Fumigator - mosquito killer: types and features of the best insect repellers

What it is?

The name fumigator comes from the term “fumigation”. This is the name for the process of repelling and exterminating with the help of vapors or gases. The device looks like a small box. There is a heating element inside. Its work provokes the evaporation of the active substance into the air.

Using a fumigator is useful for everyone. It is very important not to ignore protection for children and sensitive people. Insect bites don't just cause itching, they can cause severe allergic reactions including swelling, swelling, breathing difficulties and death. In addition, mosquitoes and midges are often carriers of dangerous viral diseases and parasite eggs.

Expert opinion

Borodina Galina Valerievna

In recent years, fumigators for bedbugs have begun to appear on the shelves. According to users, they are not highly effective: they do not at all affect the spread of the species in the room or furniture, and they slightly protect against bites.

In order for the fumigator to be beneficial, it is necessary to correctly select the desired form of the substance and its distributor.

How to make a fumigator and liquids with your own hands

It is not necessary to buy a factory-made device to repel annoying bloodsuckers. If you have the minimum technical skills and necessary elements, an electric fumigator can be easily assembled at home.

For this you will need:

• plastic case;
• an iron tip that acts as a heating element;
• container with a neck for pouring liquid;
• wick with a porous structure;
• plug for connection to the electrical network.

A fumigator is assembled from these elements according to a pre-designed scheme. However, the main disadvantage of this economical method is the high risk of fire for a home-made device.

Homemade liquids for the device are prepared according to the following recipes:

1. Mix 5 drops of eucalyptus and clove essential oils.
2. Prepare a mixture in equal proportions of clove and anise oil.
3. To 2 ml of lavender oil add 1.5 ml of citronella oil and 1 ml of tea tree oil.

The aromatic mixture is prepared from natural essential oils as desired, observing the main condition - the substances must have a strong, persistent odor. Alcohol or strong alcohol is used as the basis for the oil composition.

What are there

According to the principle of heating activation, the fumigator comes in two types:

1. Electric . Connects to the network via an outlet, uses batteries or a rechargeable battery. The main element is a microresistor. It heats up to about 150°C. Bottles with toxic liquid or plates impregnated with a repellent composition are attached to the device;
2. Pyrotechnic . It is a spiral or plate made of wood flour. The solution has already been applied to the canvas. Ignites with fire. Combustion of the material is accompanied by the release of odorous smoke.

Ultrasonic and light. Fumigators occupy a separate category. The name is given for the result. In fact, this is a slightly different device, since the work is not based on vapors or gases. The device turns on from the mains, begins to make a sound or emit light, which has a negative effect on mosquitoes.

How to use liquid insecticide without fumigator

If you need to get rid of bloodsuckers in your apartment quickly, but there is no fumigator at home, there are alternative ways to use a toxic liquid. The main thing is to start from the principle of operation of the device - heat the insecticide.

Without a specialized device, liquids are used as follows:

• Place a few drops of the product onto the hot soleplate of the iron and the switched on incandescent lamp.
• Use an old aroma lamp (after using an insecticide, it is better not to use it for aromatherapy).
• Spray with a spray bottle onto the central heating radiator sections.
• Also suitable are unnecessary coasters for heating a teapot, a cast iron frying pan, an old fondue pot and other items that can be heated without the risk of ignition.

A fumigator with liquid helps rid your apartment of annoying mosquitoes in a short time, while being safe and durable. The low cost of the device is complemented by the fact that in the future you will only have to change the bottle with the insecticide, and the fumigator itself will last a long time.

A liquid device is a smart choice for protecting your apartment from bloodsuckers and eliminating their unbearable buzzing at night.

Pyrotechnics and their features

The plate or spiral must be disconnected from the set if there are several of them in the package. The device is quite fragile and requires careful handling. Then the fumigator is placed on a fireproof base. This could be a plate made of tempered glass, porcelain, a piece of brick, stone or a metal element. The tip is set on fire with a lighter or match, and the flame is immediately blown out until it smolders. There should be some smoke left. The space should be at least 1 m free on each side of the fumigator.

The spiral can be hung. The main thing is to maintain a distance from people, animals and flammable objects.

This product is best used in open spaces. In outdoor conditions, you can place several pieces at once around the perimeter on the non-windy side.

