After a confirmed bedbug incident during a recent hotel stay, I immediately bagged all my luggage and started researching how to avoid bringing an infestation home. Of the heaters on Amazon, the ZappBug looked the most attractive: collapsible, only requires one power circuit, large enough to fit a suitcase, and no user reports of unsafe operation of the heating element.
I'm pleased to report the ZappBug has exceeded nearly all of my expectations. The heating bag is actually very nicely constructed; the zippered compartment on the top is well made, the interior insulation is solid, and the size is perfectly appropriate for processing suitcases one at a time. The real surprise was the heater, though - I was expecting something janky and repurposed, but it's actually a custom-built unit that's ZappBug logoed right from the factory. It's well engineered for safety with a cutoff switch on the bottom, and it's MUCH quieter than other reviews had led me to expect - I'm currently sitting only about 10 feet from it and the noise level is comparable to a quiet desk fan. The heater heats well, although it's not exactly a speedy operation - you'll want to allocate several hours for each suitcase, although smaller loads of suspect items can be processed more quickly.
My only real disappointment is with the two bundled accessories - the shutoff timer and the temperature sensor. The shutoff timer works well enough, but it's pretty cheaply made and doesn't show you how much time is remaining - I found it more effective to set a separate timer for myself on my smartphone, since it is good practice to never leave a heater unattended anyway.
I have more significant complaints about the thermometer: it frequently loses connection for me as the cycle progresses, which I suspect may be related to the sensor heating up beyond the standard 130F maximum operating temperature of AAA batteries. I tried swapping the included heavy duty batteries for alkalines, but that didn't seem to help. As other reviewers have said, you're best served discarding the included one and pairing the ZappBug with a better sensor; I've ordered a Bluetooth grill thermometer I plan to try for future loads to see if it's more reliable. I appreciate the ability to hide the wireless transmitter in your luggage, but I wish the ZappBug folks would include a slightly higher quality sensor. In the interim, allowing the sensor to cool down between loads has seemed to help.
But those are minor quibbles with bundled accessories, not with the main heater itself. I couldn't be happier with the main heating unit; it's the perfect size for use with a standard carryon suitcase, and the peace of mind it's providing our family that we didn't bring home any hitchhikers is invaluable.
We've treated most of our possessions now, and I've run through several delicate items with full success. Electronics worked well and came out unharmed, including several laptops, tablets and smartphones. A cherished stuffed animal also survived the journey in the "magic sauna" unscathed; he is made of 100% polyester fibers, if that helps others checking reviews to see if their own stuffed animal will be safe. The only signs we found of potential issues were with items containing glues or meltable solids; the bindings on books can become a little fragile for a few minutes after treatment is complete, the glue on the soles of our tennis shoes became temporarily molten, and our deodorant turned to a gooey gel. The best strategy here is to just leave the items in place and turn off the heater, allowing them to cool without moving them; everything re-solidified nicely when we took that approach.
Five stars for a well-engineered solution to a tricky problem. If ZappBug included a better thermometer, I'd be hard pressed to find any fault at all in the system!
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Product Description
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|---|---|---|---|
| ZappBug Heater | ZappBug Oven 2 | ZappBug Room | |
| Customer Reviews |
425
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164
|
52
|
| Price | $199.99 | $379.99 | $1,495.00 |
| Size | 23 x 37.5 x 23 inches | 39 x 39 x 28 inches | 111 x 57.5 x 80 inches |
| Circuits Needed | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Treatment Time | 3-8 Hours | 3-8 Hours | 3-8 Hours |
| Best for Travel | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Best for Furniture | Small Furniture like Chairs and Nightstands | ✓ |
What's in the box?
- Manual
- Support Blocks (2)
- Support Net
- Thermal Unit
- Fabric Shell and Carry Bag
Features
The ZappBug Heater is a reliable way to kill bed bugs in all life-cycle stages – eggs, nymphs, and adults using only heat.
- Kills bed bugs and other pests in all life stages, including eggs, nymphs, and adults.
- Heat-only treatment solution
- Easy to use: Set up, load with items and switch on.
- Convenient size: Measures 23 inches-by-37.5 inches-by-23 inches.
- One person setup and folds flat for easy storage.
Best Practices
Airflow is the key to success. Leave at least 2 inches of space around items for hot air to circulate. All items need to be placed on the included blocks and support net to allow airflow around the bottoms, tops, and sides of items.
It is best to place the ZappBug Heater on a carpet, area rug, or blanket during treatment. Hardwood flooring, linoleum, or concrete will absorb heat from the unit during the treatment. Placing the Heater on a carpet, thick blankets, towels, foam pads, or even cardboard will provide the necessary insulation for effective operation during the thermal treatment.
It is best to load the ZappBug Heater more often with small to medium-sized loads. Large loads take longer periods of time to heat the items and are less efficient.
Thermal Units
The ZappBug Heater includes one 120-volt, 1500-watt thermal unit, which requires an independent 120-volt circuit to operate.
The thermal unit includes an integrated programmable timer. Once the selected time is complete, the unit will shut off.
The thermometer and wireless sensor (included) will monitor the temperature inside items within the chamber. The battery-powered wireless probe sends the temperature reading to the thermometer base station. Once a sustained temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit is reached, bed bugs will die within minutes.
When placing items in the ZappBug Heater, it is essential to allow 6-to-12 inches of space between items inside the chamber and the thermal unit. If the vent is blocked, a hazard light and alarm will indicate the unit is beginning to overheat, and the thermal unit will automatically shut down. If the hazard light is on, remove any items blocking airflow from around the thermal unit and allow 20 minutes to cool before restarting the treatment.
Easy Eradication and Prevention
The ZappBug Heater will eliminate current infestations or prevent future problems for those exposed to bed bugs. The ZappBug Heater can kill pests quickly, and reliably.
The ZappBug Heater can be easily transported and within minutes set up to eradicate bed bugs, moths, carpet beetles, and other pests without hazardous sprays, powders, or other harmful products.
The ZappBug Heater is an effective system used by homeless shelters, nursing homes, hospitals, and thrift stores to keep bed bug threats at bay and prevent re-infestations.
Travelers can quickly heat-treat, luggage, clothing, and other items, and rest assured that unwanted pests will not follow them home.
Reviews with images
Not for shoes
Got this especially to treat shoes, which it says it's good for in the description. I'm sure this works to kill bed bugs (heated to 120° in about an hour an a half), but the first time I tried to use it, it ruined several pairs of shoes after only 1 hour. Spending $ for the heater is certainly less expensive than replacing my entire shoe collection, or having them professionally dry cleaned, but it kind of defeats the purpose if I end up having to throw out the shoes anyway... This is probably fine for clothes, luggage, stuffed toys, or wooden/metal items that don't have a chance of melting, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it for treating shoes.Also, the thermometer and remote display require 2 AA batteries, which were annoyingly not included. All my stuff is bagged up and nothing is where it usually is (pretty typical if you're dealing with bed bugs and preparing for exterminators) so finding batteries was impossible; had to turn off the heater to go buy batteries. For the $, I think ZappBug could throw in a couple of AAs.Overall, straightforward to use and heats up fine, just don't trust it with your footwear and make sure you have batteries ahead of time.
