Help Center

Thermacell has intentionally removed the cap from the Patio Shield Repeller due to frequent misuse of the cap which caused the product to not operate properly.

Thermacell Mosquito Repellent product works well in outdoor areas where there is minimal air movement, such as decks, yards, and campsites. For best coverage in still air, place the unit close to the ground. This allows repellent to spread over a maximum area.  Thermacell products are not intended for indoor use.

A Thermacell Repellent Mat should be replaced when it turns white. Each mat lasts for up to 4 hours of continuous use.

Store your Thermacell in a cool, dry place away from heat sources.  You can put it in a plastic bag to keep dust and dirt out of it.  Always be sure to make sure your Thermacell is working properly if it has been stored for a long period of time.

Thermacell Fuel Cartridges last up to 12 hours of continuous use and should be changed when empty.

No. It is normal for a used mat to be dark brown on the bottom and almost white on the top.

The fuel supply may be empty. If a replacement fuel cartridge is needed, please turn the unit off and replace the fuel cartridge as shown in the product's instructions. 

If replacing the fuel cartridge is not required, please turn the on/off switch to the on position and let the gas flow for 2 minutes before hitting the start button. This will purge the appliance and often corrects the problem.

If the product still does not function correctly after trying the above steps, please contact customer service so we can work with you on a repair, replacement, or refund (receipt required for refund).  

Check to be sure that the Repellent Mat has blue color left. If not, replace the pad with a fresh one.

If the wind is blowing, place the unit upwind so that the wind blows over it first, then the area you want to protect. That way, the wind will carry the repellent to where you want it.

You can turn the unit on and off at will. Please allow 10 to 15 minutes for Thermacell to reach maximum effectiveness. You can use a mat until it turns completely white. 

An orange glow on the top of the device indicates that the Thermacell Repeller is on.

Unfortunately, most fuel-powered Thermacell Mosquito Repellers will not work well at higher elevations. At altitudes above 4,500 feet (above sea level), most units become difficult to start and run due to lower air density.
Thermacell Radius has no elevation limitations, and the Thermacell Backpacker also operates at higher elevations (up to 7,000 feet).  

If you are affected by this altitude product limitation and have no use for your Thermacell at lower elevations, you may return the product for a full refund. Email customerservice@thermacell.net or call toll free 1-866-753-3837 for instructions.

Thermacell will take 10 to 15 minutes to reach maximum effectiveness. Please plan accordingly.

In breezy weather, place the unit upwind of your location so that the repellent is carried by the wind into the area you want to protect.  Thermacell may be less effective on very windy days, although mosquitoes aren't typically out when it is very windy.

In normal operation, a small amount of smoke may be visible coming from the Repellent Mat.

Do not expose appliances or mats to rain. Their effectiveness may be diminished.  If your Thermacell device does gets wet, please ensure it is dry inside and out before your next use.

Thermacell Repellers are effective for an area up to 15 x 15 feet (225 square feet), the size of an average deck or patio. You may use more devices to protect larger areas.

Wipe down with a damp rag. Never submerge in water or cleaning solution.

Technically, Thermacell is designed to be used on a flat, stationary surface.  However, customers have told us that Thermacell is very effective while walking their dog and cutting grass, for example.

Yes, you can use Thermacell Repellent Mats for a period of time less than four hours and they will still be just as effective.  If there is going to be a significant amount of time between usages (several days +), we typically suggest that you keep the mats in their foil packaging or in a sealed plastic bag between uses.

You cannot bring Thermacell Fuel Cartridges on a passenger aircraft. We typically suggest that you bring your Thermacell Repeller and the mats with you, but purchase the Fuel Cartridges at your destination.  You can also ship the product to your destination in advance of your arrival.  Thermacell products are sold in over 30 countries throughout North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia; and are available throughout the United States and Canada.

For best results in weather between 40 and 50 degrees fahrenheit, elevate the top of the appliance (end with view hole) one inch while operating so appliance is at a tilt.

