I may be grasping at straws here: are your bags textured differently on each side? If so, would you want to try flipping them and seeing if you get different results?
		
		
	 
The bags are textured on one side.
I have tried every possible option when sealing...it does eventually seal but from everything I have read about all different brands and running into the same problem it seems to be the actual seal itself.  I tried flipping the bag..using books to keep it level....you name it.
This maintenence kit I tried to buy here actually has a description and it says something about making it seal again in there......
To be honest these vac packing machines are seriously rookie machines all of them....they do an okay job at the best.  Not trying to be rude....
Anything with liquid or even just a moist piece of salmon and they pull the moisture out and make a mess.
I tried to vac pack corn off the cob and while I got them all sealed it did pull all the moisture out of the bags.
Now a real machine is a vacuum chamber sealer....you see them used on TV cooking shows if you watch those.
I am sitting on the fence right now and have watched a few video reviews.......it also weighs 70 pounds and you need the available real estate.
Yes it is considerably more money but it feels more like a buy once cry once and don't look back scenario to me.
The frustration I have when you hit start and you have to re do it about 10 times to get it to actually work is really getting to me.
Wet pumps.....and apparently they do come in smaller sizes than I linked but from what I read you will hate your life if you go with something smaller than a 12 inch seal......I can see where they are coming from.
Link and pics....This apparently seems to be a very well made machine and it keeps you in a better price range than other brands.
	
A fairly honest review......there are more but this guy really has a lot of info.
