Texol Midgeater Max

i have managed to get hold of some of these units that were in storage and would look at selling them but not sure where any suggestions!!

Have used the mosquito for many years. but need to have a total overhaul. the last heard are that this unit are not in production anymore.

If some one know were this can be done in Spain Torrevieja I would be very pleased, and were to find a vendor.

We use the Midgeater Max in Dorset for about 6 months of the year. I would have recommended highly to anyone during the first year.

The first year caught large numbers of mosquitos and proved invaluable. By the second year the machine was starting to rust and the ignition sytem failed. Every month when relighting the new gas cylinder I had to use a kitchen gas lighter which meant dismantling the access every time. It always proved difficult and took numerous attempts. The bait holder was replaced in the second year as the three studs holding it had failed due to heat damage.Apparently that was my fault and following the company's advice I fitted a new one which again failed showing huge deterioration of the unit due to excessive heat.

It has finally given up after 5 years. The concept is highly successful at catching mosquitoes but the design is so poor that it deteriorates in front of your eyes! Rain gets into every compartment and metals which don't rust oxidise and seize up. Attempting to dismantle the burn chamber this morning to identify the fault resulted in snapped screw heads and seized components due to the deterioration by rust/oxidation. Try a different product!

Can't believe some of the negative reviews on this site. I've had this machine for five years now and it's worked perfectly without any problems. I've seen a significant reduction in the midge population round my patio and My house is in a midge hotspot in the Trossachs. The first time I emptied the bag last summer it was full to the brim!

I also find the remarks about running costs puzzling. I put in a new cylinder at the beginning of June and this lasts until August when the midges run out. I also find that one bait sachet is plenty for a season. I would certainly buy another if this one conked out.

Admittedly the machine is expensive but worth it when the alternative is considered - lots of midge bites!

I bought the Midgeater and used it approx 5 times. after that, the ignition broke and I could not get it repaired anywhere! I have kept the machine in my garage so it still looks brand new, but it doesn't work!! It was not cheap to buy and it was a complete waste of about 650 pounds sterling. Stay well away.

Midge eater machines...The initial cost of these ( over £500 for the small "midget" or add about another £100 for the bigger "midge -eater" which is only bigger to accommodate the gas cylinder underneath what is essentially the "midget" and no more effective)...is shocking when related to the results obtained.

Yes they do catch lots of midges but when you catch a few thousand out of millions or billions then how effective are they? The sellers say they should be specially positioned (and unless you have a postage stamp garden you'll probably need more than one or two machines!!).

Then add £30 per month for the possible four months of the season and it gets worse. After only a year the lighter stopped working and would cost at least £40 plus to fix. ( I then lit it manually by taking off the cover)> Then the fan stopped and the makers went bust and getting spares became very difficult and surprise surprise more expensive. It now sits along with a new gas bottle and for two seasons now I am no more bothered by midges than when this cash wasting device was working ( whatever that really means).

My advice is buy more " Skin so soft" or other insect creams and act sensibly to live with the midges and don't kid yourself that getting one of these machines will solve your problem. ( Emptying the bags just makes you feel like you are battling them but it's really like emptying the Loch with a bucket).

We bought a Midgeater Max and for the first two summers it was invaluable, we were removing full bags of midges every two to three weeks. However, it then broke down and enquiries revealed that the company producing them had closed, as had the only repair service. The design is so poor, the access panel hangs down putting strain on the wiring and the connection. It is fiddly to use and although the actual mechanism is so simple, it is so poorly designed and constructed. Despite proper over winter maintenance and care, the rubber over the start button perished, the wiring failed and we now have a very expensive, defunct piece of machinery. In fact, two, as we were so happy with the Max the first year that we invested in a second, Midgeit. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT.

the two previous reviews were SO negative I feel I ought to at least add one positive one! We have had our midge-eater machine for about 4 yrs now and I do believe that we have less midges than we used to. Yes, they are expensive to run, a full gas bottle and tablet each month, but then it's only for three/four months maximum....and we consistently have had full bags of midges each month. The theory is that catching the females regularly will diminish the population...it appears to be working. so would we buy one again...yes, I reckon so. It is certainly gratifying seeing the little peskies gathering around the machine and getting sucked in!

£600 spent on this machine which never, ever, caught as many bugs as promised despite being fed assiduously with outrageously expensive octenol bait and gas... £30 a month running costs. Gas valve failed after 2 years, powder coating finish shabby and flaking, it is now rusting in the corner of the garden while I rue the foolishness of my purchase and brace myself to take it to the skip. The company has gone into administration .... so there is some justice after all, the product is rubbish.

So the score is MIDGEATER 0 : 1 MIDGES (footballing analogy, the World Cup is on as I write, hope you appreciate the irony).

I only gave it a star because the system does not permit a zero response.

After 4 years of using a Midgeater max it broke down and needs a new engine what comes down to a complete write off, I have serviced the machine following the guidelines and stored it in the winter in a dry place under cover.

I have come to the conclusion that the Midgeater max is a waste of money, the initial cost of buying it was £650,00 than it needs a octonol tablet every 28 Days at £7,00 and a full tank of patio gas every 28 days at £24.50

Running this machine has cost me £1154,00 over 4 years only to catch 2 full bags of midges, that makes the midges more expensive than gold dust.

Worse is that my garden has been full of midges despite this machine running day and night, it has been a complete waste of money.