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Bug zappers can either be used indoors or outdoors in the garden, depending on the needs of the individuals using the zappers.
January 12, 2022
12 min read time
This information is reviewed by an independent pest control expert.
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Do you need to keep your bug zappers on when it is raining because bugs still disturb you even when it rains? Your curiosity to know if it is safe to keep bug zapper on in the rain is valid.
The essence of using bug zapper is to eliminate bugs around you. It is an effective device for killing bugs. Bug zappers are electrical discharge insect control systems, electrocute traps, and electric insect killers.
Table of Contents
To begin with, You should understand the mechanism of how a bug zapper works. A bug zapper is not technical in operation. The bug zapper body parts are the housing, light bulb, wire grids or screens, and transformer.
This is mainly made of plastic or metals that are already electrically grounded. It is shaped like a lantern, a cylinder, and it can also come with a grid design made to avoid electric shock on children.
You should already know that light has a way of attracting insects. To confirm this, find a dark room, put on your phone torch and see how insects will gravitate towards you.
The essence of having a light bulb is to lure the attention of bugs and any other insects. The light bulb is a fluorescent light. It can be mercury, neon, or ultraviolet, generally black light. So, it is established that the light bulb attracts bugs.
Wire metal grids surround the light bulb and are always electrified to kill the insects drawn by the light bulb.
As this sounds like, it is the powerhouse for the wire grid. It powers the wire grid, changing the average 200V to an electrifying 2000V.
The high voltage is passed across the wire grid. You might be wondering how this wire grid kills the insects. The wire grids are just apart in millimeters, about the size of an average insect. The mental picture you have right now is precisely what happened. The light bulb lures bugs, they try to get the light bulb, but the electric shock kills them.
The light is more attractive to insects because they see ultraviolet light than visible light. The flower pattern also has a way of attracting the insect when lit up. Any insects or flies, insect pests, pesky insects, wasps, ants, moths, mosquitoes, flying insects, or beneficial insects can be victims if they are drawn to the UV light.
On seeing the UV light, the insects move towards the bug zapper. They try to go in through the space between the wire screen. The insects touch the grid on both ends, completing the circuit. The electric shock does its job, and then the insects vanish into thin air for lack of words. At this point, you will hear some sounds from the bug zapper.
Bug zappers are strong and can destroy thousands of insects or bugs in a day. The device doesn’t just work on bugs, and it works on any insect as long as the UV light can lure them. This can also mean that it can not work on all insect species.
Now that you have a firm understanding of how bug zapper kills bugs and other insects and their components and how they all work together, it is time to know if you can place bug zappers in the rain.
What happens if it suddenly starts to rain and the bug zapper is left outside? Is it safe for zappers to be wet?
First, bug zappers can not accommodate water while in operation. You can’t leave bug zappers in the rain, and it will spoil the system. The zapper might stop functioning as it should. The only case where you can leave your bug zapper in the rain is when you have it under shades that protect it from the rainwater. You must know how to keep your bug zapper from reaching the water.
The main reason bug zappers can not be left in the rain is that their system is not built to survive with water in it. An average bug zapper is not covered, so it is not resistant to water. Water could affect and destroy the sensors.
The transformer too could get destroyed with water while it is working. Once the transformer stops working, the whole zapper is useless.
It would be best to have a maintenance routine for your bug zapper to keep it in good shape. There are many ways to maintain your bug zapper.
The first step in maintenance is cleaning the bug zapper.
You will need a garbage can, liner bag, mask, gloves, toothbrush, canned air, etc. You have to get your bug zapper out to get it cleaned. It is not healthy to clean it indoors.
Make sure you have safety wear like gloves.
You don’t want to clean all the dirty stuff with your bare hands. So, you need to get your hands covered and get your nose covered with a mask. Once you are ready with this, then you can go on to unplug the zapper. Be careful with the whole process.
The next thing is removing the remnants from the bugs and insects from the zapper.
To do this, you will need to remove the tray. Do this gently, and empty the tray into the bin because there might be dead bugs on it. You can use a vacuum to get rid of any remnant left quickly. Then you can spray the canned air a little, finally.
You can also clean the bug zapper by reassembling and replacing the tray. Wipe the tray, and make sure there is no moisture left when returning it. You can do this from time to time to keep your zapper clean.
There are specific spaces where it is safe to keep your bug zapper. Most often, insects are found outside, and it won’t be good to keep the zapper where it will be easily seen from the outside because it will drive in the insects. Ensure that it is not in front of the door, window, etc. Indoor use of the device can be safe depending on the location.
A bug zapper should be averagely about six feet higher than the ground. The height at which you position the zapper affects how effective it can be. Please don’t use it in the dining room, where remnants from insects or bugs can contaminate your food when there is a blowout.
As you already understand how bug zappers work, it uses light to draw insects. The bug zapper might not do its work if it fights other light. Put it away from different kinds of light that may disturb.
Bug zappers are beneficial can effectively get rid of bugs and biting insects, and it is great that you now know how to maintain them and that they can not be left in the rain.
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