Understanding Your Elliptical Warranty

The Manufacturer’s warranty of a elliptical is one of the most important things to consider when purchasing a elliptical.  It not only prevents future costly repairs that may occur, it also shows how much a company is willing to stand behind their product.  If you want to protect your investment, a solid elliptical warranty is a must.  Manufacturers usually cover defects in workmanship or material over a specific time. What that means is, if the elliptical malfunctions because it was assembled incorrectly, that would be covered under the defects in workmanship.  In addition, if the elliptical malfunctions because of a part breaks and wasn’t caused by excessive wear and tear, that would be covered under the defects in material.  This brings up another point, what is excessive wear and tear of a elliptical?  All ellipticals, through usage, will have wear and tear.  What is excessive wear and tear?  Well excessive wear and tear of a elliptical varies from brand to brand.  As long as you are using the elliptical under the specifications of their user guide, you will not be causing any excessive wear and tear on the elliptical.  There are 4 major sections to a elliptical warranty: motor, frame, parts, and labor.  While different elliptical brands may offer slight variations to these 4 sections of a elliptical, most brands wrap their warranties around these 4 areas.

Motor- The motor of the elliptical is usually something that takes a while to wear out.  While it is probably one of the most expensive single parts to a elliptical, you will find that good elliptical brands will cover their motor for more then a 10 year period.

Frame- The frame of the elliptical is one part of a elliptical, if it was built properly and with quality materials should never break or wear out.  You will find as you are reading reviews on specific ellipticals, they will talk about the grade of materials they use on their frame.  The higher quality models will use “commercial grade” materials in their ellipticals.  Usually, the frame will break at the welding points if they are not welded properly, or the material just gives out and distorts due to the pressure from usage.  You will find that a good elliptical brand will offer a lifetime warranty on their frame.

Parts- Many warranties offer free replacement of elliptical parts that malfunction within a specific amount of time period.  Parts along with labor are the 2 areas of the warranty coverage you potentially could be using frequently.  While motors are usually the most expensive part of the elliptical, it’s the little things, like the electrical components that would have a higher chance of malfunctioning and can be frustrating.  A good elliptical brand will offer at least a 2 year warranty on their parts.

Labor- The labor warranty should cover all costs incurred from a service or repair tech coming out to your location to work on your elliptical.  This is another in elliptical service repair that can get quite costly. Different manufacturers have different terms in their warranties. The better manufacturers cover their warranties themselves while others require their retailers to cover them.  A good elliptical brand will offer at least a 1 year warranty on their labor.

I always recommend paying close attention to the parts and labor, section of the warranty.  If you re going to be using a warranty, most likely, you will be taking advantage of the parts and labor sections. Make sure to read the supplied warranty information of a elliptical brand or model to see what the terms and durations of the warranties are. A good warranty isn't just to protect your investment; it lets you know about the quality of the elliptical parts and the manufacturers willingness to stand behind their product.  A good warranty is an indication that the manufacturer has a good product.