Indoor use is possible, but not recommended. It is permissible to fumigate a room of up to 20 square meters, provided the windows and doors are open. The duration of smoking is no more than 15 minutes. Be sure to ventilate for half an hour afterward. The person must leave during processing.

Strict precautions are required due to the toxic composition. The main substance is most often allethrin, esbiothrin, and less often pyrethrin. The poison is especially dangerous for insects and fish.

The main advantages of pyrotechnic fumigators:

• Possibility of outdoor use . It can be difficult to turn on an electric device at the dacha, during a fishing trip or a picnic. The spiral will easily work in outdoor conditions. Also suitable for non-glazed loggias, balconies and verandas;
• duration of protection . Burning is smooth and can be kept in an open space for up to several hours;
• efficiency . Blood-sucking animals are very sensitive to allethrin and its brothers, they lose orientation in space, die, and are isolated away from the source. Reduces the need to apply skin repellents;
• low cost . Pyrotechnic spirals are much cheaper than devices and also save energy. One piece can be set on fire several times if it is not used entirely at once.

The disadvantages are also obvious:

• toxicity _ It creates problems for home use, can cause poisoning if safety precautions are not followed, it is undesirable to use it near children and pregnant women;
• incompatibility with fish . It is forbidden to light a spiral in the same room with aquariums and directly on the banks of reservoirs;
• fire hazard.

Conclusion: Suitable for limited situations, mainly during outdoor recreation.

Category leaders

All brands are equally good against midges, mosquitoes, mosquitoes.

Device design

A container with the product itself is placed in the middle of the fumigator body. After the device is plugged into the outlet, the active substance begins to heat up and release poison that kills insects. The mosquito repellent is battery operated.

The strength of the effect on insects depends on the duration of exposure to the switched on fumigator.

At a low concentration of the substance, mosquitoes simply fly past the protected premises, but at a higher concentration, the mosquitoes die. The mosquito repellent Raptor contains pyrethroid, which until recently was obtained from chamomile, but has now been synthesized artificially.

This pyrethroid in small doses can repel insects, discouraging them from looking for food. But if a large amount of the drug comes into contact with a mosquito, the mosquito first becomes paralyzed and dies soon after. Mosquito repellent liquid is virtually harmless to humans, but an allergic reaction to the active substance distributed in the air is possible.

In high concentrations, the substance can cause moderate headaches. For this reason, it is highly undesirable to leave the drug on all night. You can turn it on before bed for a couple of hours: this will be enough to provide good protection against insects.

Electrical

First, you need to attach the active substance to the device. The bottle with liquid is screwed into a special groove. In the case of a plate, it is similarly inserted into the hole to the heating element. Only after this can you connect the device to power (socket, battery).

The liquid contains mainly the insecticide DEET. The records are also impregnated with it. The substance paralyzes insects, causing their death from poisoning.

Lighter versions contain a natural insecticide - citronella oil or hormonal chamomile extract. In this case, the product has a slight odor.

Electric fumigators are used mainly in apartments, offices, and houses.

One plate or one bottle is enough for one closed room up to 20 sq.m. A larger area requires an increase in the number of fumigators according to specific figures. So for 60 sq.m you will need 3 devices at once.

In a room less than 15 sq.m., the use of electric fumigators is not recommended due to the creation of a high concentration of poisons in the air.

The advantages of such an insect repeller are as follows:

• long work . Many liquids and plates can last up to 20-30 days on one cartridge. Particularly modern formulations are prolonged even up to 45 days;
• soft action . There is no smoke, no unpleasant odor. Minimum side effects. There are formulations that are safe for children and animals;
• minimum control . It is acceptable to leave it unattended overnight, provided the battery is in good working order;
• availability . Available in almost any grocery and household store;
• fast heating . They start working within a couple of minutes after connecting to power.

There are also disadvantages:

• high price . The fumigators themselves are not cheap, but they are purchased quite rarely, in case of breakdown. However, consumable bottles and plates need to be purchased regularly. Sometimes a considerable amount accumulates over the course of a season. This also includes expenses for electricity or batteries, increased prices for special formulations for allergy sufferers, animals and children. For a large room, expenses will increase another 3-5 times;
• restrictions at places of use . It is difficult to find an outlet in nature. Batteries can run out at the wrong time, and vapors do not spread well in the open air.

