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

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.

After a major fly infestation in Southern California this summer, I wanted something a little less offensive (smell-wise) than the RESCUE! FTD-DT12 Disposable Fly Trap(s) I'd been using to great effect. I did my research on Amazon and Flowtron was the hands-down winner. Although our entire lot is only 2000sf, I decided to spend the extra few dollars on the 1-acre model.

It seems to work well, because I hear the thing buzzing all night long, and the housing definitely leaves a lot of space for insects to get in--one morning I found a praying mantis stuck in it. My major insect concern, though, was flies, and because they're only active during the day (they go to Flytown at night, according to David Letterman) the Flowtron is moot. And I was really looking forward to seeing some of those biting flies get their just deserts. If the mosquitos are getting theirs, maybe the ants are hauling the corpses away before I can do a body count.

So what insect population am I decimating? Moths, evidently. The problem is, I don't mind the moths! One day I'll have a bigger backyard and then I'll give it a real workout (and an updated review). Still, I have no regrets about buying this unit.

I bought this late in the year so I don't have too much I can say since it is now winter time. The unit is very simple and straightforward. It's just what you expect from a bug zapper. Hang it up, plug it in and watch the fireworks. No problems.

As usual for Amazon, the product arrived in a timely manner via free saver shipping.

Most of the commonly-available bug zappers use an inside-outside set of wire mesh "killing grids." This presents problems in actually killing the insects. The large space between the concentric rings actually gives too much room, and insects end up spending a lot of "play time" in the zapper. My other zappers ended up creating more of an amusement park for the bugs than anything else.

I went in search of alternate-bar (narrow gap) killing grids and found Flowtron. Of course, Amazon had pretty much the best price anywhere so I ordered it here. Quick shipping, well-packed, and (best of all) it works well! Bye-bye mosquitoes!

This product does what its meant to do. I just plugged it in and it started reducing the mosquito and flying bug population.