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April 23, 2024

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    Mosquitoes are one of the worst parts of summer, buzzing around and leaving itchy, painful bites. Mosquitoes also carry serious diseases like West Nile virus, malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus, which made headlines in 2016 when outbreaks emerged in the United States.

    While Zika is currently under control in the United States, future outbreaks of it and other mosquito-borne diseases may be on the horizon. So mosquito prevention can help to make a summer barbeque more comfortable and help protect you and your family.

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    The best mosquito prevention combines different techniques, but one method is emerging as a powerful solution: automatic mosquito misting systems. These systems work passively without much human input once the initial setup is completed, so it’s a great low-effort way to kill mosquitoes and other pests in the yard like gants and biting insects.

    Highlights
    • Mosquito misters function similarly to sprinklers, but instead spray a pesticide mixture
    • Mosquito misters work best when used in conjunction with other pest control practices
    • While mosquito misters work, they need to be regularly checked for leaks, cleaned, and refilled

    Featured Video: See What The Installation Process Looks Like for a Mosquito Misting System


    What Are the Best Mosquito Misting Systems?

    To solve your mosquito problem, selecting the right mosquito mister system is paramount. In this guide, I’ll delve into my top choices for best mosquito control systems that stand out for their effectiveness and unique features.

    Let’s explore what sets these particular systems apart and help you make an informed choice for mosquito control in your outdoor space.

    1. Pynamite Cube Pro Bluetooth Mosquito Misting System
    2. Pyranha SprayMaster Misting System
    3. Tomahawk Power Mist Blower TMD14

    1) Pynamite Cube Pro Bluetooth Mosquito Misting System

    This unit is certainly more expensive than a manual mister, but it’s very reasonably priced as far as automatic misting systems go. Its 55-gallon tank is housed in a small, discrete cube. The system is controlled via Bluetooth, and has features built in to help adjust the level of insecticide for dawn and dusk, and it automatically suspends misting when the temperature falls below 50 °F.

    This kit also comes with 450 feet of nylon line to run through your property, 30 stainless steel nozzles, and 200 clamps. You’ll want to measure around your yard to be certain, but this should be enough to protect most back yards and outdoor spaces.

    One of the biggest selling points for homeowners is the unit’s powerful pump that runs at 300 psi to provide a misting concentrate, even at far away nozzles. The other is aesthetics. The cubed design simply blends in a lot better and looks less “DIY” than a big black drum.

    2) Pyranha SprayMaster Misting System

    This system runs at about half the price of the Pynamite, and it’s comparably less fancy, but will definitely do the job better than standard mosquito traps and mosquito repellents. It has a 55-gallon tank and is programmable to run on an electronic timer.

    One important thing to note is that it doesn’t come with any nozzles or tubing. You’ll have to pick those up separately, but some people prefer customizing the lines to their exact needs and landscaping.

    This unit can handle up to 80 spray nozzles, so no back yard should be a problem.

    3) Tomahawk Power Mist Blower TMD14

    If running lines and installing a misting system doesn’t sound like the solution you’re looking for, rest assured you don’t have to rely on citronella candles alone. Backpack misters take a bit of an upfront investment, but they will change the way you view outdoor pest control.

    This bad boy applies a fine mist that devastates mosquito populations in an area of one full acre in less than 30 minutes. With a spray distance of up to 60 feet, you can make short work of pest treatment for mosquitoes, ticks, and all other flying insects. You can use just about any good mosquito yard spray in this kind of mister.

    In practice this works pretty much the same way as other misters, only you’ll apply less often (once every 1–3 months depending on your pest problems). As a bonus, it can work as a leaf blower in the fall.

    best mosquito misting systems

    How Do Mosquito Misting Systems Work?

    Mosquito misting systems are sort of like yard sprinklers, but instead of water, they spray a very fine pesticide mist. A pump sits on a reservoir of pesticide mixture — typically concentrated pesticide mixed with regular water at a specific ratio. The mixture flows through a long hose with a series of nozzles to spray it in the surrounding area, such as on the vegetation around the edge of your property.

    While mosquito misting systems are expensive at startup, costing somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000 on average, they are pretty low maintenance once you install them. Once you install the system and run the lines, the system runs automatically (often via a remote control) on a schedule. All you have to do is periodically refill the fluid.

    The pumps are not only responsible for distributing the mosquito spray to the misting nozzles, but they also agitate the mixture before pumping to make sure everything remains properly mixed.


    Are Mosquito Misting Systems Effective?

    Like any pest control strategy, the best way to use a mosquito misting system is in conjunction with other methods. This practice is known in the industry as integrated pest management, or IPM.

    Because they are relatively new, there isn’t a lot of data available about just how effective these systems are. Companies may be inflating the benefits of these systems since there aren’t any solidified advertising guidelines yet. In particular, some organizations express concerns about the amount of unnecessary pesticides released when fogging and misting systems run automatically.

    However, pesticides are pesticides, regardless of their form of dispersal. When used responsibly and in conjunction with other methods, a misting system can be an effective part of a broader mosquito control strategy. Additional pest control measures include eliminating standing water from the property and applying insect repellant.

    If you continue to experience severe mosquito problems after installing a misting system, consider contacting a professional pest control company to assess the situation. Likewise, if you aren’t willing, or able, to shell out between a thousand and three thousand dollars for a system, the best mosquito control solution for you is likely hiring a pest control service rather than expensive DIY methods.

