It Doesn’t Spray or Zap, But Does It Work? A Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Review 

When it comes to protecting yourself and your family from mosquitoes, you typically only have a couple of options. You can cover everyone in smelly bug spray, attempt to kill off your mosquito population with bug zappers, or pay for an expensive mosquito yard treatment. The Thermacell Mosquito Repellent offers a different solution. This small canister, which is about the size of a Bluetooth speaker, is designed to create a 20-foot zone of protection from mosquitoes by releasing vapors that repel the little bloodsuckers.

Interested in what this scentless and silent repellent had to offer, I put it to the test to see just how well it could repel mosquitoes. I didn’t go easy on the Thermacell either, choosing to test it at a campground located deep in a wooded area rife with mosquito activity. If the Thermacell performed well in this buggy environment, it should work just about anywhere. 

What is the Thermacell E55 rechargeable mosquito repeller?

The Thermacell mosquito repellent works by diffusing a pyrethroid, or pesticide, called metofluthrin into the surrounding air. Since metofluthrin works by interfering with the nervous systems of insects, it’s very effective at repelling mosquitoes. The Thermacell consists of a small canister that holds a replaceable cartridge containing its active ingredients. It’s powered by a lithium-ion battery that you recharge using the included USB-C cable. When turned on, the Thermacell diffuses repellent into the air via an opening at the top, ultimately creating a 20-foot zone that drives away mosquitoes. Each cartridge works for about 12 hours, after which you have to replace it with a new one. The battery lasts for about 9 hours before requiring a recharge, and four LED lights on the front of the canister let you know how much battery charge remains. 

Is the Thermacell mosquito repellent easy to set up?

The Thermacell is mostly ready to go out of the box with very little setup required. I started by charging the Thermacell using its included USB-C cable and one of my own charging blocks, a process that took about 4 hours. Once charged, installation was easy and involved removing the top of the canister from the base (the two are held together by three magnets), inserting the repellent cartridge, and replacing the lid. 

Turning the Thermacell on is a little more complicated. Controls consist of one button and four LED lights that flash intermittently when you turn it on. Since there are no labels on the Thermacell, reading the directions was necessary to figure out what they mean. Three LEDs at the bottom indicate battery level.

Four lights rotate to indicate the Thermacell is heating up, then stay on when it’s active. Thermacell says it takes about 15 minutes to set up its 20-foot zone of mosquito protection. 

Does the Thermacell mosquito repellent work?

I wanted to make sure that the Thermacell was properly tested, so I set it up around dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Then I waited until I registered a few bites on my ankles before firing up the Thermacell. 

I was skeptical at first, especially since, unlike bug spray or citronella candles, the repellent is completely scentless. The Thermacell also makes no audible noise, other than beeping when it turns on.

Within about 5 minutes, I noticed a rapid decline in mosquito activity. After 15 minutes, mosquitoes had fled the immediate area. The Thermacell says it creates a zone of protection that is 20 feet in diameter, and that held true during our tests. 

We used it over a total of 3 days and it worked every time. We only noticed mosquito activity when the repellent cartridge ran out. It would be nice if there was some sort of indicator to warn you when the cartridge needs to be replaced. Maybe it will be on next version of the Thermacell. 

There were some caveats to its effectiveness. At one point during my testing, a light wind kicked up that seemed to throw off the zone of protection, forcing us to get closer to the Thermacell to stay within its mosquito-repelling bubble.

Since the Thermacell’s protection area is limited, it’s not a solution if you’re moving around your yard or a campsite. And while I could envision creating a larger zone of protection with multiple Thermacells, that could quickly get expensive (as we’ll discuss later). 

Silent and Portable

It’s hard not to like the design of this bug repeller when compared to other options. It doesn’t leave an oily or smelly residue on your skin like sprays, and there’s no constant zapping noise as you’ll get from a bug zapper. Since it’s the size of a small Bluetooth speaker and weighs less than a pound, you can easily move it around your patio or campsite and even throw it in a backpack for easy transport.

Is the Thermacell mosquito repellent worth the money? 

In order to keep the Thermacell working, you’ll want to continuously feed it repellent refills, which aren’t cheap. One 40-hour refill costs about $20 on Amazon, which is on top of the price of the Thermacell unit itself. Depending on how much time you spend outdoors during the warmer months of the year or how many Thermacell mosquito repellents you’ve got going, that could get pricey. You can save more on refills by buying them in bulk, but they still aren’t what I’d call cheap. 

Should you buy the Thermacell mosquito repellent? 

If you’re like me and you want to make use of your outdoor living space without having to slather on oily DEET-based bug spray or fire up an ugly and noisy bug zapper that typically does more harm than good, then the Thermacell is worth the investment. Its ability to eliminate mosquito activity within a 20-foot zone makes it the ideal way to protect your deck or patio. As I discovered, it’s also a great companion to bring along on camping trips. Just know that this is generally a stationary solution that works only as long as you stay in its zone of protection. It’s not a bug repellent designed for hikes in the woods, backyard softball games, or any other activity that involves movement from one place to another.

Where to Buy the Thermacell Mosquito Repellent

Get the Thermacell mosquito repellent at:

• Amazon for $29.92
• Lowe’s for $39.98 
• The Home Depot for $29.98 
• Target for $29.99 
• Best Buy for $29.99 

Meet the Tester

Tony Carrick is a freelance writer specializing in home improvement, landscaping, technology, home security, and design. His articles have been featured on such sites as CNN Underscored, Popular Science, Futurism, Popular Mechanics, Pro Tools Review, and more. Carrick has conducted rigorous product testing on everything from power tools to home security systems to backyard grills. With each review, his goal is to help readers determine whether a product meets their needs and if it is or isn’t worth its price tag.