Hello Barbara,
If you have to tap the machine or fiddle with the cord to make the machine go it is because there is an electrical short somewhere possibly where the cord plugs into the machine, it can be a ver snmall break in the cable which would be hardly noticable or the actual plug going into the machine, for safety sake unplug the machine and inspect the cord from the foot control to the plug and the mains lead to the plug, look at the machine plug itself to see if there is any discolouration(black)
it is unlikely the humidity has anything to do with because it has to be extreme to cause any problems.
Ken
drivewithken@blueyonder.co.uk, June 2007