Thermacell E-Series Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller with 20’ Mosquito Protection Zone; Bug Spray Alternative; Scent Free

I live in Hawaiʻi and needed something less toxic than mosquito coils and longer lasting. We have had very wet, humid weather (Kona) this year with mosquitoes breeding like crazy. We have also had an increase in dengue cases from travelers coming in from the tropics. I remove all standing water from my property but have no control over everyone else. My son introduced me to this mosquito repellent. It does an excellent job keeping mosquitoes away for hours. It is rechargeable so no more buying batteries. The cartridge contains an odorless liquid that becomes a vapor with the mild heat generated. It makes no sound and is unobtrusive sitting in a corner or under a table. One repeller covers my entire lanai with ease, with another to cover the grass so the kids can play. It lasts for hours and hours, with the cartridge lasting nearly 12 hours. I keep a price alert on the cartridges so I can buy refills when they are at their lowest price point. I find these to be very effective and a good value.

Took this to the islands with me during vacation and it worked great!! I used it in the bedroom every night. There is no smell or ordor. The cartridge it comes with is small and only lasted one night so we bought larger replacement cartridges to last us the rest of the week. Overall, this is a great way to keep mosquitos at bay and sleep soundly. Though, over time, can get expensive with the cartridge replacements.

Update (5/12/22): I tried using the product on a breezy evening and as I suspected, the wind impacted the effectiveness. While I think there were fewer mosquitoes (just a guess), I was getting bitten and decided to go back inside. I do think it’s effective if it is not too windy. Will buy some more repellent and continue using it. (Original Post). Let's start with the most important question...does it work? It does work (or at least has worked for me and my specific set up)...more about that shortly. And I will continue to use it (and purchase more repellant refills). Why only 4 stars? Instructions need to be improved and not quite sure about the value proposition (cost) for the repellents. But the product has worked for me so far (several hours of use) and I really hate mosquitos. And I did not have to put on bug repellent to keep them from pestering me. After reading several reviews and wanting to gain access to my patio without being attacked by mosquitos, I decided to buy this and give it a try. I decided on the battery operated version for my patio. The setup instructions were not clearly written (I will provide the information I wish they had provided shortly as well). I am not a entomologist or an aerosol vapor flow expert...that said, here are my observations and recommendations. 1.) I don't believe the graphic that shows a 20" protective bubble is reasonable representation of what to expect from the product. The unit emits a vaporized repellent into the air (visualize the smoke from a candle) which is highly influenced by wind or, a ceiling fan. As the repellent is diluted to into the air, the effect dissipates, meaning less protection from mosquitos. The graphic shows a group of people sitting outdoors with a bubble shield, exactly 20 feet around them. If there is no wind, maybe that depiction is a somewhat reasonable representation. But when you set an expectation that there is a protective bubble, people will take it literally. Hence the 1 star reviews that says it does not work. In my situation, I am on covered porch where there is a wall behind me and to the left of me but the front and right side are completely open to the wind. So there is a "pocket" where the repellent is protected from from being completely dissipated or blown downwind. This would seem to me to be the ideal set up for this device. Haven't tried turning on the ceiling fan on the porch. If the results are significantly different, I will update this review. 2. Confusing instructions included in the box at best. Here is a suggestion...how about a QR code that takes you to a video called first use. Let me summarize the information I believe needs to clearly provided: a) Plug the unit in before use (instructions said this). You will see 3 chasing dots (blinking on and off in a chasing pattern) until the unit is charged (instructions have some confusing series of gray and white dots that does not look anything like what the unit looks like while it's charging). When fully charged, the three dots above the charging port will be on. Also, no word on whether you can plug the unit into a wall socket and use it while it is recharging. And the instructions do not say it takes 5 hours to charge when the battery is completely depleted (that is what the support person told me). Also guessing the unit does not trickle charge when charging is complete...so you probably should not leave it plugged in for extended periods of time. b) The repellent is in a small plastic container with a lid. The instructions in the box don't really show you how to hold the lid to remove it (there is a confusing drawing with two diagonal arrows which wasn't useful at all). Hold the sides of the bottle with your thumb and forefinger. Hold the front and back center of the lid in the center with the thumb and forefinger of your other hand. Separate. Just like the picture on the Amazon website (which I just saw). c) How about a recommendation on turning it off after your use and whether to remove the repellent container and put the lid back on. Absolutely nothing said in the instructions. Also, maybe recommend charging the unit so it will be ready for your next use? What if you are not going to use it for a week or a month...should you not leave the unit plugged in to a charger for extended periods? Again, it would be useful to know if you can use the unit while it's plugged in and recharging. 3. General thoughts about toxicity: Google mosquito deaths and the results say mosquitos kill over 1 million people a year. One of the prominently displayed 1 star reviews talks about the toxicity and that you can get headaches or dizziness. Everyone is different and I enjoy being outside without having to put insecticide on my skin. I have not gotten headaches or dizzy. Your results may vary. Now I want to compliment Thermacell on their customer support. They answered the call pretty quickly, were very helpful and pleasant to work with. Also, very generous warranty. I have written this whole review sitting on my porch and did not have a single mosquito come near me. Houston, Texas, in May on light breeze afternoon. Again, I would recommend it to friends and would buy it again. Now for some unsolicited advice to Thermacell. Seems to me you have way too many versions of this product which confuses the buyer. Also, it appears the repellents have changed over time with some of your later repellents that are "safer" than your earlier versions. Might be useful to make this information more explicit if correct. Hopefully you are reconciling what products to sell and which products to sunset. Also, on the box that is covered with pictures and graphics, the actual product version was in smaller print and greyed out (easily overlooked). So it took me a minute to find it when support asked me what device I was calling about. Very simple electronics upgrade...I would recommend resettable timers on the device indicating battery life and how much time remains before the repellent needs to be replaced. Either LED timer display (not 3 LED lights) on the device or bluetooth app on your phone. Seems obvious you are using the "razor and blade" method of pricing for product, where razors are cheap but the blades (refills) are where you generate your profits. The unit works well enough that a little upgrade to provide the user more information about battery life or how long until I need to replace the repellent cartridge would justify paying extra for the "razor". Just one opinion and you have been in the business for 20 years...so you know what your are doing.

The Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito Repellent E-Series Rechargeable Repeller has been a game-changer for my patio and garden (20' x 10') activities. Here’s why I highly recommend it for about a 10' x 10' area: Effectiveness: The effectiveness of the Thermacell Patio Shield is impressive. Within minutes of turning it on, I noticed a significant reduction in the number of mosquitoes around. It creates a 15-foot protection zone, which is perfect for small gatherings, BBQs, or just relaxing on the patio. The device uses a scent-free repellent, so you don't have to deal with any unpleasant smells while enjoying your outdoor space. Design and Portability: The design of the Thermacell Patio Shield is sleek and modern. It's compact and lightweight, making it easy to move around or take with you on trips. The device blends well with outdoor decor and doesn't take up much space. The rechargeable feature is a huge plus, eliminating the need for constant battery replacements and making it more environmentally friendly. Ease of Use: Operating the Thermacell Patio Shield is straightforward. Simply charge it, insert the repellent cartridge, and turn it on. The LED indicator lets you know when it’s operating and when it needs recharging. Each charge lasts up to 6 hours, providing plenty of time for most outdoor activities. So far it is actually getting the 6 hours. Recharging is also quick and easy. Safety and Environmental Impact: One of the standout features of this repeller is its safety and minimal environmental impact. Unlike traditional mosquito repellents that involve sprays or lotions with chemicals, the Thermacell uses a repellent that is safe and does not require direct application to the skin. This makes it a great option for families with young children and pets. The repellent is also DEET-free, which is better for the environment. Overall: The Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito Repellent E-Series Rechargeable Repeller is an excellent investment for anyone looking to enjoy their outdoor space without the nuisance of mosquitoes. It is highly effective, easy to use, and environmentally friendly. The sleek design and portability make it a versatile solution for both home use and outdoor adventures. While it may be a bit pricier than other mosquito repellent options, the convenience and effectiveness make it well worth the cost.

Purchased so my daughter can take our no mobility senior dog out in the evenings and not be eaten alive (we live in MN). She was wearing a mosquito net hat, a shirt with repellent in it and spraying her hands, jeans and shoes, but she was still getting bitten. Plus, it was extra work to clean up each night and the gear was hot to wear. The reviews seemed pretty positive for this product so I thought we’d give it a go. We’ve been using it for a couple months now and are really pleased with it! She’s been able to go outside without the hat, bug spray and shirt and has only been bitten once. It doesn’t smell weird and the radius is large enough to also protect the dog. Since it’s only used when taking the dog out and turned off as soon as she’s done, the liquid in the cartridge is lasting a long time. It also warms up and turns off quickly so you’re not wasting liquid there either. The unit itself is small, yet lightweight and has a solid base so you don’t need to worry about it tipping over. The refills are kind of pricy, but totally worth it. I would definitely purchase another!

This was okay. We used it this summer because the mosquitos by my house were awful this year. I did set it up on a little table next to the lawn chair I would sit in and I was still getting eaten alive. I was maybe within 1-3 feet of the product. In terms of effectiveness, I don't think it worked well. It's small and has a little charger it sits on when not in use. It's easy to charge and it's easy to use. when it's not on the charger you just press a little button. There was a little smell when being used. To me I kept smelling like something was burning, but then I realized it was just the repeller. I think it was a little expensive for how not great it worked.

Works great. I used while gardening, it is mobile and really works keeping mosquitoes away.

This is very nice looking; small, portable, and really inconspicuous. It was easy to set up and charging is quite quick. The advertisement says that the battery life is over 6 hours. I would believe that would be right as I set it outside in our garage and forgot about it. But, I could tell that it was working because we had no mosquitos hanging around the back door. Additionally, there is an indicator light that will tell you when the battery needs to be recharged. So, if you are having a get together outside, exercising outside, or working outside, you will have no issues with bugs; you'll be covered for at least six hours. This does work and it begins working almost immediately. The scent from the repellant was undectable to me. I thought that this could be used inside the home, but I read it incorrectly. This cannot be used inside the home and the instructions specifically say so. But, as I said earlier, it kept them away from the back door, so they were not getting in to the house. The one drawback is that the repellant goes quite quickly. I priced the replacements online and their cost is about $20. That definitely has to be weighed when making the decision to purchase. This really did work. Mosquitos are drawn to my husband. He detests most repellants because they are greasy, not effective, or smell bad. I will probably buy a second unit so that one is in the garage and one is outside by the back door. It is going to be pricey, but it will be worth seeing him not being bitten up and scratching all the time. Product option: 6.5 HR woth Base - BLK $34.97. Was $39.99