Q: How often should I bring my sewing machine in for repair and service?
A: There are two different philosophies on this subject. The first philosophy is “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. In this scenario, a person may use their sewing machine for years before the machine just gives the user so much trouble in stitching that the user will resort to bringing the machine in. Usually, by this time, there are many parts that will need to be replaced due to wear and tear. This type of situation will usually result in a pretty pricey repair, as this is indeed a “REPAIR” situation and not a “SERVICE” situation.
The second philosophy is to bring the machine in for an annual service “whether it needs it or not”. In this scenario, a person will bring their machine in for annual service and cleaning. The machine will be thoroughly checked over, cleaned and oiled, and all parts will be inspected for wear. The machine will be reset to factory specs. This will be a less costly venture, because the machine is in fact being “SERVICED” rather than “REPAIRED”.
There is no right or wrong philosophy here. It is just a question of whether you want to schedule the time that you are going to be without your sewing machine, or whether you want to gamble and let the machine decide when it is time to bring it in. Hint: the machine will NEVER break down when it is sitting in your closet…in fact it will always break when you are in the middle of a project, usually when you have a deadline that is overdue!
General rule: If you use your machine an average of 5 to 10 days a month, bring it in annually. If you use your machine every day it might even benefit you to bring it in more often, say every 6 to 9 months. Bring it to your sewing machine dealer when you are planning a vacation or will be out of town so that you are not inconvenienced.
In terms of cost, whether you wait for the machine to “break” and pay for the “big job”, or if you choose to bring the machine in annually, the long term cost over a 10 to 15 year span is about the same.
So, evaluate your sewing habits and your lifestyle and make your decision based on what works for you!
Just SEW You Know…
written by Amy Smith