Many outdoorsmen use Thermacell and report that it does not spook game.  The repellent in Thermacell is a copy of a natural repellent found in chrysanthemum flowers, which is a natural smell in nature.  

Storage: Store unused mats in a cool, dry place inaccessible to children and pets. Store mosquito repeller and fuel cartridges in a cool, dry place away from sources of heat. 

Disposal: If cartridge is empty or for used mats: Do not reuse empty packaging, wrappers or cartridges. Do not puncture or incinerate empty cartridges. Place in trash or offer for recycling if available. If cartridge is partly filled or for unused mats: Call your local solid waste agency for disposal instructions. Never place unused mats down any indoor or outdoor drain.

Thermacell product reviews can be found on this website, Amazon.com, Walmart.com and many of our other retail partners.

Yes. You can purchase Thermacell Fuel Cartridges and Repellent Mats on this website or can use the Where to Buy feature on this website to find a retailer near you.

Yes. Use the Where to Buy feature on this website for Canadian retail information. To purchase online, visit:  Canadiantire.ca, Amazon.ca, Cabelas.ca, Homedepot.ca, and many other retailers.

See the Shipping Information page for shipping time information.

See the Shipping Information page for a complete explanation and options for customers in Hawaii and Alaska.

Use the Where to Buy feature on this website to find a retailer near you.

1 Radius Repeller, 1 12-Hour Refill, 1 USB Charging Cable and 1 Adapter, 1 Quick Start Guide, and 1 User Guide.

USB Charging Cable and Adapter only included in Radius shipments in North America.

Unlock mode (for when in use), Lock mode (when not in use), and Auto Off (2 hour auto-off timer).

First, confirm a refill is inserted properly.  Second, make sure the top and bottom of the device are fully nested.  Third, check to make sure Radius is charged.  Fourth, check to make sure Radius is in Unlock or Auto-Off mode as it will not turn on while in Lock mode. Lastly, make sure you press and hold the power button.

3.35” (8.5cm) tall x 3.18” (8.1cm) wide x 2” (5.1cm) deep  

Radius can deliver at least 6 hours from a full charge.

Radius will begin creating a zone of protection around the device within minutes, but to experience optimal results in the full 110 sq ft zone, Radius should be allowed to run for at least 15 minutes.

Refills are available in two sizes, 12-hour and 40-hour.  Refills can be used all at once or over multiple occasions.  Note that despite some liquid remaining in the refill after the 12 and 40-hour periods have passed, the device will no longer provide reliable protection after this time.

Maximum repellency performance occurs within 10 feet around the device (110 sq ft).  Repellency may extend beyond this range, but level of protection will decline as you go further from the device.

No - refills can be used all at once or over multiple occasions.  If storing or travelling with the device, replace the cap on the refill and remove the refill from the repeller.

Yes, Radius meets TSA standards for approved air travel.  Always remove refill from repeller and place cap on refill prior to travel. 

Yes, the Radius can be used around humans and pets when used as directed.

Radius uses a formulation with metofluthrin to provide insect repellency.  Metofluthrin is a commonly used active ingredient in many of today’s insect repellent products. 

No, Radius can only be shipped to the US at this time.

If completely drained, it takes approximately 3 hours to charge the battery to 90%+.  To reach a full charge, charge the repeller for 5 hours.

No, cartridges are not reusable.  They are recyclable however, so please recycle where #7 plastics are accepted.

Radius has been built to be durable and resistant to the elements, but as with most electronic devices, we don’t recommend that you leave it outside when raining or during other extreme weather conditions.

We recommend using Radius in a stationary location.  Moving the device reduces the ability for the zone to build to its effective state.  If you need to move Radius, allow 10 minutes to re-establish a zone of protection.

You may be in “Auto-Off” mode, which is activated by the switch found on the bottom of the repeller.  This mode is a convenience feature to avoid leaving your repeller running longer than needed. 

Everyone in the “zone” enjoys the same level of protection from mosquitoes.  Even those with extra sweet skin.

Yes!  Please recycle where #7 plastics are accepted.

