I have a 10 year old Foodsaver and it's a sucking mo! Works as well as the first day I bought it. I believe mine is pretty much a manual unit with only the heat strip turning off automatically. I've got the timing down well to start the heat strip just before the juice hits the sealing area. If I have a lot of moisture in the top of the bag I will take a paper towel and give a quick swipe to dry the contact points.