Where you should and where shouldn’t use a Propane fogger

The are some areas you should and others where you must not use a propane insect fogger. Propane foggers are thermal devices that use heat to vaporize an insecticide from a liquid state and spray it out as a fog. To vaporize an insecticide fogger must be heated to high temperatures, so some fire safety cautions must be noted before using a heated fogger. Also there are different insecticides for different pest or insect terminations and these insecticides may contain toxic substances that may not be good for human health as well as animals and other insects that may be useful for your garden. Each fogger and insecticide has got a users manual, which contains important information of areas you can and cannot fog and how much fogging must be done with each insecticide. In this article I will lay down some more common practices, which areas can be fogged and which areas must not be fogged with a propane insect fogger.

Where to use a propane fogger

It’s practically always safe to use a propane fogger outdoors. But you do not want to waste an expensive insecticide spraying it all around your backyard in areas, where mosquitoes do not reside. It is important to note all areas around your house or yard where mosquitoes might be living. Look for dark and humid areas with standing waters. In those places mosquito females lay eggs and the majority of mosquitoes will reside in such areas during a daytime. Some of these places may include but are not limited to:

  • vegetation (shrubbery, trees, grass etc.);
  • metal cans and barrels filled with water;
  • clogged rain gutters and pools without chloride water;
  • Swamps, ponds, ditches and other natural areas with a standing water.

When you have inspected these areas it is time to start taking action and eliminate those blood sucking insects. But there are few things your should know before starting to fog everything around you.

First of all you need to buy an insecticide. Look for an insecticide that meets your requirements, for example, if you have a mosquito problem, search for an insecticide that is made for mosquito control, if you have a wasp problem, look for insecticide that will be effective with wasps etc. You want to be as specific as possible to terminate the majority of insects, so appropriate insecticide is a must have for a successful insect controlling.

You have idea where mosquitoes live and you have filled your propane fogger up with a mosquito killing insecticide, next thing you need to know is where and how the fog needs to be applied.

fogging bushes

The fog needs to applied directly to the areas where mosquitoes are living. Targeted fogging is going to be much more effective and will kill majority of mosquitoes than fogging somewhere around the yard or house. This means fogging such areas as shrubbery, trees, plants, smaller gaps around and below buildings and similar areas around your house. One thing you should note is that there are two types of foggers and repellents – wet and dry. It is not recommended to use a wet fogger directly on vegetation as it leaves greasy residue which may harm plants, on the other side, dry foggers can be applied directly to vegetation so they are considered to be more effective in terminating mosquitoes. This is why it’s important to read usage instructions of fogger and insecticide before using them.

While fogging you need to apply the fog on such areas as:

  • On top and under the leaves of plants;
  • Into the shrubbery, as it is one of the most common place for mosquitoes to reside during day;
  • Around trees, focusing more on tree tops that are covered with leaves. This is the area where a fogger can be more effective than other insect terminating and repelling applications, because it is difficult to reach tree tops of high trees, where majority of mosquitoes reside due daytime;
  • Taller grass and smaller bushes;
  • In dark and wet areas around the house and backyard, where mosquitoes like to live and reproduce.

Cautions when using a propane fogger

There are some cautions you need to know before fogging in certain areas.

Keep safe distance from the area you are fogging

Keep a distance of approx. 5-6 feet from the area you are fogging to let insecticide particles reside on the surface you are fogging. This will ensure that the fog does not get blown in uncontrolled direction in case of a sudden wind breeze. Approx. 5-6 feet is the recommended distance for safe and efficient fogging.

Make sure the fogged area is well-ventilated and does not contain flammable materials

It is forbidden to use propane foggers indoors, but if you needs to fog an open area under a roof, for example a patio or similar place, make sure that it is well ventilated. Also take away any materials than can light on fire easily as propane foggers operate with high heat and sometimes can “spit out a small ball of flame” which can set flammable materials on fire.

Where you mustn’t use a propane fogger

There are some areas you mustn’t use a propane fogger, as it can be dangerous for both living beings and the environment. Here are few of the areas you must avoid when fogging.

Don’t use a propane fogger into an indoor area

It is dangerous to use a propane fogger into an indoor area. A propane fogger may pose serious fire safety treats if used indoors. A propane fogger works with a propane gas, which heats the coil to a high temperature. Propane fogger works with an open flame, which makes it dangerous to use indoors, especially when there can be highly flammable materials around the house. Also you could accidentally touch a flammable object with the tip of the fogger which is heated to extremely high temperature and could immediately set a flammable material on fire.

Near food and food trays

Never use a fogger in areas near uncovered food or food trays. Insecticides used in foggers for mosquito killing contain toxic substances that can be harmful to human health if eaten, even in very small dozes.

Don’t use a wet fogger directly on vegetation

Avoid fogging directly on vegetation with a wet fogger as insecticide can damage plants. Make sure to keep a distance and fog in direction of the vegetation, not directly on it.

Don’t fog in areas where children or pets are present

Keep the fogging area clear from children as well as pets. The fog which includes insecticides may be dangerous if inhaled, especially for children and pets. Make sure the area you are fogging is clear from children and pets before starting to fog and few hours after fogging. A time when the fog resides and it becomes safe to stay into the fogged area must be indicated on the insecticide bottle. It depends on the type of the insecticide and the area fogged, but usually after few hours it is safe to go into the fogged area.


Main website editor at InsectCop.net. Expert in mosquito foggers!

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