We get asked fairly frequently what parts need to be brought in for a machine repair – and for good reason! What you need to bring relies heavily on the problem that you’re having with your machine, as well as the type of machine it is. I’ll be talking about both sewing and vacuum repairs in this post, so stay with me! These guidelines also apply to regular maintenance visits.
The general rule for what to bring to a repair is bring anything you’re having problems with – including broken parts that need to be replaced. Anything you would use to operate the machine is necessary. If you aren’t sure what to bring after reading this, call us!
Vacuum Repairs
Vacuum repairs are a little more straightforward as they (generally) have less components. If you’re bringing in a machine for manufacturer warranty repairs, we need a receipt or other proof of purchase – if you bought the machine from us, we will have that on record.
For canister vacuums (the type that you drag behind you with the hose), you should bring the main unit, as well as the hose, wand and spinning brush attachment/powerhead if you have one. We don’t need the small attachments, like the dusting brush or crevice tool, unless you’re having a problem with them or would like us to clean them out.
For upright vacuums, we need the main unit and anything you may be having problems with. Again, we do not need small attachments unless you would like us to check them for you.
For any rechargeable machines, please bring the charger. This includes robotic vacuums.
Sewing Machines
This section is going to be a little more involved, as there are many kinds of sewing machines that we work on, and they have a lot of small pieces!
For “normal”, sewing-only machines or machines without embroidery units, please bring the main unit, power cord, foot control, bobbin case and an all-purpose sewing foot. If your machine does decorative stitches or zigzag stitches, we need a foot that will allow for those. We typically do not need anything else.
For machines that do embroidery, we need the above listed parts as well as a few extra things: the embroidery unit, an embroidery hoop (the smaller sizes typically work best), an embroidery foot (in addition to a regular sewing foot), and a USB drive or embroidery card if your machine doesn’t have pre-loaded designs. If you are having problems with the machine embroidering a specific design, please tell us which one when you bring the machine in. If you are having problems when using a specific hoop or thread, please also bring those.
For serger machines, please bring the same items you would bring for a regular sewing machine (with the exception of a bobbin case, as sergers don’t have these). Since threading sergers can be a pain sometimes, you can bring the spools you want to use in with you. We will make sure it is threaded when you come to pick it up after the repair. If you have spare knives for your machine, we recommend bringing them with you.
For all machines – sometimes, machines only have issues with specific thread, stabilizer or fabric. If this is the case, please bring those items with you so we can test and adjust as necessary. Bringing example fabric to show us exactly what your machine is doing can be helpful, as well.
Everything Else
For everything else, bring what you need to operate the machine, or whatever is causing you headaches! For items like Kitchenaid mixers, we only need the bowl or attachments if they’re hitting each other. If you happen to make an ugly batch of cookies, we’re willing to take one for the team, too.
. . . And I think that covers it! Again, if you aren’t sure what to bring, you can always call us or send us an email before you make the trip down. Make sure you tell us what kind of problem you’re having with your machine so we can help determine what’s necessary.