Thermacell launches LIV, its first smart mosquito repellent system

Image: Thermacell

When the flowers start to bloom, biting, buzzing mosquitos appear out of nowhere. It is not easy to tackle these bloodsuckers. It is not always the most pleasant experience to cover up and use pesticides in your garden.

The Liv Smart Mosquito Repellent System is a solution from Thermacell, makers of a mosquito repellent that creates a zone of protection around you rather than you having to cover every inch of your skin.

Liv is Thermacell's first connected, on-demand mosquito repelling system. According to Thermacell, the app-controlled system should protect about 955 square feet. The system can be purchased in a four-pack for $799 or a five-pack for $899.

The company has made portable versions of its mosquito repelling system for two decades. These are designed to be used when you are camping, spending time in the great outdoors, or sitting on your patio. They have been manually controlled, portable systems. Liv is the first permanently installed, powered connected solution.

Since moving to South Carolina, I have personally found Thermacell's products to be more effective and less stinky than other solutions. The move into the smart home with a connected solution should remove one of the pain points of the current products.

Image: Thermacell

Thermacell uses a synthetic molecule called metofluthrin that is modeled after a naturally occurring mosquitoicidal substance found in chrysanthemum flowers.

The Liv system works by warming up the liquid-repellent inside each repeller, which diffuses it into the air to cast an invisible, odorless cloud around you, through which few mosquitos will venture.

Up to five outdoor repellers can be powered by the hub that plugs into an outdoor outlet. A user can control the system through an app that allows them to turn it on and off on demand, as well as set schedules and monitor levels. It isn't an always-on solution and the company recommends turning it on 15 to 30 minutes before you plan to go outside.

Liv can be used with both the AmazonAlexa and the Google Nest smart speakers for voice control. A six-pack of refill costs $120.

Image: Thermacell

It is not an inexpensive product, but the alternative for this type of whole yard protection is a chemical spray system, which usually involves paying a company to come out once a month or installing a misting system to pump out pesticides.

The solutions are expensive and may harm other bugs. Thermacell told The Verge that it has no evidence that it affects insects of the same size. The company said that if you are only using it on-demand and in a concentrated area, the impact should be lessened compared to other solutions.

The EPA and CDC both think Deet is safe to use as directed after removing a reference to it being a harmful chemical.