Customer Reviews

SkeeterVac SV-27 Mosquito Exterminator, 1-Acre Coverage

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

We live in an area that has a protected county park right outside our backyard fence. This park is heavily wooded and quite damp as well. This means we have a major mosquito problem. After 8pm we were forced to go inside or be eaten alive. You could easily get 5 bites within 2 minutes after dark.

We tried everything from torches to incense. Nothing really worked all that great. This summer I am pregnant so I am unable to use any sprays that contain deet. That was our main driving factor for wanting a product like the skeeterVac. After looking at MANY different brands (Mosquito Magnet included) We decided to get the SV-27 1 acre version.

We hooked it up and the very first night it caught about 100 mosquitoes. I have to admit I was having fun going out to check on how well it was doing. It only caught maybe 10 during the day, but once the sun went down we brought in the swarms.

Placement is VERY, VERY important. You want to make sure you put it in a shady area near bushes/weeds/flowers or near wet areas. This will help attract the maximum number of bugs. The first place we put it worked out great. Every single night we catch hundreds and hundreds of mosquitoes. We've had it about a week now and already I can notice a difference when going out at night. I'm not swarmed and I can actually sit outside without being eaten alive! I can only imagine this will get better as the weeks go on and we cut down on the mosquito population.

Let me tell you why I think this product works so well and why you should buy this INSTEAD of the more expensive mosquito magnet (or other brands):

First off this unit is CORDLESS! It works on the propane tank and one AA battery. You can place it anywhere you want without having to worry about the cord. (think of what a pain a cord would be when its time to mow the lawn)

Even though its cordless its still quite powerful. Placing your hand near the fan you can easily feel the air that sucks the mosquitoes into the traps. (NOTE, this is the sv-27 1 acre version. The 1/2 acre version does NOT have a fan and may not work as well)

This product uses FIVE methods to attract and kill mosquitoes:

1) CO2
2) Fan suction
3) Scented Bait
4) Sticky paper in mosquito attracting black/white colors. (not found on most other units!)
5) Flashing colored LED lights (not found on most other units!)

These five items make it irresistible to mosquitoes. Now the only time I get bit is when I walk over to the machine to check on how well its working.

Not only does it have more methods of attracting and killing mosquitoes, but its also MORE AFFORDABLE than other brands! Why would you buy anything else??? Another bonus.... the bait in this unit lasts for SIXTY days vs the MM 30 day bait. (Another savings!)

I give this unit 5 stars. It works well and its more affordable than competitors. If you have a big mosquito problem like we did, its worth the investment. I know it seems like a lot, but start keeping track of what you already spend on repellent and you may be able to justify the cost.

*****EDIT*********
I wanted to come back and edit my review to include an update on the product. 3 months after purchase we had problems getting the motor to stay running. It would ignite, the temp needle would climb for about 15 seconds, and then it would go out and the needle would go back down. I was told prior to buying the product that this was a known issue with ALL propane mosquito attractant systems. I bought the skeetervac knowing this might happen, but was reassured that their customer service was excellent. (Another reason I picked SkeeterVac over Mosquito Magnet)

Thankfully the other reviewers were right. Their customer service is GREAT. I called and explained the problem. They told me how to check the fuel filter as well as how to try and blow out the input line with some compressed air. Neither worked, but they were still very helpful and ready to send out a replacement right away! After receiving my receipt proving that I wasn't over my 1 year warrenty, they mailed out a brand new motor! I hooked the motor up on Sunday and its up and running again!

The only con is they do not pay for return shipping. It isn't too bad though b/c I was able to ship the motor back, (I choose to go with UPS) for around $12 (including insurance coverage). You can ship the cheapest way you want as long as you get it back to them, so you may find it cheaper to go with another carrier.

Customer service was friendly and helpful. I still give this unit 5 stars. I knew the failure possibility when buying the machine, but I also knew Blue Rino is the type of company to stand behind their products and properly replace them in an afforadable and timely manner. They were always very friendly and willing to help keep the customer happy!


Northline Express does have the best prices on replacement tac traps and bait. We caught SO many mosquitos in just the 3 months we had it running, I was amazed!

This product does catch mosquitoes when it runs. But they break!!!!! allot! I had my 1 summer it worked great. The next summer the leds didn't work. They sent me the led circuit board. I was still under warranty. The next summer it will not start. Of course my warranty is over. I can buy a new motor for 135.00. I shell out 135.00. The send a refurbished motor assembly I hook it up it s great. The next month it will start but it will not run. The gas gauge will not move. I call up they say oh it is bad unit we will send you a replacement for the replacement. A month goes by and I call to see where my replacement is. They tell me I should have been told it is a 8 week wait for a replacement unit. Needless to say I am getting my money back. I will try a liberty brand next year

I bought this model last year and it worked great. This year it would not start. The good thing is Blue Rhino honored the warrantee even though it expired a couple of weeks before that. They said that this model SV-27 had a flaw in the design of the combustion chamber which made it more likely to fail. They said the newer models (like SV3000 and SV5000) have a better design. They did send me a replacement engine (basically the entire top) which is one of the newer models. I am pleased with the support I got from them but if I was buying a new one I would not get a SV27. I would look for one of the new models.

