Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Bought this unit in 2007 and its going on 8 years of use, so thought I would comment a little on reliability and maintenance. Batty life: Excellent. Unit is on its third set of batteries. It is very efficient. Reliability: Excellent. Have had minimal issues with it. When problems have occurred (the classic lid opening and closing on its own or opening and not closing), simple maintenance has brought it back to fine working order. Maintenance: Pretty simple. First, keep it clean. Seriously. Sounds pretty basic, but it IS holding garbage, and you would be amazed (or not) by the amount of crud that can get on the underside of the lid, and, possibly, inside. Even under the best of circumstances, I think 'stuff' can work it's way inside. So, if it starts to act like its being used by poltergeists, then clean it thoroughly per the directions, especially the contacts in the battery housing and ESPECIALLY the sensor on the front. If simple cleaning doesn't work, I take some silicone lubricant and spray it into the gaps around the two buttons on the front, letting it soak down inside. I also do the battery contacts, but I think getting it down around the buttons helps clean it of accumulated debris in there without frying the electronics. I've only had to do it three or four times in the almost 8 years I've owned it, but I'm sure it depends on the amount of use and the environment in which it sits. YMMV. Hope this helps.