best treadmill mat to reduce noise below it. With a rubber mat, the noise will go away in an instance.
- Make sure to lubricate the belt according to your manufacturers’ advice to keep your machine well and quiet. Treadmills are notoriously noisy equipment. However, these are common whirring or thumping noises. They might become increasingly loud with time, which is why you need to go the extra mile for your home treadmill.
- You should also consider soundproofing the living space where the treadmill is kept so that the people outside are not disrupted by the noise. This can be done by hanging sound curtains or thick blankets, using furniture as a way to thicken the walls, or carpeting the room, etc.
- Anti-vibration rubber pads can be placed beneath each corner of the treadmill to absorb excessive sound.
- Investing in quiet treadmills could be the answer to all of your noise pollution problems. One option is to get a manual treadmill since it has no motor. While it is limited to restricted movement, a walking treadmill or desk treadmill also comes at a lower price. Using manual curved treadmills may also help you reduce treadmill noise. They are pricier but are known to produce less noise.
- You can simply consult your neighbors to find out if they’re bothered by the noise. By communicating with them, you can come up with a coordinated schedule where you can use the treadmill at timings that won’t disturb the neighbors. And what do you know, It could also be the case that the neighbors are unbothered by the noise!
- Another solution to your problems could lie in your shoes. Invest in quiet running shoes with good absorbing material for the sound in order to reduce the impact noise.
- If the treadmill makes too much noise despite regular lubrication, it could be caused by worn-out or damaged bearings. Replace them to achieve a quieter experience!
