Customer Reviews

Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer, 1-Acre Coverage

5 star:		(91)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

There are two ways to measure the quality of an insect zapper. First, how powerful is it light? That will determine from how far away insects will be attracted. Second, how powerful are its "shocks"? That will, of course, determine what happens to the hapless critters. The Flowtron BK-40D performs both of these admirably.

This should be set up AWAY from your seating area - at least 10 yards. It will attract and kill so many insects that if it is near you, you will get covered. Also, the zapping noises it makes as it kills can be intimidating to young kids.

The plug comes off a short (6 inches or so) wire from the top as it hangs down from your pole. Make sure whatever extension cord you use is rated for outdoor use.

There is a compartment just below this model, which will fit a sticky mosquito attractant - one comes free with this package. You can get refills easily at Target or WalMart. Cost about $4. You probably will not need them, however, because the UV light does a good job of attracting insects.

I recommend it fully.

This is my second bug zapper. Took another brand back that didn't work. This zapper is working great, and that's all thanks to its intelligent design.

Some bug zappers have super small entry holes, and then wimpy little electrodes inside. This zapper is designed to let bugs fly in easily, and it has vertical electrodes that zap bugs. This zapper works really well...in fact the other night it was zapping like crazy because it was hot and the bugs were out. We live in an urban area near a plant nursery, so we'd always have bugs coming in the back door. Now this zapper kills them and attracts them away from our backdoor. Great product!

We don't have a mosquito problem but my wife and I usually spend our time at our computers which are located close to our deck. At night, flying bugs would wiggle into the house and send my wife screaming and wailing. So I bought this bug zapper and the problem is solved. A good product if you need something to keep flying bugs out of the house during warm summer nights.

Before buying this product, think of a way to hang it some place. I put mine on a deck table but its a little wobbly and may fall over if there's a strong gust of wind.

I can't identify most of the bugs killed by the zapper, some are small green thinggy with wings and some of rather big long flying bug. It did killed a lady bug however, not sure if that's a good thing or not.

The first two nights of use, I placed newspaper under the unit to catch most of the insects eliminated by the Flowtron Model 40. I determined that it does indeed kill mosquitoes. Living in central Texas, this is vitally important to us in order to better enjoy our backyard deck. I did not install the included octenol lure, because experience and expert advice both indicate that this particular attractant actually repels Asian Tiger Mosquitoes, which we have far more of than other species. The Flowtron also kills non-target insects, such as beetles and moths. If you are uncomfortable with this fact, then look at the more expensive units like a Skeeter Vac, which also does a good job on all mosquito species without using attractants. (If you live in an area without Asian Tigers, try the octenol lure on your unit and determine its efficacy yourself.) However, moths are a nuisance insect, damaging clothing and leaving caterpillars to eat my plants.

I read comments that this unit kills beneficial insects. Being an organic gardener, I have not found any dead beneficial insects (major species like ladybugs, lacewings, trichogramma wasps, etc.) under my unit, but I only use it at night, when I observe little or no flying activity by such insects. You will have to make your own determination on this issue as well, if you intend to run the Flowtron during the day. It would be good if there was a Lurex bait for this unit to better attract Asian Tigers, but I did not mark down for this because the unit works as advertised and I am satisfied with its performance as part of my multi-tiered approach to enhancing our back yard enjoyment.

I have owned a smaller model of the Flowtron for two years without a problem. It works very well. I decided to buy a second one so I can have one in the front and backyard. I was very pleased when I turned it on and it immediately began to attract and kill mosquitoes. I literally did not get bitten by one mosquito while the Flowtron was on. I wholeheartedly recommend the Flowtron bug zapper and am especially pleased with the price after considering mosquito trap machines that have to be baited and require electricity for a light and intake fan to be followed by a cleaning of the unit. All that is required of the Flotron is to cut it on and shake it out when it is done for the price of a 40 watt light bulb.

I bought this item a week ago, installed some 50 ft from my deck, and was amazed by the action. As soon as I plugged it in, it started zapping- MOSQUITOS-- I haven't even put the Octenol attractant in there yet. Make sure to buy the 40 watt version- -get a 7-8 ft shepherd's hook to mount on. At first I put it next to my deck- but then I actually read the directions and learned you want the mosquitos attracted AWAY from you- Duh!

No propane, No chemicals, No $300

Maybe buy a timer to turn on/off at certain times...

Drawbacks-
some people may be bothered by the zapping- you'll hear it !
and maybe some beneficial bugs get zapped-

Electricity- of course use a GFI outdoor outlet if possible, and outdoor rated electrical cord!

JB-

The Flowtron Model BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer (One Acre Coverage) is a nicely built unit that will last a long time and works great at zapping moths. But this unit will not attract and kill all insects equally. There are many varieties of insects. Many common mosquito varieties will not be attracted by light alone. There are other models that add additional chemical or other components specifically designed to attract mosquitoes, particularly the Flowtron BK-80D 80-Watt, 1-1/2-Acre Electronic Insect Killer. As for this unit, if you are mostly concerned about moths you should be satisfied.

The 1 acre range on this unit is probably the minimum you would want to supply the power to handle most yards. Even if you don't have nearly an acre of yard, my experience is that you have to factor in some extra range to account for insects coming from your neighbor's yards.

