NEWS
Gym Upkeep: How to Look After Your Gym Equipment
Gym Upkeep
The process of running any business comes with its fair share of complexities, and gyms are certainly no exception. Gym owners or managers don’t just need to make sure members are paying their dues. They also need to provide a safe, clean environment, which means taking good care of gym equipment.
Equipment breakdowns are frustrating and lead to customer complaints, and rightly so. Members are paying to go to the gym, so they expect everything to be in good working order. Plus, some types of equipment can create safety hazards when things go wrong. Instead of leaving it up to chance, read on to find out how to look after gym equipment and work with partners like TK Star professional gym supply to maximize customer satisfaction and minimize risks.
Create a Schedule
Some tasks need to be performed daily, or even multiple times a day, and are generally delegated to staff members. Other maintenance tasks require more specialized skill sets but only need to be performed once a month. Creating a schedule allows gym owners to keep track of everything that needs to happen to keep the equipment clean and safe and who will be responsible for accomplishing these vital tasks.
Keep Equipment Clean
Gym owners need to clean touchable surfaces frequently to reduce health risks and keep their equipment looking clean and welcoming. However, there are right ways and wrong ways to clean equipment. Cardio equipment, for example, often features fragile electronic components that could be damaged if they come into contact with cleaning sprays.
Using gym wipes instead can reduce the chances of damage to the equipment while also improving hygiene. With today’s focus on cleanliness, many gym owners find that it’s worthwhile to stock cleaning wipes for use by members, as well.
Perform Routine Inspections and Maintenance
A staff member should inspect and report on the condition of each piece of equipment every day. Be sure to assign this task to someone with a keen eye for detail who knows the ins and outs of how all of it works. In addition to these cursory daily inspections, gym owners should also create a weekly maintenance checklist that includes:
- Inspecting power cables
Tightening screws
Checking belt tension and alignment
Deep cleaning weights
Generating in-depth reports
If any of the equipment is becoming severely worn, it should be taken out of commission immediately. There’s just no reason to wait until a piece of equipment breaks, which creates a potentially dangerous situation for gym-goers and staff.
Monthly maintenance is usually more comprehensive. It requires lubricating moving parts, checking oil levels as applicable, making sure the equipment is secured tightly to the floor, adjusting pedals and seats, and replacing worn cables.
Basic Equipment Repairs
Some equipment repairs require calling in a technician or sending part or all of a machine back to the manufacturer. Others are simple enough to be performed on-site by gym owners or managers. Just be sure that the person performing the repairs is knowledgeable about the equipment, the parts being replaced, and the tools required to get the job done to avoid liability issues and purchase replacement parts from a reputable vendor.
It’s Not Worth Cutting Corners
Gyms rely on their members to generate revenue and keep their doors open. If those members feel like the environment is unclear, or even worse, unsafe, they won’t keep coming back and could leave bad reviews that cause serious reputational harm. It’s never worth cutting corners when it comes to gym equipment cleaning, maintenance, and repairs.
Kenneth is a proud native of sydney, born and raised there. However, he pursued his education abroad and studied in Australia. Kenneth has worked as a journalist for almost a decade, making valuable contributions to prominent publications such as Yahoo News and The Verge. Currently, he serves as a journalist for The Hear Up, where he focuses on covering climate and science news. You can reach Kenneth at [email protected].
