How to Reduce Treadmill Noise in an Apartment
​​Treadmills are something that every one of us is very familiar with.
Whether we have used it, or only seen it only on a TV program, we know what it is and how it works and, of course, how good it can be.
If you like to take care of your health and like to be physically active, then you have certainly ran on a treadmill and you know how loud it can be sometimes.
Of course, usual placement for a treadmill is a gym, but there are some of us who have a long way to get to the gym, or who have kids and would rather do the exercising at their own home.
For those of us, treadmills in our own homes can be such a drag.
I have completely stopped using mine when it began to make so much noise. And that meant that I completely forgot about doing some exercises. Not healthy at all!
So I decided to find a way to reduce the noise and make it quieter; for my own sake and the sake of my family.
I found out that the main problem with the noise was the impact noise. Whenever my feet touched the treadmill, it would bang, and it was like that with every step.
The faster I ran, the louder the noise got.
Not only was that the impact noise from my running, but the noise was coming from the motor, and that squeaking from the mat.
But before I list a few things that can make your treadmill quieter, let’s give a look at why they actually make those squeaking noises.
No time? Click here for the best quiet treadmills.
Why Do Treadmills Squeak
Of course, there is more than one thing that is responsible for your squeaking treadmill.
The most common reason for a squeaky treadmill is the belt, and there are several reasons to solve it.
Yet another thing that might make your treadmill squeak is the bearings.
Maybe it is time to change them, have you thought of it? They can easily break or just wear off from a lot of usage, so you should check these as well.
How to Reduce Treadmill Noise in an Apartment
What You'll Be Needing:
And now let us give a look at some of the techniques that you can try to make your treadmill and therefore your home quieter.
Exercising will be a pleasure again.
1. Use a Mat
First, let’s give it a thought! What is the thing that is making the most of the noise on a treadmill, besides the motor and the belt?
Why, of course! It is you!
Impact noise is a type of noise that is created when an object hits a hard surface.
Running on the treadmill, you are creating just that – the impact noise.
The best way to kill off the impact noise has always been the absorption of it, and that would mean that you should think of placing some material that is soft enough to stop the vibrations and expanding of the noise, but hard enough for you to run on in safely.
The best things that you can use are these treadmill mats made of dense materials that can absorb the stomping of your feet just fine.
Another thing that these mats can do is give your treadmill a longer life. It will bring the shock from the impact down to a minimum, and make it last longer.
Additionally, it will provide you with more stability, since it will keep the treadmill in place.
If the treadmill is placed on a slippery surface, like tiles or a wooden floor, it can easily slip and slide while you are using it.
These mats can eliminate that movement, and keep you in place secured.
2. Lubricate the Belt
Lubricating your treadmill belt should be something that you do regularly, with no one reminding you of it.
But, sometimes, with a lot of things we might have on our minds, we tend to forget those simple things.
There are some modern treadmills that will remind you when they need to be lubricated, but not all of us can afford something like that.
Anyway, since we are on this page now, here is how to properly lubricate your treadmill.
The first thing that you will have to do is to loosen the treadmill belt a little.
Then, you will have to lubricate it, but remember that using a proper treadmill lubricant (this) is the key here. Using a WD-40 could ruin it.
Here is a simple video on how to lubricate your treadmill properly:
3. Check for Worn Out Bearings
Now, if you are one of these people who actually does remember to lubricate your treadmill regularly, but is still hearing some squeaking noises from your treadmill, there is something else that you should check.
That thing is bearing and rollers of your treadmill.
The bearings of your treadmill are always attached to the rollers and you might need a little time to get to them.
If the bearing that you got to is somewhat worn out, or even broken, you will need to replace them, since they can cause the squeaking and overall functioning of your treadmill.
The same thing applies for the roller. If it is worn out it can cause the treadmill to hardly run or even stop working at some point in time.
If you are wondering how to do it properly and would like some help, here is a nice video that can help you to change the worn out bearings and rollers:
4. Relocate the Treadmill
Whatever you do to your treadmill it will always be making some noises, so it seems like a fair solution to move it from places where it can be making a lot of noise and act distractingly.
If you have a chance to move it to your garage or backyard, it would be just the right thing to do.
However, there are people that live in apartments and they cannot put the treadmill in a backyard, so there has to be a solution for them too.
Relocating your treadmill from a living space to a room that you are not spending a lot of time in would also come in very handy.
On the other hand, if you have any neighbors in an apartment underneath, it can be a bit tricky.
In that case, moving it to a quieter place will not solve the problem, since they will still be living underneath the apartment.
In this case, I am afraid; you will have to try some other methods from the list or soundproof your apartment floor.
5. Consider Walking at an Incline rather than Running
I know that this is more of a fitness question, but it is sure something that can help the noise.
Even though it may sound pointless to just walk on it, walking at an incline can help your health and overall activity.
Setting the incline to high or medium is just as effective as jogging.
Moreover, the impact noise will be reduced since you will not be hitting the treadmill with your feet that hard, and it will not be so unbearable to exercise on it anymore.
6. Try Out a Quiet Run
Once again, the main source of noise from your treadmill is yourself. The biggest portion of noise that is produced is the noise coming from your feet hitting the floor underneath them.
Since you want to make the noise lower, there is a thing you can try. And that is quiet running.
Now, quiet running sounds like sneaking or something, but I really never meant to say that you should skip or run on your tiptoes.
What I wanted to suggest was running at some reasonable speed, since the faster you run, the louder the treadmill gets.
Just try not to put your treadmill on the highest settings for some time, and see how that works for you.
This will reduce the impact and the noise with it.
Another thing that can make your quiet running more efficient is the height you lift your feet from your treadmill while you are running.
This might need a bit of practice, but it is still an exercise and it can even improve your cardio.
And running in some proper running shoes is surely something that can reduce the noise as well.
7. Using the Right Shoes
This one is quite similar to using the proper treadmill mat. If a treadmill needs a proper surface, so do you.
When looking to buy good running shoes, you should definitely search for the right ones for your type of feet.
Another thing that you should give a deeper look into when buying running shoes is that they should have some kind of sound absorbing materials on them.
For example, shock absorbing gel in shoes will not only make the noise coming from your treadmill lower, but it will serve your feet since it will reduce the impact.
On Making Your Apartment Treadmill Quieter
Having a treadmill at home is surely something that is healthy and that can keep you active, but it is not a quiet business.
Once again, keep in mind that proper treadmill maintenance can help the noise you are experiencing and it would be smart to give a look at those bearings and the belt from time to time.
Your neighbors will be thankful, and you will stay fit and healthy, including your ears.
How to Reduce Treadmill Noise in an Apartment
Is the treadmill disturbing your family members or neighbors downstairs? Here's how to reduce treadmill noise (especially in an apartment)!
Instructions
- Use a Mat
- Lubricate the Belt
- Check for Worn Out Bearings
- Relocate the Treadmill
- Consider Walking at an Incline rather than Running
- Try Out a Quiet Run
- Use the Right Shoes