Thermacell’s Backyard Repellent System Is Like Sonos for Mosquitos
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I havewritten extensivelyabout how irresistible I am to mosquitoes. It’s a problem I’ve had since I was a child, when mosquito bites would become painful welts, then turn into blisters from incessant scratching. Mosquitoes still love me as an adult, but fortunately, I don’t react as severely to their bites. Still, when it’s skeeter season, I can’t be outside without being eaten alive in minutes. I hate the feeling of bug spray on my skin and would rather wear long sleeves and pants, but that isn’t practical in the summer. (Or foolproof: I’ve been bitten through jeans on more than one occasion.)
I’ve tried everything: lighting citronella candles, puttingMosquito Bitsaround the yard, and setting upMurphy’s incense sticks(which are actually pretty decent, I have to say). I’ve even worn protective clothing fromBugBafflerto garden,which looks ridiculous but is quite effective.Then I discovered Thermacell. My Amazon order history tells me the first time I ever bought a portable device was in June 2020, that COVID summer when we were still social distancing. (I must have first read about it in theStrategist in 2017before I started working here.) We got one to spend time with friends on our porch or in the backyard in Brooklyn, where the mosquito situation was — and still is — untenable. We would set one up on the patio table, and within 15 minutes, all those pesky biters would be gone. I could wear shorts and tees and actually relax instead of swatting them away or slapping them dead on my person.
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Thermacell devices are spatial repellents that release a synthetic pyrethroid (a man-made insecticide) vapor into the air to repel mosquitoes, creating a protective zone of up to 20 feet. There are two types of portable devices, one powered by a rechargeable battery and one fueled by butane. The rechargeable Thermacells use metofluthrin, while the fuel-powered ones use allethrin. Both proprietary formulas have been independently tested and EPA reviewed for safety and effectiveness when used as directed. They are DEET free and safe for use near dogs, though they should not be used in close proximity to cats or aquatic life.
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I recently tried one of the fuel-powered Thermacells and was surprised by how effective that one was too. Earlier this summer, we spent a week on Fire Island, where there was a heavy mosquito presence, especially in the evenings. The rental house had two Thermacell units, and we set them up at dusk on the patio, where they worked like a charm. Instead of turning them on with a button, you twist the base to ignite the fuel. The repellent comes in a mat form that you insert into the top of the Thermacell, while the fuel cartridge screws in from the bottom. You can see an orange glow from the viewfinder, which is how you know it’s on.
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What really turned me into a die-hard believer is Thermacell’s LIV system, an on-demand, permanent built-in system that can be installed in your backyard, patio, pool area, or any outdoor space. LIV is composed of several extra-large Thermacell units on stakes; each unit holds a repellent cartridge and is connected to a hub plugged into an outlet. I tested the first iteration of the system in 2024, which you can read abouthere. Thermacell recently launched the redesigned LIV 2.0 system, which has greater coverage and can cover more complex outdoor spaces. LIV 2.0 supports up to ten repellers, covering up to 3,140 square feet, an upgrade from the LIV 1.5 system, which supports up to six repellers and covers up to 1,884 square feet. While previous versions of LIV have a linear, daisy-chain configuration, LIV 2.0 is more customizable owing to its split-branch capabilities. The other change is that LIV 2.0 requires professional installation, allowing installers to design and wire the systems with more flexibility, even in irregular property layouts. (You can still DIY the installation using the LIV 1.5 system.)
I moved this summer and got the chance to test the LIV 2.0 system in our new home, which has a couple of outdoor zones. The Thermacell team arrived and assessed the space’s layout and ended up using two hubs and ten or so repellers to cover the backyard, which is split into three areas, and the front porch. (The three professionals were getting attacked by mosquitos during installation and admitted the mosquito situation in Brooklyn was pretty bad, maybe even worse than in Bedford, Massachusetts, where Thermacell is headquartered.) The installation included mounting the hubs on a stake (instead of drilling into the side of the house), running power via an extension cord with GFCI protection, and burying the wires connecting the repellers to the hub so they’re hidden and out of the way. The installation fee is about $100 to $170 per repeller depending on how complex the space is. (My installation was done by members of the Thermacell team as part of a customized press experience. For consumers, installations are completed by local Thermacell certified professionals.) LIV is Wi-Fi–connected and app-enabled and can be turned on and off through the app or by physically pushing the power button on the hubs.
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The installation is involved and the system is expensive, but it is worth every penny. We can be outside for hours without worrying about a single mosquito entering the zone of protection (it also protects against biting midges). When I asked a Thermacell representative whether the formula is safe for beneficial insects, this is what they shared: “According to the EPA and WHO, there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result to honeybees or other terrestrial wildlife when the product is used as directed. The repellent disperses into the air, with very little settling on foliage or other surfaces where pollinators may land. LIV 2.0 creates a zone of protection that helps keep mosquitoes and no-see-ums away rather than harming them.”
The LIV system runs for six hours before shutting off, but you can turn it back on again immediately. (The automatic shut-off function is in place in case you forget to turn it off. After a couple of hours, the app sends an alert asking if you’re still out there for conservation purposes.) Thanks to Thermacell, we have been going out to the backyard every single day since the system was installed at the end of July. Without it, at least during mosquito season, it would have been impossible for me, my family, and our guests to enjoy spending time outside. We’ve been running it nonstop for weeks and haven’t yet had to replace the cartridges, which are admittedly not cheap. But you can’t put a price on a mosquito-free summer.
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Every couple of weeks, someone on the neighborhood Listserv will ask about mosquito mitigation. Our neighbors have tried periodic spraying, but that doesn’t seem to do much. I always write back immediately touting the mosquito-disappearing powers of the Thermacell LIV system as the only thing that works. And I invite them over to experience a mosquito-free evening firsthand.
More Thermacell products to try
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A small lantern and repellent in one.
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A Thermacell that comes with a holster.
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