01%, effectively preserve these packaged foods without the need for preservatives or additives and without the need for vacuum sealing.
I've also added an oil catch can that does a wonderful job of trapping oil vapor exiting the exhaust of the pump. Now instead of coating the area in a fine oil mist, the oil settles into the can. The clear tube on the side of the can lets you know how full the can is.
After the 3rd cycle I had hit my 20 cycle oil limit so it was time to change the oil. This time I took the time to add a flush port to my pump. When I replaced the plumbing with larger diameter brass and a cutoff valve I did not think to add the oil flush out port.
Drying things out played a roll as well as the added insulation. We had 3.5 weeks of constant rain here in central NC with humidity over 95% and temps near 95F in the beginning and tapering down to 80F by the end of the rain. The condensation on the front panel around the seal had water running down the front of the Freeze Dryer constantly during the entire cycle, not just the freeze cycle. I initially went into the FDer to simply stop the humdity from reaching the outer chamber shell and freezing.
The appliances that you buy will need to be specifically determined by your kitchen space, and the types of food that plan to be be serving.
However, be very careful when buying any machine that was already used. Make sure to test it and see if it works properly before actually buying it.
Full One-Year Warranty only includes the U.S. continental 48 states Warranty Period: For one year from original ship date. Included: Premier oil vacuum pump and oil-free vacuum pumps. Harvest Right will be responsible for: Repair or, at our option, replace any part of this freeze dryer and/or vacuum pump which proves to be defective in workmanship or material. Consumer will be responsible for: Costs of service calls. Consumer may also be responsible for replacement parts caused by consumer misuse and neglect of product. See Normal Responsibilities of the Consumer below. Limited 3-year warranty Warranty Period: For the second and third year from the original ship date. Harvest Right will be responsible for: Repair or, at our option, replace any part of the sealed refrigeration system (compressor, condenser, evaporator, tubing) which fails because of defective workmanship or material. Consumer will be responsible for: Diagnostic charges for determining defects, and any costs for transportation and delivery of the appliance required because of service. Limited Warranty (Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Puerto Rico) Time periods listed above. Included: Premier oil vacuum pump and oil-free vacuum pumps. All provisions of this limited warranty are the same as listed above except that service will be provided by the customer or a qualified local service provider that is approved by Harvest Right. The consumer will be responsible for the cost of transportation of the product to the repair shop or the travel cost of the technician to the consumer’s location. In the event a consumer is required to ship the product directly to Harvest Right for repair, the consumer is eligible for a shipping credit in an amount determined by Harvest Right at the time of shipping. Limited International Warranty (includes all countries not described above) Warranty Period: For one year from original ship date. Included: Premier oil vacuum pump and oil-free vacuum pumps. Harvest Right will provide: Support get more info through telephone and e-mail only. At our option, all parts deemed necessary will be provided by Harvest Right. Consumer will be responsible for: Costs of local service and cost of parts for consumer misuse and neglect of product. Costs for transportation and delivery of all parts, for any reason, from Harvest Right to Consumer. Normal Responsibilities of the Consumer: This warranty applies only to freeze dryers used in clean environments and when operated in accordance with Harvest Right instructions. The consumer is responsible for the following items: 1. Proper use of the appliance in accordance with the instructions provided with the product.
Now that you understand the conditions, you can better understand what happened when we finally turned off our FDer after an extended use in these conditions.
You can determine when the product is dry by feel or by calculation of the amount of water remaining in the product.
I, too, have noticed a significant difference when I defrost mid-cycle. I do that routinely now. I carefully use a heat gun to "shock" the surface of the ice, moving back and forth across it fairly swiftly, which causes it to crack and separate somewhat from the cylinder.
Studies show the average American family wastes about $2,500 per year between produce and dairy that goes bad, leftovers that don’t get eaten, and items that expire or get freezer burn. All these food items could be freeze dried and put on the pantry shelf ready to taste great next week – or in 20 years.
We have to face one hard fact when shopping for home freeze dryers. That fact is, unlike many other purchases, freeze dryers aren't cheap. However, unlike many other purchases, a freeze dryer can provide a lifetime of cost savings that ultimately pay for itself.
As I mentioned before, freeze dryers are an investment. They're an investment because of all the benefits they bring to you and your self-reliance.
Forgive me for the extremely long post but I thought other southerners may also face this problem and could use this information.