how often do you service your sewing machine

My machine has started acting up. I'm wondering how often you get your machine serviced. My manual just say "at regular intervals."  Also, how much does machine servicing generally cost you?

Thanks
AmyG

I can only afford to take my Janome in once a year which is what is recommended in my manual.  I use it a TON so I probably should take it in more, but at $110 a visit I try to go as long as possible.   

I also have a Janome and I take it in about once a year too. I don't oil mine myself either, even though I know I should. The cost can vary depending on whether or not you have a problem with your machine. The usual cost at my machine dealer's is $90 if there are no problems.

Word of caution:  Good sewing machine mechanics are very rare....very rare.  If you find one, you are lucky.  My experience is quite the opposite.  They often makes things worse doing "maintenance."  Few of them are trained properly.  After many bad experiences, I gave up those annual tuneups.  Instead, I am religious about lint removal and oiling according to manual instructions. 

My 14 year old Viking was serviced for the first time this year.  I sent it for factory service after some particularly heavy-duty sewing that seemed to affect its tensions.  Because it's warranty was still in effect, it cost $0.  That's right ... zero. 

I doubt those "maintenance" checks are really necessary. 

I have a Viking Lily 555 for about 8 years. I've never had it serviced but am thinking about it now. The tension is messed up on it. 

I clean and oil and "service"  it myself.  I clean and oil it fairly regularly (every month or so) because I usually sew every day for several hours.  Then, about once a year, I disassemble it all (remove the casing) and clean and lubricate everything inside.

I use a small paintbrush and long tweezers to remove particles of dust, lint and threads. I use ordinary 3-in-1 oil and it's worked great for me for the past 30 years. Some people recommend gun oil because it's very clean and "fine."

I have only had the machine in for repairs once - when my dog sat on the presser foot and jammed the bobbin case area so full of thread that it threw off the timing. I couldnt' fix that. And once I had the presser foot rewired, but afterward DH looked at it and said, "Oh, I could have done THAT."

So before you take your machine in and pay to have it serviced, find out exactly what they are going to do and decide if it's worth the cost. MOST "servicing" is just cleaning that you could do without even unscrewing the machine casing.