Troubleshooting a Food Vacuum Sealer

Most users who experience problems with their food vacuum sealers can fix the problems themselves with relatively minor adjustments. Mainly, the food vacuum sealer has only three general parts and it is easy to distinguish which part is malfunctioning. The suction system of the appliance pulls air from the storage bag. Then the food travels into the sealing chamber and the sealing system adheres the bag to itself causing the vapor lock around the food. If the problem can be isolated to which step in the process something is malfunctioning, the chances of fixing the issue are very high.

Not Enough Suction

Luckily suction problems are often due to the amount of bag being placed within the sealing chamber and not the motor itself. If too much bag or roll is being placed into the sealing chamber, adequate suction cannot be created because the excess plastic is covering all or part of the suction pipe. Use the colored line on the inside of the sealing chamber as a guide and make sure the bag size does not extend past the line. Though it seems counter-intuitive, often less bag extension means a better seal.

If less bag is being used and suction is still minor, check to make sure dirt and grime haven't built up between the lid and the device.

Check the Bags or Roll

If there seems to be no trouble with the operation of the appliance or if success is spotty, check to make sure there are no pinpoint holes in either the plastic roll or the sealing bags. Even a small hole can cause the vacuum sealer to be trying to create a vacuum on one side while air is seeping in on the other.

Improper Sealing

Though this seems like another instance where the motor is at fault, in reality, it is the contents of the bag. Often when placed under the pressure of sealing the food items will seep water, oil, or juices. The oil and water coat the side of the package and do not allow for proper sealing. The effect is a bag that is partially sealed with lots of small holes and leakages within the outer sealed area. To prevent this, be careful when placing food items within the plastic so that spills don't occur and also use paper towels to blot excess moisture out of the food before sealing.

If foods are adequately dry, try leveling the device. If the surface the food vacuum sealer is sitting on isn't level, the chances of spillage are greatly minimized. Secondly, check that all the plugs are in place and none missing. The plugs help to make contact between the sheets of plastic. Without all the plugs in place, there can be areas that do not seal.

Don't Overfill

Leave at least 1 inch of free space between the edge and the food so the sides can have adequate contact to seal. This will also help to prevent liquid runoff or food particles from blocking sealing.