Leaving a machine in AZ
 

Wow, it's been ages since my last logon. Where better to go when a question arises pertaining to sewing machines.
I live in Arizona in the winter and shut off the power when we leave to go back to Minnesota in the spring. Having always brought a machine with I have always had the room for it but now we aren't hauling a trailer so that brings me to my question. Can I safely leave a machine during the hot summer in AZ without doing any damage to it? Has anyone else tried and what results did you have?

Is it an electronic machine, with an integrated computer, or a mechanical one?
Do you know how hot it really gets in your house/condo? A mechanical machine can probably be left, you are always reading about older machines found out in the barn, clean them up, oil them and they are ready to go. I'd be more hesitant if it were a computerized machine. Do you have friends who live there year round and could store it for you?

I leave a Singer 237 (electric, mechanical, simple) and an early BabyLock serger in Dade City, Florida over the winter.
So far, they seem to be okay.

From what I understand, Florida gets a lot more rain than Arizona does.

I have a choice to take a Bernina 160, computerized, or an older Singer Athena 2000 that belonged to my mom and I haven't used it and know nothing about it. I think it gets up to 120 degrees F during the months of July and August. Everyone I know there takes their machines home.

Even computers do fine... it never gets hot enough to do damage. The processors can easily heat up to near 200 degrees while in use. Thermal shock is more of a concern than the rather gradual change in temperatures experienced in a house or condo, even in AZ or Las Vegas or anywhere else.

I leave one computerized machine and our house gets about 85 to 88 degrees. Everything is good when we get home.

When you return to AZ, buy a mechanical Brother, and leave it there the next summer. If the machine does have problems when you return to AZ, you aren't out a lot of money. If it doesn't, you can congratulate yourself for the great choice you made.

A computerized machine is left in AZ over the summer, it would probably be fine, too.

Someone mentioned that the other electronic devices, like TV, microwave, etc. don't suffer in the extreme heat. However, microwave is made to withstand heat in daily operation, TV has virtually no moving parts, and so on. That might make a difference in how well they withstand the heat of AZ in the summer. But, I'm no expert!

It gets up to 115 average and has hit 122 in summertime Phoenix. I live here. In a closed up home, it will get much, much hotter, unless you leave the air conditioner set to about 90. If you don't plan to leave the AC on, and it's a computerized machine, I would store it with a friend, or carry it home on my lap if no room in the car.

You don't say which part of Arizona you winter in which may be part of the consideration. I'm in the Phoenix area and this year we didn't have as many hot days (110 and up) as other years but we did have a mostly hot, humid days with lots of rain and thunderstorms. Two other issues to consider, lots of area flooded this year that normally do not and as you probably already know, Arizona is very, very dusty. Since you are shutting off the power in summer, temperatures could be pretty high within the appartment with the possibility of some pretty high humidity as well. Perhaps when you arrive you could contact one of the shops with good repair technicians about the situation and what they would recommend. My other suggestion would be to make friends with a permanent resident and make arrangements to leave a machine with them.

I wouldn't worry if it was a mechanical machine. Just give it a good oiling before you stat using it again. You might ask the technician that maintains your machine what he thinks. I had my old Singer from the 70s & 80s store in a storage shed in Corona for almost 20 years and it was fine (but wasn't computerized).

Thank you for your great suggestions. I think I'll bring the Singer along and if it survives just fine, then I'll probably get myself a Baby Lock or a Brother to leave there. Who doesn't love test driving a new sewing machine! Anyone have a preferred dealer in the Mesa/South Phoenix area?

This is what I would do. If you can ask a neighbor or even a guild member you may beclose with.

If it's a machine with a mother board in it, don't do it. If it's something like a FW, then you will be ok. Computerized machines do not do as well in the heat, because I have lived in AZ and in the summer it can be well over 115.

I have seen a few "stored" in hot places old machines. I recommend storing it in a case. Maybe you can find a mid century painted machine - the old black machines including the featherweight have shellac finish and that finish will crack from extreme temp variations. When you store it have it cleaned and oiled. Don't store thread in the bobbin - well at least around here. Another suggestion would be to buy a vintage high end machine locally when you get there. You can always resell it when you leave and buy something else next year. There are people who refurb machines and sell them on Craigslist and if you watch you could find something but you might ask if they have refurbished it - some don't advertise that they have been refurbished.

I leave my HV SE here in Mesa all year. In the summer we set the AC to 90d and it seems to do fine. It does get very dusty here so I suggest making sure it is covered well. I just cleaned mine yesterday and it had a lot of fine dust on it. Our AC broke one year and when I came down to check on our place the temp was over 120d inside the house. I don't know how long the house had been at that temp, but it took over a week to fix.

I would highly recommend Mulqueens in Mesa (Val Vista and Main) to purchase or service a machine. The carry Brother, Janome, Phaff, and Juki. You can't beat them for price or service plus with the purchase of a machine you get a 'Perks' card for store discounts which is a huge help as they have a fantastic stock of quilting/sewing supplies and machine embroidery. For BabyLock, 35th Ave Sew and Vac. They have 2 locations; Chandler (Rural and Ray) and Northern (59th and Northern). They have a huge, huge selection of fabric. If you winter in this area you really should get to know both stores - they are great! We have many other great quilting shops as well but these are the major machine dealers. If I can be of further assistance feel free to PM me!

I used to live in Phoenix (48-1/2 years worth!!) and I would never leave the electricity turned off entirely during the summer - for any reason. I agree with those saying to set your a/c up around 90 or so at the highest. I remember many, many days when the temperature never went below 100, so,even when there are less above 100 days, it still gets ***** hot! This past summer was kind of strange with all the dust storms, etc.- used to have lots of them way back,in the olden days😄😄

We have the opposite - we inherited my in-laws house in upstate New York (Fulton County) and we leave the heat set about 55 so nothing freezes, including my mother-in-law's old Singer 66.

I have left my Jenome in Texas several years with no problem

Mulqueens is terrific. Love their employees too. I have Baby Lock from my local dealer in the Prescott Valley area. I've heard both good and bad about 35th Ave. They do have a huge fabric area. I've only bought fabric from Mulqueens when they come up for our quilt shows and they have screaming prices. When I get to Phx area it's to see my 2 sons so no time for quilt shopping.:rolleyes::thumbdown:

I think our machines are all shipped from their manufacturing points to the U.S. in containers on ships across the oceans. I'm sure they withstand all kinds of temperatures and weathers. Once they are ours they are loved and cared for.