Set It and Forget It

            Back in May I wrote a few posts about mosquitoes and how to rid your home of them. As we have all learned in the past few years, not only can this insect carry Malaria which has proven highly fatal to humans, they can also carry West Nile Virus that can be harmful to us as well. Since May, we have had several requests for a more in depth explanation of the timed mosquito misting system that can be used around homes and many other structures. So, without any further adieu, here is a response to all the requests from our readers.

            To be blunt, this is my preferred method of controlling mosquitoes and other insects for that matter. Because the operation is so effortless; if you are willing to spend a few hours of a Saturday installing this device, you will not regret it. If you think you would like to have one at your house, the first thing you will want to do is determine where you would like the misting to occur and where you will store the tank. Like a pool filter system, most misting tanks are best stored on the side of the house. Now that you have located where you will place the tank, you will next need to determine where and how many nozzles you will need. You will want to locate the nozzles in areas likely to harbor mosquitoes as well as areas you will frequent. Our standard system comes with 300 ft. of hose and 10 nozzles. Additional nozzles and hardware are available. It is recommended to place nozzles 15 to 20 ft. apart and along base of your home or structure about 6 inches above the ground. The nozzles are connected to ¼” polyethylene tubing which supplies the chemical from the tank. The tubing and nozzles can be attached to your home using nylon clamps which are also provided. These clamps do require drilling holes into the exterior of your home to allow screws to be used to hold the hose in place.

            Once you have drawn out your design, be sure to follow the instructions for proper assembly of your tank and timer. Each Misting System is equipped with a timer similar to a pool pump timer that will allow you to decide when and how long you want your system to run. At Solutions Stores, we recommend two to three times a day at dawn and dusk, typically around 30-45 seconds. As we all know, Mosquitoes are most active around those times, so that is when we want the machine to do its job. Keep in mind the times you choose, since it is a pesticide, you will want to be indoors, including pets, while the machine is running. Wait a minute or two once it has finished its cycle before heading outside. The tanks are capable of holding 55 gallons of water which on average can last almost three months. Products such as Vector Ban Plus or Riptide are perfect for these types of systems. One ½ gallon of either product is enough for an entire 55 gallon mixture. If you have any questions, contact us by email or our 1800 number and we can help you out!