    Today’s Homeowner Tips

    While misting systems can be extremely effective in controlling stinging pest populations, removing bodies of standing, stagnant water helps prevent these pests in the first place.

    top rated mosquito misters

    Tips for Your Mosquito Misting System

    Now that you know what to look for in the best mosquito misting system for your yard or outdoor space, let’s have a look at some of the most helpful tips for these systems.

    Design Your System Effectively

    Every yard is different, so it’s important to consider where you plan to run your lines and place the nozzles for your system. Avoid placing nozzles where the pesticides will be sprayed into water, since this won’t do much against the mosquitoes and is toxic to animals. Instead, target vegetation, particularly around the edge of your property.

    Nozzles should be placed no more than 10ft off the ground to prevent the spray from drifting to unintended areas, and you should also avoid putting nozzles near any air intakes or AC units to prevent the chemicals from entering the house.

    Use Your System Responsibly

    Always make sure your reservoir is locked up tight so children playing in the yard can’t access it. You should also schedule your system to dispense pesticide during times when there are no people out in the yard, like early morning or evening. This will likely be more effective anyway, as this is when mosquitoes are most active.

    Regularly check your system for leaks. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular system on how to do this, but many systems automatically detect leaks through sensors in the flow meter. Similarly, you should make sure that the flow rate matches that indicated by the label. Too low a flow rate could indicate a leak, and too high a flow rate could damage the lines or nozzles.

    Maintain Your System Appropriately

    These systems can clog, so it’s a good idea to run plain water through the system at the beginning of the season to check for any clogs, leaks, or kinks. If clogs persist, dismantling and soaking the nozzles in white vinegar for 30–60 minutes can help clear it up.

    However, this may not always work, especially if the nozzle is old. You’ll need to periodically replace old nozzles.

    Unless you live somewhere warm that’s overrun with mosquitoes year-round, you’ll want to winterize your system when you’re not using it. For most systems, this consists of clearing the lines of any remaining liquid to prevent the lines from getting damaged by freezing.

    Using an air compressor to blow the liquid from the line is the easiest method, but you can also leave the lines disconnected until it drains on its own.

    That said, the specific steps for winterizing your system may vary according to the model, so always make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions.

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    FAQs About Mosquito Misting

    What misting spray should I use?

    Most pesticides used for misting are pyrethrin-based, but the label of any given product should indicate whether it’s appropriate for misting. As long as it’s diluted to the appropriate concentration, it’s hard to mess this part up. If you need an example product, check out Martins Pystol Misting Concentrate.


    Can mosquito misting be done naturally?

    Of course! Almost any water-soluble pesticide can be put into a mister, and this includes natural products. For an example of a good natural concentrate, give Essentria IC3 a try.


    What other pests will a mosquito mister kill?

    This will depend on the pesticide you use, but most pesticides are pretty general as far as the insects that they target. This means that other pests like ants can be killed by them as well. But this is a bit of a double-edged sword, because misting too much can lead to the decline of beneficial insects like ladybugs and bees as well.


    Should I run my mister in the rain?

    If it is raining significantly when you plan to mist, you should hold off for a while or try to look at forecasts and plan your spray ahead of time. Counterintuitively, rain does not wash away the pesticides as long as they have had sufficient time to adhere to the vegetation. However, rain can make it more difficult for the product to stick. If the pesticide has had time to adhere, you shouldn’t need a respray after rain.


    Should I run my mister on windy days?

    A little wind may not hurt but on really blustery days, turn the system off. It won’t work nearly as well at protecting your lawn and it could also lead to pesticides traveling to unintended places, which could be dangerous for surrounding wildlife.


    Are mosquito misters worth it?

    Ultimately, this is up to you. They may be convenient, but they certainly have drawbacks like their high price tag and the risk of spraying too much pesticide. If you have the time to devote to pest control, you may want to go with a more targeted solution. But if you’re looking for something to set and forget, a mister may work well for you despite the cost.


    Are misters the same thing as foggers?

    Misters and foggers are quite different. A fogger has a much lower particle size when sprayed and doesn’t leave as much of a residual compared to misters. Foggers are typically used when mosquitoes are flying around and most active, as they will kill mosquitoes quickly upon contact. If you’re interested in this very low pesticide method of mosquito control, see my guide on the best mosquito foggers.


    Article Update Log
    9/7/2023
    Reviewed for accuracy, cost data, industry best practices, and expert advice by Jordan Tyler Quinn Farkas.
    Editorial Contributors
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    Sam Wasson

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    Sam Wasson graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Film and Media Arts with an Emphasis in Entertainment Arts and Engineering. Sam brings over four years of content writing and media production experience to the Today’s Homeowner content team. He specializes in the pest control, landscaping, and moving categories. Sam aims to answer homeowners’ difficult questions by providing well-researched, accurate, transparent, and entertaining content to Today’s Homeowner readers.

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    Jordan Tyler Quinn Farkas

    Expert Writer & Reviewer

    Jordan Tyler Quinn Farkas is a globetrotting content writer hailing from the USA. With a passion for pest control, he brings a unique perspective to his writing from his early years working for one of the largest pest control companies in America. Throughout his early 20s, Jordan gained valuable experience and knowledge in the field, tackling pest infestations head-on and ensuring the well-being of countless homes.

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