How To Choose Treadmill Motors
In this day and age of renewed enthusiasm for exercise and physical fitness, more people are purchasing equipment for a home gym and the treadmill is making a come back with popularity ratings that rival those when treadmills were first introduced. But let's face it, these machines are only as good as their treadmill motors and without quality equipment, you could be facing a long, and noisy road to the repair shop.
Unfortunately, though, people still choose their treadmill based on the features any given machine might have, and while this is important, without a properly working motor, no amount of features in the world is going to make it run smoothly and efficiently.
So, the question then becomes how to choose good treadmill motors and which treadmills are the best in this department. Because, the motor is the heart of the treadmill, this is where you want to begin your search.
The way to determine which treadmill motors are the best, is to compare what is known in the industry as continuous duty horsepower.
Continuous duty horsepower is quite different from peak horsepower, which is to say that this is the highest amount of horsepower the treadmill can obtain. It is the measure of a treadmill's power during continuous use, such as running or walking a pre-programmed treadmill workout.
Continuous duty is the work horse of the treadmill and if the horsepower rating is low, then the chances are the treadmill is not going to have a significant amount of power to carry you through your workout routine and you will be left with a very expensive place to hang your clothes.
If you are unsure of the amount of continuous duty horsepower your treadmill motors will need, the following guideline has been well established to help you make a determination. Please note, if you weigh more than 200 pounds, it has been recommended to add and additional .5 horsepower to the motor rating. For those whose workouts are primarily walking, the recommendation is 2.0+ horsepower; for jogging, the recommendation is 2.5+ horsepower; and for treadmill programs that are designed for running, the continuous horsepower recommendation is 3.0 or more.
In addition to being diligent about your treadmill's horsepower, you want to look for a machine that has a great warranty for its motor. Many companies offer a lifetime guarantee, but you should be careful with these as the parts and labor warranty might not be very long and if your treadmill motor breaks down, you could still be out a bit of money in order to fix it. So use caution when choosing your treadmill, make sure the motor is substantial enough to handle your exercise needs and that it comes with an appropriate warranty as well.
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