I agree that your machine may not need to be serviced every year if you do not use them heavily, but if you do it is a good idea. I have a machine that tells me when it needs maintenance. It goes by how many stitches it sews, so it may need maintenance more often. I have had it over 2 years and just got first one, but I did not use it much the first year as I was living in a 5th wheel and did not have room to set it up, now it gets used a lot.