Rival VS230 Seal A Meal Vacuum Food Sealer - Answered Questions & Fixed issues

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My husband is a fisherman here in Key West and swears by his vacuum sealer, but he was about to throw it through the window last week when it stopped working.
The motor would just run and run, but the vacuum never kicked on.
I found an answer online that solved his problem and may help some, but not all of you.
Apparently, it was all about bag placement for us.
When you're just trying to seal one end of the plastic to make a bag from a roll, make sure the end of the plastic is just on the front, flat heat seal strip and is NOT touching the black, rubber gasket that lines the vacuum tray, Also, make sure the end is NOT hanging over the gasket and into the vacuum tray.
Apparently, the machine was sucking, but air was constantly come through the other, open end.
Once you've sealed a bottom into your bag and have added your contents, then you put the open end (after making sure it's dry) all the way into the vacuum tray.
Hope this helps, good luck! I was so happy to find an answer online that I figured I'd share it with others.
Here's to fresh fish!

Crazy,, I've only used it three times and the heat seal already went out,,, will never buy this product again

dated: Wednesday, November 20th, 2013 Call: Rival Customer Service at 1-800-557-4825

the unit does not go into the sealing mode!! what should i do

you have to push down with a lot of force to get the rubber seal to give enough to allow it to latch...

VS230. Here's a link:
http://www.sealameal.com/customer/manuals/

I think that you have the same problem that I have. The protective tape over the heating element [a strip in my case] has a hole in it and allows the element to come in direct contact with the bag. Also, the heating strip had a kink in it was was no longer flat. I carefully cleaned the heating strip and flattened it out as best I can. I have ordered some tape from : http://www.ebay.com/itm/170848027703?item=170848027703&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:X:AAQ:MOTORS:1123&vxp=mtr to replace the defective one. A simple job.

You need new tape to replace the one presently covering the heat element. You can get a roll of it for just US$7.99. Look at the FixYa question "where [or how maybe] can I get a new tape." I think that you have to be sure that the heat element is flat. I bought a used unit with that problem and the element had somehow gotten bent. Ordered the tape this morning and the cost is worth the hopeful fix.

EBAY. Look for PTFE Teflon Adhesive Tape.http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-PTFE-Teflon-Adhesive-Tape-Nonstick-heat-Sealer-19mmx10m-Impulse-Sealer-/170848027703?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_100&hash=item27c7560437&vxp=mtr

My husband is a fisherman and swears by his vacuum sealer, but he was about to trthrow it through the window last week when it stopped working. The motor would just run and run, but the vacuum never kicked on. I found an answer online that solved his problem - apparently, it's all about bag placement. When you're just trying to seal one end to make a bag cut from a roll, make sure the end of the plastic is just on the front, flat heat seal strip and is NOT touching the black, rubber gasket that lines the vacuum tray, Also, make sure the end is NOT hanging over the gasket and into the vacuum tray.Apparently, the machine was sucking, but air was constantly come through the other, open end. Once you've sealed a bottom into your bag and have added your contents, then you put the open end (after making sure it's dry) all the way into the vacuum tray. Hope this helps, good luck! I was so happy to find an answer online that I figured I'd share it with others. Here's to fresh fish!

Did the clip break that holds the sealing nozzle in place? If so, use a chopstick to hold the lock and seal unit in place. I place a little scotch tape on the chopstick, place it all the way across the sealing nozzle. You may have to really press on the lid to shut it, but it works. If it's not the clip, maybe you have a blocked hole or the sealing unit needs cleaned out really well. Good luck!

Mine broke too.. I contacted Seal-a-meal, and for my machine, they don't make replacement parts anymore. BUT, here's what I did and it works great. I place a chopstick across the length of the lock and seal nozzle...I use a little scotch-tape to hold it in place.. When you shut the lid, it applies enough pressure to the nozzle, to start pulling air out of the bags. I do have to lean or push down hard on the lid, to get it to lock into place, before sealing, but the chopstick works wonderful...I am not going to buy a whole new seal-a-meal when this works so terrific. In fact, I just seal-a-mealed 8 bags of beans this afternoon. Try it before you go out and buy another machine.

Try placing a folded paper towel in the bag between the item and the area of the seal
The towel will absorb the liquid allowing the bag to seal but keeping the liquid in the bag

Place a folded paper towel at the top of the bag between the meat and where it will seal.
It will absorb the blood and allow the bag to seal

place the end of the roll just past the wire heating element into the sealer and press and hold the lid closed until the cycle finishes. (I usually do this twice in a slightly different place). Remove the roll and cut the plastic back far enough into the roll for the bag you are going to fill. Leave enough space to seal the bag after you have filled it. Seal the filled bag according to the instructions.

Sorry to read about your problem, I hope this helps you out.

after you try to seal, open the unit..feel the white heat tape..check to feel if hot, if not..you have a defective unit....

I tried to help you. Please help me and Rate/Vote on my response, thanks and good luck

Bag will not seal

• Check that there aren't any gaps, folds, wrinkles or holes in pre-sealed edges.

• Moisture of foods with high liquid content will prevent the bag from

sealing properly. Cut bag open and wipe top inside of bag and reseal.

• Make sure you've placed the bag in the proper place. When making a

bag from a roll, make sure end of cut piece is on Sealing Strip, NOT over

Lower Sealing Gasket or in Drip Tray.

• Make sure you give the appliance time to cool down. Wait at least 20
seconds between seals.

If all the above have been verified and the machine will still not pull a vacuum, you will need to replace the upper and lower gaskets.

I thought I had the same problem. Kept reading the instruction manual to try to figure out what I was doing wrong or thought a fuse was blown or something (there wasn't even a light to show that it was getting power). It did end up working though when I pressed on the ribs on the lid with some force and held it for a second or two. It didn't work when I pressed down on the lid on the sides - only when I pressed directly on the ribs. It really surprised me when it lit up, but there you have it.

Is it working at all or just no vacuum. Try blowing thru the device. I have used water to get mine going before thru the plastic hose coupling.