SkeeterVac 8 months old
Written: May 13 '05 (Updated May 16 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Really gets rid of mosquitoes and gnats.
Cons: Expensive $269 at Sam's. Expensive 21 days $13 propane. 2 Tacky strips for $17.00.
The Bottom Line: I would recommend buying but keep the receipt for when it breaks. I hope it lasts for many years.
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| fourguzzis's Full Review: SkeeterVac |
The SkeeterVac is like Mosquito Magnet, Mosquito Deleto and other insect collectors in that a propane flame creates heat and CO2 which is similar to the temperature of exhaled breath of a human being and thus attracts mosquitos and gnats and other insects. Some of these devices need electricity to run the fan, SkeeterVac's propane engine produces 12v to run the fan and a set of colored LED's so it does not need to be plugged into an electrical outlet. The LED's attract certain mosquitos and a container of BaitBlock emits octenol attractants to encourage insects towards the machine. The fan creates a vacuum that causes the mosquitos to get sucked into the machine and deposited into a screen, or on smaller models, a net, which needs to be cleaned out every few days. The mosquitos also can get stuck on a TacTrap strip, which is like fly paper, and is wrapped around the outside of the engine and has black and white triangles on it. This needs to be replaced when it is covered with insects. A 20# propane tank lasts me about 21 days. The tank must be the new safety type and can be exchanged at locations that exchange refilled propane tanks, or it can filled at any place that sells propane. The maintenance includes cleaning the screen, taking the top off of the machine and cleaning the fan and the inside of the engine when insects cause the fan to less efficient. I used mine for about 6 months and did not have to clean the fan, but this spring the gnats came out and in one month they filled the screen several times, clogged the fan, and filled a TacTrap Strip.
I bought the SV 2000 last August. It started to collect mosquitos as soon as it was running. After the first few tanks of propane the unit became hard to start, but once started it ran OK until it ran out of propane. I have two tanks and I did not want to trade in a tank which still has some propane in it. The the unit became harder to start. I called SkeeterVac and they told me to change tanks just before it runs out. Hard to tell when that is. Finally I could not get it to start and I called SkeeterVac and they sent me a new engine. It worked fine for the first two tanks and then it would not start. I called SkeeterVac and they told me there is a new model out and it has fixes for the hard start problem. I got the new replacement and it worked just fine for the first two tanks of propane. It seems a little louder than the old model. My neighbor just bought an SV 2000 from Sam's and he got the older model. He figured he has a 1 year warranty and if it works for a while he can get a replacement under warranty until the new models come out. The strange thing is the model my neighbor has was built 6 months before my "new" model. Other than that it really works great catching bugs, but it is hard to clean and expensive. The tacky strips last from 4 months in winter and 1 month between March and April. I use it 24/7 365 days because we have mosquitoes all year long here in Southern Louisiana.
The machine is about 18 inches tall and about the width of a 20# propane tank. It has a chrome stand with two wheels so it can be moved. The stand must be assembled and the engine must be put on the mounting post. The stand is hard to use because the handle is too short and the front legs hit my ankles when I pull it around the yard. Trial and error must be used to find the best place in the yard to place the machine. I change its position occasionally to see if it works better in another location.
The Blue Rhino company makes the machine and has been very helpful with the warranty claims.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
fourguzzis
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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