Storage: Store in a cool, dry place. Keep container tightly closed. Should a battery become ruptured, do not allow contact with water. Keep refills out of direct sunlight.  Do not disassemble appliance. 

Disposal: Do not reuse or refill the cartridge. If empty, dispose of unused portion according to label directions: Place in trash. If partly filled: Call your local solid waste agency for disposal instruction. Never place unused product down any indoor or outdoor drain. 

The material is treated with permethrin, an ingredient recommended by the CDC for killing ticks.

Yes.  The EPA has determined it is reasonable to assume no harm to infants and children based on the existing data for permethrin.

Yes. The EPA has approved Permethrin for use in a number of popular canine products that treat and prevent tick infestations.

There are no reported cases where cats have been harmed.  The EPA has no published reports nor records of any incidents associated with the use of permethrin-treated tick tubes. Furthermore, a toxicity study shows that a small cat of 3 or 4 pounds would have to eat more than 100 mice per day to show any adverse effects. Most cats don’t eat more than 6 mice a week, indicating the risk of exposure is acceptable.

Thermacell Tick Control uses a permethrin treated material targeted specifically at ticks, rather than a spray or granule that is broadly distributed.  Because the permethrin is bound to fibers, beneficial bugs are rarely exposed to Thermacell.

When used as directed, Thermacell Tick Control Tubes do not have any outdoor environmental use restrictions. Unused product should not be placed in indoor or outdoor drains. Unused product may be discarded in the trash or offered for recycling.

No.  Tests show that mice exposed to specially treated peremthrin fibers exhibit no reduction in survival or reproductive success when compared with non-exposed mice.

Thermacell Tick Control Tubes do not have an expiration date. Unused product can be stored in its original container for use the following year.

Tick Tubes are currently available on this website, Amazon.com, and other retail partners.

To make an effective barrier, it's best to put down two rows of tubes in a grid pattern. Place the tubes every 10 yards along the border of your yard and the woods. Then put down a 2nd row of tubes 10 yards behind the first row in the woods spaced 10 yards apart. Start this 2nd row 5 yards to the right of the first row so that the tubes in the 2nd row fall in between the tubes in the first row, which makes a grid pattern.

Tick Control Tubes will start to kill ticks in your yard a few weeks after you apply them.   Each mouse can pick up over 10 ticks a day and hundreds in a season, so you will see a decrease in your yard as mice take up the permethrin treated cotton and use it to line their nests.  Putting Tick Control Tubes out in the spring kills nyphal ticks that hatch in April and feed from May until July.  These ticks are the ones that most often spread diseases to humans. Reapply tick tubes in the late summer to kill baby larval ticks that hatch in July and feed in August and September.  These larval ticks become next year's dangerous nymphal ticks.  By killing both nymphal and larval ticks in year 1, you will signifcantly reduce the tick population in your yard and see a marked decrease in ticks the next summer.  Reapply tick tubes each season for best results.

Tick Control Tubes work best on black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks, which carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease, Powassan virus and other dangerous diseases.  Tick Control Tubes kill this species of tick because young deer ticks feed on mice.  Tick Control Tubes do not work as well against other tick species that feed on other animals such as dog ticks which feed primarily on dogs.

No.  The active ingredient in tick tubes is known to be low toxicity to birds. Additionally, the EPA states that the risk to birds is below the agency’s level of concern*.  Mice carry only tiny amounts of the active ingredient on their fur after exposure to tick tubes - enough to kill ticks, but not enough to affect birds.  *EPA fact sheet for permethrin 

Yes. The active ingredient in tick tubes is known to be low toxicity to birds.  In fact, it can be applied to birds in a powder form to prevent ticks.   While animals might carry trace amounts on their fur, it doesn't harm them as shown in the extensive mouse studies conducted where mice nesting in the treated material produced normal offspring for multiple generations.

Storage: Store at room temperature in an area inaccessible to children or pets. 

Disposal: Do not reuse or refill this container. If empty: place in trash or offer for recycling if available. If partly filled: Call your local solid waste agency for disposal instructions.