A treadmill floor mat does a lot for both the treadmill and the floor that it is sitting on. It not only absorbs the vibrations generated by the treadmill during use and keeps the machine from slipping thus scratching your floor. A mat under the treadmill also keeps the floor or carpet clean by preventing any lubrication dripping from the mechanical parts of the treadmill from actually touching the floor or carpet which would almost certainly create ugly stains. It also keeps dust from entering through the underside of the machine which can cause problems internally.
During a workout sessions, there will be a lot of energy produced by the motor of the treadmill as well as the person pounding away on top of the treadmill. This will also generate a lot of noise which a treadmill mat is perfect at absorbing thus minimizing the noise levels. The constant pounding of a treadmill in use will certainly cause some degree of wear on your floor if they are hardwood and the reverberation back into the treadmill will definitely shorten the useful life of your treadmill significantly.
While some might argue that having carpet will serve as shock absorbers for the treadmill the truth is carpet produces a lot of dust and loose carpet fibers. These particles will be roused by the commotion of a treadmill in use and would therefore rise into the air potentially entering the treadmill. These loose carpet fibers and other dust particles will eventually accumulate inside the treadmill to clog the moving parts. The repairs will be costly and can be avoided simply by using a treadmill mat to keep separation between the carpet and the treadmill. There is also the potential of dripping the sludge used to lubricate the inside of the machine onto your floors or carpet without a mat to catch it.
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