At first we weren't really sure how well it was working. We just moved into our house in September, so we missed the mosquito season at it's worst, but we have conservation area that abuts our property that's very swampy. We were still getting bit after 3 weeks of running the SkeeterVac, and we weren't sure if we should call the company to see what the problem might be. Let me tell you, we knew when we ran out of propane. I couldn't BELIEVE the mosquitos that showed up when that thing stopped running. Now that I know what it could be like, I love the SkeeterVac - It may not eliminate all of the mosquitos, but it makes it bearable for us to be outside. We have a lot of yardwork to do this year, and it would probably never get done if it was anything like the one day that the machine was off!!

In my old age, I feel the cynacism creeping in, so I find it necessary these days to do extensive research on items like this. After a lot of looking and reading, I decided on the SkeeterVac 1 acre. Living in Albany Ga, we had to go with the LUREX attractant instead of the Octanol. My only caution when doing this (in my five months experience of ownership), is to be prepared to empty the trap alot. I had the unit close to the house, and caught about 25 the first 24 hours period, the catch then thinned out to about 10 in the same period. I moved the unit down to the bottom of the yard near the fence, and the unit really proved it's usefullness. I just walked in the house this morning to write this review after my fourth day in a row of 100 plus mosquitos in a 24 hour period. Tac Trap sleeve that goes around the top is also a very effective tool as well. Came out one day, and there was around 200 flies stuck to the thing, better that than inside my house I figure.
Sit down with a calculator and your last Orkin bill, and see if this unit won't pay for itself within a few seasons use.
Propane will last around two months set at a conservative but effective setting, clean up is easy, haven't had trouble with the unit at all.

I'll keep this short: READ the MANUAL. You need to keep this thing clean. I have to clean mine often (not a big deal) - we have TONS of mosquitos and they gum up the engine. We had our engine replaced once (bad ignition), it was at my door that week. I've also had the LED's go out - just needed a battery! You may also have to change the gas filter in the line. These are not difficult things to do, but with any motorized piece of equipment it needs routine maintenance.

This product is worth it's cost if you ask me. I know people with other brands and feel I got a good deal. We definitely don't have the mosquito problem we did before the SkeeterVac.

We live in virginia and have a bad problem. Maybe not as bad as some of the other writers who live in swamps. Bad nonetheless to the point of getting 5 bites in an hour.

The unit is definately high quality. The ignitor always works. About the only mechanical problem we had was when a rodent ate through the gas line.

My wife swears that the unit works, but I rarely, if ever, saw a mosquito in the basket. I attribute the decrease more to the drought we experienced.

After going through five propane refills and cleaning out at most 100 mosquitos I figured that going for a sixth is just wrong for the environment. I'll try again next season, but will look for alternatives.

The SkeeterVac does trap a lot of bugs, but there are still plenty left to bite us! It seems rather expensive to run, what with having to buy propane, sticky-paper traps, and bait. A propane cylinder lasted us about 3 1/2 weeks. The first sticky paper lasted about 3 weeks; the second one seems to have filled up faster.

I live in Atlanta and had very high hopes in these units. First, for the price and features it's a much better deal vs. Mosquito Magnet. I couldn't imagine having to run a cord through the yard, having to mow around it with the mosquito magnet.

Thus, I tried the Skeetervac. Long story short, I received a replacement unit after first time of use two summers ago. They never told me what they thought was wrong with it, and after 2-3 times back/forth with customer care, they shipped me a replacement unit (no questions asked).

Last summer, I didn't use it - didn't need it as mosquitos were low. I kept the unit in storage room in our basement.

Now, I'm into this summer and need to run the new unit they shipped me. It won't start just like the older unit they replaced. The battery has been replaced, and it's clicking creating an ignition, but no "pop" to light the propane that is flowing into it.

There's a fundamental design flaw/issue in these units, and I'm waiting for SkeeterVac to acknowledge this. It's either that or a major liability waiting to happen when the unit explodes after someone holds down the ignition for 20 minutes (instead of 20 sec like they tell you).

I'm an honest user trying to get what I hoped would be a good product - unfortunately, I'm now going to try to get my second replacement from Skeetervac.

I do not recommend, and am sorry to write this review. My intent is to try pesticides/spray to control until I'm successful in a replacement unit.

P.S. The unit I had was a 2704.

This is my second SkeeterVac. The first one quit after 3 years and I decided to replace it with this one. We live in Coastal Southern Georgia, and needless to say we are easy prey for mosquitoes, gnats and other unpleasant bugs.
This machine will catch about 1000 bugs per day in our garden. So far it's been so successful that each tactrap won't last more than 1 to 2 weeks, and we have to replace it (it's a rather expensive spare part). It did not eliminate all bugs but I have to say it's a big improvement and we can use our deck again.