Seal a Meal isn't sealing food and doesn't work

The tape trick didn't work for me. Had to cut the wires. Works for now.
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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.

You can buy the replacement part on KMart's website.

Did the clip break that holds the sealing nozzle in place? If so, use a chopstick to hold the lock and seal unit in place. I place a little scotch tape on the chopstick, place it all the way across the sealing nozzle. You may have to really press on the lid to shut it, but it works. If it's not the clip, maybe you have a blocked hole or the sealing unit needs cleaned out really well. Good luck!

place the end of the roll just past the wire heating element into the sealer and press and hold the lid closed until the cycle finishes. (I usually do this twice in a slightly different place). Remove the roll and cut the plastic back far enough into the roll for the bag you are going to fill. Leave enough space to seal the bag after you have filled it. Seal the filled bag according to the instructions.

Mine broke too.. I contacted Seal-a-meal, and for my machine, they don't make replacement parts anymore. BUT, here's what I did and it works great. I place a chopstick across the length of the lock and seal nozzle...I use a little scotch-tape to hold it in place.. When you shut the lid, it applies enough pressure to the nozzle, to start pulling air out of the bags. I do have to lean or push down hard on the lid, to get it to lock into place, before sealing, but the chopstick works wonderful...I am not going to buy a whole new seal-a-meal when this works so terrific. In fact, I just seal-a-mealed 8 bags of beans this afternoon. Try it before you go out and buy another machine.

I thought I had the same problem. Kept reading the instruction manual to try to figure out what I was doing wrong or thought a fuse was blown or something (there wasn't even a light to show that it was getting power). It did end up working though when I pressed on the ribs on the lid with some force and held it for a second or two. It didn't work when I pressed down on the lid on the sides - only when I pressed directly on the ribs. It really surprised me when it lit up, but there you have it.

you have to push down with a lot of force to get the rubber seal to give enough to allow it to latch...

HOW TO MAKE A BAG

1. Place the BAG SEALER on a firm level surface adjacent to a power supply socket. We suggest the bag sealer be positioned away from the edge of the work surface allowing plenty of clear space for making the bags.

2. Take the polythene roll and insert it in the trough in the sealer, positioning it so that the film is pulled of the roll from the underneath.

3.Polythene roll supplied by Salton (Cat No. 1121) is a high grade film suitablefor use in a microwave oven, boil-in-the-bag cooking and for storing in the freezer. Replacement rolls are obtainable from stockists, or in the case of difficulty, from Pifco Servive Department.

4. Plug in to mains supply socket and switch on.

5. To make the first seal on a new roll of polythene, lift up the cover and pull out enough film to project an inch (2.5 - 3 cm) or so outside the casing.

6.Now press the lid down firmly so that both the red and green indicator lights come on. In a short time - approximately 6 seconds - the green seal light will go out. AS soon as this happens lift the lid and peel of the film.DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PEEL THE FILM AWAY BEFORE THE GREEN SEAL LIGHT GOES OUT.

7.NOTE - when closing the lid and applying pressure two distinct clicks will be heard.
theses are the switches which operate the two functions of the BAG SEALER.
First click - Operates the air extraction motor. Vacuum light (RED) ON.
Second click - The sealing wire is energised. Seal (GREEN) and vacuum light (RED) both on.

8. We suggest that you famillarise yourself with the pressure mechanism before you begin using your BAG SEALER. It is perfectly safe to operate either the seal or vacuum functions with out using any polythene roll.

9. After several uses deposits of polythene on the sealing wire can reduce the effectiveness of the seal. Theses deposits of polythene can be removed by operating the seal mechanism without any polythene across the wire.

10. Having sealed one side of the bag, pull out the film to the desired bag width (MAXIMUM WIDTH is 2.9 cm / 11 1/4 inches) and seal again by closing the lid and pressing down hard.

11. As soon as the Green seal light goes out, lift the lid and peel the bag away. Ensure no film adheres to the sealing wire.

12. This seal creates your first bag and at the same time the first seal for the next bag.

SEALING A FILLED BAG (WITHOUT AIR EXTRACTION)

1.Make sure that no food or liquid remains in the top portion of the bag close to where the seal will be made as this may effect the effectiveness of the seal.

2. Place the open end of the of the bag over the sealing wire making sure that the film is flat WITH NO FOLDS OR CREASES ALONG THE LINE OF THE SEAL.

3.Close the lid and press down firmly to make the seal.

EXTRACTING AIR FROM A FILLED BAG.

REMEMBER: Do not extract air from bags containing liquid !!!

1. After filling the bag and making sure that the sealing area is free from food particles, place the open end of the bag over the sealing wire and place the black air extraction nozzle well inside the bag. It is important to ensure the the two edges of the bag under and over the nozzle are straight and not creased in any way to ensure an air tight seal !

2.Depress the lid gently until the red light comes on and hold this position to operate the air extractor. (DO NOT press so hard as to activate the the green light and therefore the sealing wire).

3. As the air is being extracted it is sometimes of help to hold the bag with your hand and gently move the contents around to help channels of air to form, so aiding extraction. Depending on the the nature of the porosity of the food some unavoidable air pockets may form but moving the contents around these can be minimised.

4.Once all the air has been extracted increase the pressure on the lid until the green light comes on. This must be done in one continuous movement, otherwise the air might seep back into the bag. Once again the bag should not be pulled away from the bag sealer until the green light goes out. Pressure on the lid should be released, the lid lifted and the bag peeled away.

LAMSBREAD :)