This is also not designed to be as powerful as gas powered mosquito and bug killers, and as stated above will not kill many mosquitoes as it is. So if you're going to go with one of these bulb units, definitely round up in terms of power.

One of the drawbacks to this unit is that over time the grates around the bulb will become clogged with bugs. You will have to follow the instructions to carefully clean out the unit every few days or so to keep it working at maximum efficiency. The more the light is covered up, the less bugs will be able to see it.

This unit should be hung away from your house, which doesn't mean it needs to be placed 20 feet away. It only means that if you have a deck or something off your house you should place this on the farther side. It's easy to equip a hook on a high post from which to hang this.

This also requires an extension cord. As with all electrical equipment being used outdoors, you should not skimp on the extension cord. Make sure you use a grounded cord that is rated for exterior use. I err on the side of caution and use a contractor grade exterior extension cord, because it's important to be safe when using electrical equipment. Some of the better ones on Amazon are made by Coleman such as the Coleman Cable 02469 14/3 100-Foot Hi-Visibility/Low-Temperature Outdoor Extension Cord or the Coleman Cable 02569 12/3 100-Foot Hi-Visibility/Low-Temperature Outdoor Extension Cord. While those prices may seem high, they are an affordable way to have peace of mind when using electric equipment outdoors.

Perhaps the most annoying thing for me personally has been the high cost and limited availability of replacement bulbs. I had no luck in my local home stores. Even though these units are far from cheap, the bulbs are almost the same price as the unit itself. My first bulb lasted me almost 2 years using it half the time. Still, buying an entirely new unit on sale may be cheaper than paying the high price of replacing the bulb when you need one. So if you ever see these bulbs on sale, buy them and stock up. You will need them eventually.

Pros
+ Nice design perfect for controlling moth population and other flying insects
+ Requires no regular maintenance other than weekly cleaning
+ Bulb is rather long lasting, perhaps up to a year
+ The top loop for hanging from a hook is reliable and secure
+ The 1 acre range is perfect for most small yards
+ Reasonable amount of power won't spike your electric bills

Cons
- Less effective on mosquitoes; may want to step up at least to the 80D
- The price seems on the high side, perhaps because of the long lasting bulb
- Is slightly noisy when in use (you will hear the zapping!), so not ideal near a sitting porch
- Exterior extension cords add cost
- Finding up an ideal (covered) location a few feet away from the house requires planning
- Finding replacement bulbs is difficult locally, so try to have an extra on hand
- The cost of replacement bulbs is VERY HIGH, almost as much as the unit


Do your research. If you are primarily concerned about mosquitoes or have a larger yard, you will probably want to step up to the 80D or another line of products. If you are primarily looking for something for moth control on an average sized home, this product deserves a try.

Enjoy.

i would like to believe all the good reviews about the bk40d, but it makes me wonder whether the mosquitos here in suriname, south america, are different from those in the states.
i even ordered a second one along with replacement bulbs directly from the manufacturer, to try to protect my family from mosquitos on a patio of aprox 180 sq.metres. i am really disappointed because the manufacturer did not specify the climate zones, in which this device is to be used.
yes, i need to say that there is an occasional, popping sound, so some mosquitos get attracted but i am absolutely still bitten a lot by mosquitos
So this device is absolutely useless for me
The two stars are for the way it is designed, it looks sturdy and above all safe for small children and pets. It is easy to install. it's just a pity that is doesn't work

I bought this item specifically in the hopes of controlling mosquitoes in our backyard. The unit works great, and zaps moths fabulously, but in our area, anyway, it does NOT attract mosquitoes. We installed the mosquito bait correctly, and even later tried another brand of bait, tucked into the tray below the light, and they just aren't interested. Instead, the skeeters swarm around us just like before. I can't say the bait won't work in other areas, but in central Virginia, this was sadly a bust.

Flowtron Model BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer (One Acre Coverage)

There are 3 things one needs to look for in a bug zapper, not two. Bulb life is one.
The Flowtron BK-40D I got from Amazon worked fine for about 5 months of continuous service. The starter and bulb both went out at that time. I had only owned it for 10 months and put into service in the spring. (bought 12/08, put out 3/09, bulb failed 8/09.
Flowtron customer service said the bulbs are not warranted. They have an expected continuous life of about 5 months, in my experience.
Flowtron is only marginally better than the Stinger (Stinger bulbs are rated for 1200 hours, or 40-50 days. But Stinger will replace the unit if there is a grid failure.
Both bulb replacements are $20-30, almost the cost of a new unit.
I have not found a good zapper yet, these days.

I suppose both companies are making their profits on new bulbs, sorta like the old Polaroid cameras.

I have junked both brands and am looking for a better one.

Terry

UPDATE (December 09)... Flowtron DID send a replacement Zapper,... a couple of months after I returned the faulty product (bad bulb) at my expense ($13). We will see. No bugs now, so is turned off.. Terry

UPDATE (May 2010).. My New Flowtron was put back out on March 15, 2010. It died today, May 17, 2010. Bulb went out. (you can tell by the black burnt area, like flourescent bulbs). 2 months service on a $40 product is not acceptible usage for me.
Bad product.
Terry