The best plates and liquid products for them

As for choosing the fumigator itself, experts advise choosing a universal fork with holes for both liquid and plates. These are presented in the Moskitol and Reid brands. They can rarely be purchased separately, but complete with liquid they are quite common, ranging from 190-270 rubles for the entire box. Afterwards, it will be enough to just buy more filler. Plugs of these brands have a low level of electricity consumption and last longer than others.

Terms of use

Before using the liquid fumigator for the first time, you must perform the following steps:

1. Carefully read the instructions for use of the device, become familiar with the composition of the liquid and the presence of contraindications and side effects during use.
2. Check the working condition of the electrical outlet.
3. Connect the fumigator body and the liquid with the insecticide, and connect to the network.

The device body must not be touched with wet hands during operation and must not be left switched on in a closed room. Experts recommend activating the device 2 hours before bedtime, plugging it into an outlet no closer than 100–150 cm from the head of the bed.

Features of ultrasonic and light

The frequencies of ultrasonic fumigators are so high that the human or animal ear does not perceive them.
Subtle vibrations irritate insects, preventing them from mating productively, reproducing and looking for food. Individuals try to quickly move away from the violator of the usual way of life, and there are fewer bites. Some adult insects do not perceive sound, but react to vibrations. For them, the vibration of the air serves as a signal of danger, which means they need to run.

There are lamps that do not repel, but on the contrary, attract mosquitoes with sound and light. Under the protective grille in such devices there is a current, in which uninvited guests die. It is important to keep such a lamp at a distance so as not to accidentally touch it.

The main advantage is the absence of harmful effects on humans and pets when used correctly.

The main disadvantage is the high price. In addition, there are complaints about the low effectiveness of ultrasonic scarecrows.

Popular models

Anti-mosquito net – is it necessary?

Anti-mosquito nets can be installed as additional protection against mosquitoes. Some people may suffer from individual intolerance to the active substances in the plates or liquids that are used in combination with the fumigator.

The most common symptoms that indicate an increased level of sensitivity are:

• dizziness,
• Skin irritations,
• Itching on the body
• Headache.

If you notice the presence of at least one of the above-mentioned symptoms in one of the residents of the apartment when you turn on the fumigator, then it is best to turn off the device and choose another method of fighting mosquitoes - one of them is installing an anti-mosquito net on the windows.

Which type to choose

What fumigator do you use?

PyrotechnicElectric

Each type of fumigator is quite in demand on the market.

Basic advice can be boiled down to several points:

• for natural conditions it is better to take spirals, ultrasonic keychains or compact devices, lamps with light and current;
• for hiking, walking, and active movement, ultrasonic keychains and small battery-powered plate fumigators equipped with a belt clip are suitable (can also be attached to a backpack);
• Electric fumigators with plates and liquids work great indoors. It is better not to tempt the sensitive respiratory organs of allergy sufferers, children and animals with rough compounds. It is preferable to take special versions;
• the presence of a fan in electric fumigators will allow the active substance to be distributed more quickly throughout the room;
• liquids provide a faster effect and less frequent replacement.

Based on these tips, it’s easy to choose a fumigator to suit your own needs and wallet.

Minuses

There are some disadvantages of fumigators, including:

• Short service life, especially this disadvantage is related to the most budget models of unknown production,
• Due to the strong heating of the housing, which is made of plastic, possible melting of the device, there is a risk of fire,
• Autonomous models require regular recharging or changing nutrients,
• Low-quality devices in most cases suggest the smell of burning plastic when heated,
• Scented cartridges are characterized by a strong and irritating aroma,
• Periodic ventilation of the room where the fumigator is used is required.
• Cannot be used in rooms where pregnant, lactating women, small children are located, with the exception of special models and consumables,
• There is a risk of health problems, including an allergic reaction, irritation of the throat, mucous membranes, and sometimes owners experience headaches and fever.

When choosing a device, always pay attention to how well the fumigator body is made; inspection of the quality certificate is also important. Do not forget to pay attention to the level of toxin concentration in the plates/liquids (this parameter cannot exceed 15 percent). If necessary, you can buy a universal device, for example, with a timer.