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

"EZ" > wrote in message
t...
>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.

This is probably not your answer, but here goes:
I didn't see your mentioning that you had the end neatly tucked down into
the trough, continuing all through the process.

Dee Dee

"EZ" > wrote

> 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.

I don't have that feature on mine, so anything I say might not be helpful.

Sometimes if I don't arrange things just so in the bag, it just won't
vacuum properly. Try moving the food around so that odd air
pockets don't form. Also, the machine really does heat up, so I
only do a few packages at a time. I let it cool down.

Other times the first seal is a little iffy, so I'll make another seal
on that end.

nancy

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

--
Ultra Ultimate Kitchen Rule - Use the Timer!
Ultimate Kitchen Rule -- Cook's Choice

"Sky" > wrote in message
...
> 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.

EZ, I forgot to mention that I bought this same model September 2005. It
hasn't given me any trouble. As I mentioned before about making sure you
get the top of the bags into the trough. I didn't have an easy time of it
when I did some meat in bags.

I do know that when I did the heavy meat, that I did prop up what I was
vacuuming on something so as to level it, so that the bag top would not slip
out of the sealer. The bag can slip a little, and still hot seal. I'll bet
this could be your problem.


After using bags for a little while, even though I didn't use all I bought,
I really have stopped using them. Even though they are supposedly safe to
use, I felt that there was a plastic odor. Whether it was just perceived by
me, or there really was, is beside the point because I don't use them
anymore. I use the containers and my own mason jars.

I believe this is a good product.
Dee Dee

"Dee Dee" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Sky" > wrote in message
> ...
>> 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.
>
> EZ, I forgot to mention that I bought this same model September 2005. It
> hasn't given me any trouble. As I mentioned before about making sure you
> get the top of the bags into the trough. I didn't have an easy time of it
> when I did some meat in bags.
>
> I do know that when I did the heavy meat, that I did prop up what I was
> vacuuming on something so as to level it, so that the bag top would not
> slip out of the sealer. The bag can slip a little, and still hot seal.
> I'll bet this could be your problem.
>
>
> After using bags for a little while, even though I didn't use all I
> bought, I really have stopped using them. Even though they are supposedly
> safe to use, I felt that there was a plastic odor. Whether it was just
> perceived by me, or there really was, is beside the point because I don't
> use them anymore. I use the containers and my own mason jars.
>
> I believe this is a good product.
> Dee Dee
I prop heavier bags of stuff in the drawer just under the counter where the
FS is plugged in. Recommended by another preserver I think.
Edrena

On 2007-08-20, EZ > wrote:


> Seems odd, though. It is especially odd because I read in the directions
> that when the unit overheats, it will shut down.

It is a bit odd. With my Foodsaver, if it can't achieve a good vacuum
on a package, it will not switch to seal mode. Mine will just keep
trying to pull a vacuum till it poops out or I shut it off. OTOH,
mine has a function that will allow it to seal without a vacuum, as
I'm sure all models do, but I have to manually activate this function
after the cycle starts. I suspect yours is possibly defective and this
seal without a vacuum function may be iffy. I'd take it back for
exchange. Costco will exchange it, no problem.

nb

Thanks for all your suggestions, folks. Among all those suggestions, plus a
few from the company, it seems the Food Saver is a bit more picky than I
thought. Getting both sides of the bag in the trough, and getting the three
or so inches of bag lying flat all the way to the sealer, and making sure
that when you close and lock the lid it's all still in place, is apparently
more difficult than it seems. Once all the stars are aligned correctly and I
hold my mouth just right, I can manage to get the bag vacuumed and sealed.
Using the manual vacuum button first to see if it's actually going to suck
air or not, is a good idea, too.

Today I made three bags out of 8" roll and sealed three pieces of cheese.
The first two worked fine without a hitch. The third one failed to vacuum,
but after I turned it over, and messed around with it for a while, it
succumbed, too, and I got a decently-vacuum-sealed third bag of cheese. Yay.

Thanks again. It seems I'll keep this unit, since it doesn't appear to be
defective.


--
EZ
Traeger BBQ075 "Texas"
CharGriller Smokin Pro
Great Outdoors Smoky Mountain Wide Body
CharmGlow 3-burner All-Stainless Gas Grill
Weber Kettle One-Touch Silver 22-1/2"
Weber Kettle Smoky Joe Silver 14-1/2"