The Aspectek 20W Electronic Indoor Insect Killer Is Loud But Effective

We purchased the Aspectek Powerful 20W Electronic Indoor Insect Killer so our expert reviewer could try it in her home. Keep reading for our full product review.

You expect a bit of bug irritation in the outdoors. After all, you’re on their turf. But inside your own doors, you wouldn’t be alone if you wanted a bit of reprieve from their annoying zips and zags, and not to mention the itchy bites and bumps that often accompany the pests. We tested Aspectek’s Powerful 20W Electronic Indoor Insect Killer to see if the ultraviolet lights had the captivating capacity to draw the flying bugs in for their final flight. 

We used the highly rated bug zapper inside for hours after leaving a door to the outside open for 30 minutes to let wayward flies and mosquitoes find their way through the doors. We evaluated factors like light, noise, performance, and safety. So if you’re dealing with indoor pests, is this insect killer worth your money? Read on to find out.

Setup: Unbox and plug in

Our Aspectek Powerful 20W Electronic Indoor Insect Killer arrived fully assembled inside a cardboard box. We simply removed the insect killer from the packaging, snipped off the zip-ties holding the frame in place, and plugged it in immediately. The power cord on the insect killer is short—about 15 inches—so we needed an extension cord to get this into the part of the room where we wanted to set up the zapper for our tests. We did not hang the zapper for our tests—we placed it on a study table, against a wall and out of the walking path in the home—but if you do decide to hang it, a chain is provided in the package with the unit. You can clip it to the brackets that are nestled in the top of the zapper. For our short-term test, the table was secure, but for longer-term use, hanging the insect killer away from the floor might be wisest.

Performance: Loud but effective

If the thought of hearing bugs meet their demise makes you squeamish, you’ll want to put this bug zapper in an area you can easily avoid. When bugs get near the electrical grid, you’ll know it by the loud and sudden, “Pop!” But if you’ve been battling the flying pests for some time, you’ll probably find yourself clapping and celebrating—again and again.

The zapper’s ultraviolet light appears to be quite attractive to bugs of many sorts, from gnats and flies to mosquitoes and beetles. In two hours, our test collected nearly 20 bugs. Keep in mind, this unit is for indoor bug-killing, and the number of bugs indoors is often limited compared to outside populations. After we turned off the insect killer, we noted a few bugs that survived the test—large bugs appeared to have been stunned but not killed—but the Aspectek Powerful 20W Electronic Indoor Insect Killer did its job well.

The light is also very bright. We thought it was too bright to use at all times in a regular home setting, but we only tested for a few hours. That made it more manageable. In a living space, however, it may be overwhelming.

Zapped bugs fall into a pan below the grid. It’s easily lifted off the unit, wiped clean, and restored. A few bugs might bounce away from the unit if the zap is extra powerful, so don’t place this over any surfaces where dead bugs might be a concern, such as beds, kitchen tables, or furniture in common living spaces.

Safety: A grid helps protect from zaps, but the unit is highly powered

There is a wire cage over the light bulbs and charged grid. However, the first time we plugged this unit in, we experienced a bright pop that let us know how powerful it was right away. To be safe, we’d recommend using the included chain and latches to hang the bug zapper off the ground, where it is less likely to be touched, tipped, or tangled up.

Price: Long bulb lives makes this a worthy investment

The ultraviolet bulbs are rated to last 5,000 hours, and reviewers who’ve owned this unit longer than we have say their bulbs lasted for about six months of constant use. If you don’t plan on using it that extensively, you may be able to get through several seasons without needing replacement bulbs. You also won’t have to replace any chemical elements—this unit doesn’t use chemicals to lure bugs in—which means you won’t have ongoing expenses. That makes the price tag—about $40—a bargain. 

Aspectek Powerful 20W Electronic Indoor Insect Killer vs. Stinger Cordless Insect Zapper Lantern

Aspectek’s Powerful 20W Electronic Indoor Insect Killer is a wonderful option for regaining control of your home’s environment when bugs have tried to invade, but it is not designed for outdoor use. Stinger’s rechargeable insect zapper, which we also tested, is made for outdoor use, and you don’t have to be tethered to an electrical outlet, either: You can plug the Stinger lantern into an outlet to charge its batteries, or use it right away while still plugged in. After about a three-hour charge, your lantern will have 3.5 hours of run-time.

However, unlike the Aspectek insect killer, which uses no chemicals, the Stinger zapper uses Nosquito Mosquito Octenol Lure to draw bugs into the UV light. If chemicals are a concern, you can use this unit without the lure. The bait will last about one month with regular use before it needs to be replaced.