20 Most Recent Rival VS230 Seal A Meal Vacuum Food Sealer Questions & Answers

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

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.

Water Filters Lawn Garden Appliance Parts

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

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

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/

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!