ZappBug Heater

Product works great, just load your stuff into it, insert the internal temperature sensor and set it on the included self-timer for a few hours. Super simple, and necessary if you travel or ever use public transportation. Since DDT was banned bedbugs are back and they're everywhere nowadays, and airplanes/trains/hotels make it easier than ever to pick them up in your luggage without even knowing. Unfortunately as I found out, bedbugs are almost impossible to get rid without using a combination of a Pest Control Service, Cimexa non-toxic silica dust and HEAT. But I couldn't run my suitcase in the dryer... Enter the Zappbug! I use the "bug-oven", as I call it, for my suitcase whenever I travel, and whatever else I don't want to run through a clothes dryer. The golden rule of killing bedbugs with heat is 120 degrees F for at least 45 minutes. The eggs and nymphs are super resistant unfortunately so be sure to get it hot enough for long enough to ensure death of all bedbugs, nymphs and eggs. 1 hour in the clothes dryer on high for clothes/linens, or about 4 hours with the Zappbug. This comes with a self-timer, so you can set it to automatically turn off after 0.5/2/4/8 hours. Usually 4-8 is the safest bet. I usually can get my empty suitcase, purse and shoes done in 2-4 hours, sooner if I'm checking the included temperature sensor; once it hits 120, I wait 45 minutes and then it's done. This product worked perfectly for the last three months, but unfortunately it seems the thermal unit may have overheated and the heating component failed recently. Initially I was frustrated but I called them and after a quick conversation with the customer support/sales lady she was able to set me up with an exchange for a new heating unit as I am still under the 1 YEAR FULL WARRANTY. They even shipped it priority to ensure I would receive it immediately. (Thank you so much!) Also, if for whatever reason something ever happens after the warranty expires they are able to still replace piece-by-piece at cost/shipping. So you're not stuck spending unnecessary $$$ if you just lost a sensor or something. TIPS: Don't overload it, if you can just do all clothes in your laundry dryer and use this for other things. Bury the heat sensor/wrap it in the thickest part furthest away from the heating unit. You want the entire chamber to be above 120F for 45 minutes, minimum. Any cooler spots, the bugs will go to as they try to survive the heat. I recommend wire shelves or something like that to ensure proper airflow. Stack things and leave some space between them, and don't block the heater's path or those little vents, they're also for airflow. It WILL heat up the room it's in! Do this in the late afternoon or when ambient room temperature is already above 70 degrees F. Hotter = quicker. For the same reason, try using it in a small room like your bathroom so it will heat up much quicker. If you've got hard flooring, you'll lose heat from the bottom. Put cardboard or a yoga mat underneath and it will be, you guessed it, quicker. The on/off is a small stand that depresses on the bottom of the heater, for safety reasons (aka so it can't tip over and start a fire or whatever) so if that is not fully pushed in, unit won't turn on. Also, if it won't turn on try it on a different circuit or without the timer. If you're troubleshooting, call them! They're so helpful, search Zappbug customer service phone number online. Don't overload your circuit, if this is running don't plug in another energy intense item on same circuit! Don't use with any extension cord/power strip EXCEPT the heavy duty outdoors type ones, meant for energy intense usage... Common sense and safety for any heating units.

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!

So far this is a fantastic heater. We have used it for about 15-20 items that we cannot put in a dryer. We treated all our carry-on suitcases and other luggage pieces. Needed to do this after a family member likely brought bedbugs home after travelling on vacation. The included wireless thermometer has had no issues and has worked flawlessly. I compared the temperature to an oven thermometer and the temperatures both reached the required level and were comparable. This is a must have item to use along with all the other things you must do to rid your home of bedbugs. Highly recommended. Would purchase again. Plan to use this after each time we travel.

Having faced a bed bug scare during a hotel stay, I discovered the ZappBug Heater online. This device has successfully prevented any infestations in my home. It's simple to use – just load your luggage, insert the temperature sensor, and set the self-timer. Post my hotel ordeal, this heating system brought a sense of sanity and provided me with peace of mind regarding my belongings. The temperature surpasses 120℉, ensuring thorough treatment. It's an investment worth considering for anyone aiming to shield themselves from potential infections caused by hotel stays. Having faced a bed bug scare during a hotel stay, I discovered the ZappBug Heater online. This device has successfully prevented any infestations in my home. It's simple to use – just load your luggage, insert the temperature sensor, and set the self-timer. After my hotel ordeal, this heating system brought a sense of sanity and provided me with peace of mind regarding my belongings. The temperature surpasses 120℉, ensuring thorough treatment. It's an investment worth considering for anyone aiming to shield themselves from potential infections caused by hotel stays.

I am not sure if I reviewed this in the past, but here it is. The product sounds good in paper, but in practice....... not really. It struggles to heat items that are thicker than a shirt. The temperatures never got above 101°F, even when nothing was inside. I considered returning it, but kinda forgot. The included net is also very flimsy and will touch the ground when anything heavier than a pair of pants is placed on it. It's not heavy and folds away compactly, but it is a pain to fold away. It can be stubborn to fold in. The thing that sets it to turn off also stopped working after the first rounds of use. Which sucks cause I can't leave it alone and now have to keep a timer on hand. If you're looking to buy this..... It might work for you, but I would suggest going for the one with two of them.... maybe it could actually reach 120°F with that extra bit of help.

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.

When we found out that the apartment we moved into had bed bugs, we started searching for a new place and a solution to the infestation. This oven brought results and peace of mind. This alone made the ZappBug Heater worth buying. It's so easy to use and has made the transition from an "infested" apartment to a new house so much more efficient. As has been mentioned before, the temperature gauge is reversed and the outside temperature is really the sensor in the heater, but this is a minor error. I had a large collection of antique books I was worried about, but they all went through the cooking process well. I would recommend putting a larger and cheaper book on the top of the stack of books otherwise the top cover might warp. I sincerely recommend this for anyone fighting bed bugs. I am positive we would have brought bed bugs to our new house without it.

You have to pay close attention to how you pack the enclosure. If you have stuff too close to the heat source, the heater will overheat almost immediately. If you pack it well, it’ll get up to 120-130 without issue, and stay there very easily. We set it up so the heater is on top of an AC vent, and that helps keep the enclosure super hot while preventing the heater from overheating. That said, the beep that it makes when it overheats is super helpful, and it’s really easy to use - just switch it on, press the timer button; and walk away. We had bed bugs in two bedrooms, so we are cycling two bedrooms worth of stuff (in trash bags) through this thing, running it for probably 8-10 hours a day, and it seems to be going strong. 100% we will be using this after every trip we take from now on, because if you’ve never had bed bugs, consider yourself INCREDIBLY lucky. We’re pretty sure my wife and I brought them back from our last trip into DC, and I gotta say, it’s been the worst 2 months of my life. Hopefully this thing will prevent this from ever happening again.