This smart mosquito system actually works — for a hefty price
Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home voice controlTakes 15 minutes to start workingThe advantage of the new Liv Smart Mosquito Repellent System, Thermacell’s first connected, on-demand product, is that it’s permanently powered so you can turn it on remotely over Wi-Fi using a smartphone or voice control from inside your home. It’s also designed to work with multiple units to create a larger zone of protection in your backyard — up to 1,575 square feet.
Once you have the repellent cartridges installed in each repeller and the system powered on, it works by heating up the repellent, which diffuses into the air to create an invisible and odorless cloud around you. Each unit casts a zone of about 20 feet, and it takes about 15 minutes to warm up. I tested the largest system — five repellers — and my 1,200-square-foot patio and porch area were completely protected.
The system is also on-demand, which means a lesser impact on the environment, especially compared to a misting system. However, this does mean you have to plan ahead, and that quick trip to the garden to pick some tomatoes or feed the bunny rabbit is going to result in a few bites. You can also opt not to connect the system to Wi-Fi to prevent any data upload to Thermacell. The system will still function, but you will lose access to the app and its features, such as scheduling and remote on / off.
For a mosquito season that lasts a good six months in South Carolina, that’s an outlay of between $700 and $1,500 for three hours of protection a day. Of course, you could save money by using it less frequently and only turning it on when you know you are going to be outside. But, in terms of ease of use, the schedules let you set it and forget it — for a price.