How often should you service your gym equipment (and what happens if you don't)

"We'll deal with it when it breaks" is the sentence that costs a gym the most by the end of the year. Preventive maintenance isn't an expense — it's the difference between replacing a €20 bearing or an entire motor.

Frequency depends on usage, not the calendar

A 24h gym with hundreds of daily users doesn't need the same frequency as a residential community's fitness room with restricted access. As a general guide:

• Heavy use (commercial gyms, 24h): check every 1-2 months.
• Medium use (hotels, companies, boutique studios): quarterly checks.
• Light use (residential communities, home gyms): every six months or once a year.

What gets checked on each visit

It's not just "make sure it works." Proper maintenance includes belt tensioning and alignment, bearing condition, tightening of bolts and anchors, sensor cleaning and calibration, and software updates on consoles that support it.

What happens if you skip it

Breakdowns don't come out of nowhere — they build up. A bearing that's been making noise for months eventually damages the belt. A loose belt forces the motor until it burns out. An unchecked anchor point can become a safety issue, not just a maintenance one.

In numbers: a well-maintained cardio machine lasts 8 to 12 years; the same machine without maintenance can need major repairs starting from year 3 or 4.

How we do it at CJ Fitness

We adjust the visit calendar to your actual room, not a generic template, and leave you a report after every visit detailing what was done and what to keep an eye on. If you want the full picture, here's our maintenance service.