Odds are the problem is the vacuum hose or its end connections, the drain valve, or the door gasket. Based upon my experience I'd double check the fittings while installed on the FDer.

Hopefully I said that in a way that makes sense! As well, does it matter which port is used as "in" and which as "out"?

I think a community-built troubleshooting manual is a great idea. These machines are simple in some ways, and more complex in others, and having a lot of eyes on the problem is always good.

The only way I know to filter the water vapor out would be a cold trap. They usually use liquid nitrogen or dry ice to keep the temperature low enough that all the water condenses out. Obviously you would need a supply of the liquid nitrogen or dry ice that would probably not be cost effective for most of us. The other option to get that cold would be to use a cryocooler and build a cold trap around it. It could be done, but would be pretty expensive. I've been watching some electronics on ebay that have cryocoolers in them, but the cheapest I've seen is around $600. Still not a cheap option, but you wouldn't need dry ice or liquid nitrogen to feed it.

(had to replace the whole galvanized T piece with new wires in it) Seems they are epoxied in there, and in my experience passthroughs are a problem spot, so it's not at all surprizing that there was a slight leak there. In any case, I thanks the folks at HR for sending parts and sticking with me throughout.

They come out as dry and hard as lumber. So, if you try to freeze dry a steak or roast, expect to break a tooth eating it.

That means that if you find any authorized online retailer that has a lower price than us, just let us know and we'll match their price!

The proper methods of drying are one of these four methods: Air drying, sun drying, oven drying, or dehydration. Learn how to properly do each of these methods.

The two sub-processes, freezing and vacuum drying are done correctly: The freezing process must be quick and the vacuum process should leave only residual moisture.

Canned foods can either be purchased commercially or home canned. Home canned foods should be canned using research-tested recipes and processes like those found in the USDA Complete Guide to Canning or in Extension publications.

Since 2000, Extension has been warning consumers about canning cakes and breads. While this process has much appeal, it does not destroy the organism that causes Shop Now botulism.

Harvest Right Freeze Dryers preserve food that looks and tastes better than store-bought freeze-dried food and at a Completa cost that is thousands less.

It would also be best to avoid pawn shops. Although they can be a goldmine for trinkets, they’re usually not a great place to shop for advanced machinery.

Have an understanding of which kind of food pretreatment is needed to use the device. To ensure the freeze-drying approach is productive, you’ll must understand how to get ready food.