My Seal-a-meal won't heat up to seal the bag. The motor works and but ''hands free'' does not light comes on, the heating strip is cold to the touch.

Seal-a-Meal FSSMSL0160-000 Vacuum Sealer - Amazon.com

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Amazon.com, Inc.Handy indicator lights for "Hands-Free" and "Sealing", plus Open/Cancel button. Keep your busy kitchen running smoothly with help from this easy-to-use Seal-a-Meal ... With its sleek, straightforward design, the compact appliance effectively ... After completing the vacuum sealing cycle, both the motor and the "Sealing" ...Missing: red

Amazon.com: Rival Vacuum Sealer: Kitchen & Dining

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Rating: 3.6 - ‎233 reviews
Online Shopping for Kitchen Small Appliances from a great selection of ... Rival FSFGSL0150-015 3 Step Vacuum Sealer w/ Bag Starter Kit ... You push down....wait for Hands-Free light & Sealing light to go on....let go....wait for lights to turn off. ...After a couple of bags were done, I started having an issue in which the unit did ...Missing: red

Amazon.com: FoodSaver FSFRSH0051 FreshSaver ...

Could be the heating element (wire that gets hot enough to melt plastic) is going bad, how long have you been sealing bags with the unit? If you have used it for some time there is the possibility of build up plastic/residue on the the wire or the surface that actually comes in contact with the bag as I would suspect there is a coated surface the element heats up as opposed to the element / wire coming in contact with the plastic itself!

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.

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.

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!

Model 750 seal a meal will not seal bags

Norm

just bought mine - how long does it take to heat up? it's been 10 minutes already, I don't feel any heat. no lights coming on, but when I pushed on the lid, the vacuum started, so I know it's "on"

Take apart and see if wires are connected That is what was wrong w/ mine. Soldered wire now works fine.