How to test your vacuum sealer
How to test your vacuum sealer.
When things are not going right generally the first thing you blame is the vacuum sealer itself. But in reality most of the time it is human error or simply using the wrong vacuum sealer bag or an inferior vacuum sealer bag. So, the first thing you should do when having trouble is test your vacuum sealer. Below is a video about testing a couple of vacuum sealers and it does not matter what brand vacuum sealer you have the theory is the same.
As you can see it is relatively easy to test your own vacuum sealer at home and once you have done this you are one step closer to success.
My vacuum sealer did not pass the test.
Ok so your vacuum sealer failed the test. It is probably the foam seals that need replacing and a new set can probably be purchased from the supplier of your brand of vacuum sealer. If you have a Preservac, Status or Lava vacuum sealer then you can contact us.
To make sure it is in the seals and not inside the vacuum sealer then switch to canister mode and put you finger over the inlet hole, if the vacuum sealer shuts down after a few seconds then it is probably the foam seals. If the vacuum sealer keeps running then it is a problem with in the vacuum sealer.
My vacuum sealer did pass the test.
Now it is safe to say that there is nothing wrong with the vacuum sealer and you now need to look at the vacuum sealer bags or the operator.
The vacuum sealer bags - A common mistake with vacuum sealer bags is that people buy bags designed for a chamber vacuum sealer and they do not work in an external bag vacuum sealer. These vacuum sealer bags are smooth on both sides and when used in an external bag vacuum sealer the vacuum sealer can not get the air out so they seal up and leave lots of air inside the bag. If you have an external bag vacuum sealer then you must use a vacuum sealer bag that is embossed or patterned on one side and smooth on the other side. There can be other issues with vacuum sealer bags also such as bad seals on the seam or if you are making your vacuum sealer bag from a roll people run into more trouble with not doing the first seal correctly.
The operator - No one likes to think that they have got it wrong but to be honest most problems are operator error and there are so many reasons why your vacuum sealer bag is not sealing because of operator error. The most common is liquid in the seal area. Simple really, if there is liquid in the seal area then the bag will not seal properly. I have also heard so many times that there old cheap Aldi vacuum sealer sealed with liquid but this one doesn't. I have not had 1 person prove that to me yet. There are many other reasons too, like over filling the bag, creases in the seal, putting the opening of the vacuum sealer bag in the wrong spot to name a few common mistakes.
Please watch our videos on How to get started and vacuum sealing help videos to get some very handy hints. Also if you are having trouble with liquids watch our controlling liquids videos.
Like I said at the start, when people have trouble vacuum sealing they are very quick to blame the vacuum sealer and very rarely is it the vacuum sealer. Chances are that vacuum sealer you have that will not work properly is actually a very good vacuum sealer. You are just not using it properly or using the wrong bags.