Customer Reviews

ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Lantern 1 ea

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The few times we used this product, it seemed to do the job. However, since it was still early June, before the heaviest mosquito season, it is hard to tell if it kept bugs away or there were simply not many (or any) to begin with. We had two problems with the product: First, there is the issue of poor quality. To begin with, it seemed somewhat "temperamental." After a while it was a little tricky to start. Worst of all, it stopped working all together after only 10 or so usages. Secondly, even when it was working,it was costly as both the fuel and refills needed frequent replacement. I would not recommend the product.

This is an actual letter written to the ThermaCELL company.

"I recieved a ThermaCELL MOSQUITO LANTERN as a gift this past Christmas. Please do not see this as a complaint but rather as consumer feedback. We reside in Savannah GA, therefore it is not unusual to have mosquitos in February and March. Our first time using it, it was hard to tell how effective it was. There really weren't enough mosquitos to know its effectiveness. Unfortunately, the lamp was left on overnight and by the next day we had an empty cartridge. Bummer. A month or so went by before I could remember to pick up a refill at Wal-Mart. I purchased a kit containing a cartridge and some new pads. At more than $6.00 I was a bit dismayed, but I figured we'd be more careful.

And so we tried the lantern once more. Sometime during the night, someone had lifted and moved the lantern without relighting it. Out of sight, out of mind. The next day I went to relight it and it wouldn't work. What's going on? It's a brand new cartidge and we barely used it! Then I noticed the ON/OFF switch on the side and it ocurred to me that no one ever turned it off after it had been lifted from the table the night before. I have to wonder, does the cartridge continue to drain even after the safety switch extiguishes the flame? If so, I would percieve this to be bad design. Sure it may be good for the ThermaCELL company because people will buy more cartidges, but in my case I see it as a tricky way to get over on the consumer.

On the other hand, if the cartidge is designed to stop flowing once the safety switch is activated, then my argument does not stand. From there I would have to assume that the device is defective since a cartridge should be expected to run 9 to 12 hours. We got maybe 2 hours from it.

So what is the deal? What did we do wrong? What does that ON/OFF switch really do? WIll the cartridge continue to drain if the lantern is placed in the OFF position?

Conclusion - although the product itself may indeed be effective against mosquitos, the design is such that it requires substantial post-purchase expenses in the form of refill cartidges and mats. At $6.00 a refill I do not see myself buying into it for very long, especially when it is so easy to empty an entire cartridge by mistake. I would look forward to an improved model that makes more efficient use of the expensive refills."

The mosquitos where I live think bug spray is a delicious candy coating. However we've found the lantern to be very effective, and perfect on the deck for BBQ parties. Even the mosquito magnet never solved our mosquito problem, since we never seemed to find the right location in the yard. It is disappointing to have to buy refills all the time, but it's worth it.