EZ wrote:
>
> I just got a Food Saver V2490 from Costco a few weeks ago. For the most part
> it works fine, but after I've barbecued a few large cuts of meat and I'm
> sealing up small packages to freeze, there comes a time when it'll just quit
> vacuuming. It makes all the right noises, but no air gets sucked out of the
> bag, then the bag seals, and I'm sitting there with a bag full of sealed-in
> air and meat. At that point I can cut the bag open, try to reseal it, and
> get the same result. I can even make a new bag, and sometimes it will suck
> the air out and seal it just fine, sometimes not. I use the "vacuum and
> seal" button.
>
> If I just pull it out to seal one or two things, it works fine. And, it
> seems to malfunction most with the wider, 11" roll. The 8" roll seems to
> work a bit better.
>
> For example, yesterday I had sealed about a dozen bags of brisket, and the
> last 4 didn't vacuum. So, after I ate dinner, I went to open and re-seal
> those four bags of now-frozen brisket. Three of them vacuumed and sealed
> just fine, the fourth didn't vacuum, so I let the machine rest for a while,
> and voila, the fourth one vacuumed and sealed up, too.
>
> So, it seems I can only do about three bags, then the machine has to rest.
> Seems odd, though. It is especially odd because I read in the directions
> that when the unit overheats, it will shut down. That would indicate to me
> that if it had overheated it shouldn't even start up - I shouldn't even hear
> the vacuuming sounds. But, as it stands, I do hear the vacuuming sounds,
> it's just not vacuuming at all after about the third or fourth bag. And, I
> am letting the machine rest for at least 20 seconds in between bags, as the
> directions indicate.
>
> Is this unit defective? Should I exchange it for a new unit at Costco? Or,
> is this just the way it is and I have to live with it?
>
> EZ

From your description, it sounds like the unit is overheating way too
soon and might be defective (?!). I'd call the manufacturer and ask. I
bet they'll send a replacement or instruct you to return it to the store
for an exchange. If the second one does the same thing, it might be a
good idea to look at a different model.

Recently, I had a Seal-a-Meal replaced due to a different sort of
problem (the heating element fried itself), but its replacement (at no
cost) was DOA straight out of the box -- there were several loose
objects in its "guts" that rattled when gently shakened. The company
replaced that one (the DOA replacement) with an upgraded version!
Unfortunately, the last replacement wasn't ideal, even though it was a
'better' model -- this one has twice as much counter "footprint." But,
it'll be a long time before I run out of VS bags, that's for sure <G>.
And, I was very impressed with the customer service I received, so I
have no complaints whatsoever

Sky

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