According to a 2019 survey conducted by MibeTec Germany, around half of the people [52%] who spend time in their outdoor living space experienced an increase in mosquito bites.
Even though mosquito bites might not be deadly, they are extremely annoying. Leaving the fact that you have to clap your hands to kill them constantly, mosquitoes cause irritation and inflammation in your skin and result in severe discomfort. And if you are searching for ways to keep mosquitoes away while lounging on your patio, we have the right solution.
Does a Fire Pit Keep Mosquitoes Away?
Yes, A fire pit can keep mosquitoes and other bugs and insects away and make your outdoor lounging even more comfortable and less annoying.
Furthermore, different species of mosquitoes have different levels of sensitivity to smoke and heat, so some mosquitoes may not be affected by the presence of a fire pit.
If you want to use a fire pit to help repel mosquitoes, you can use certain types of wood that produce more smoke, such as cedar or pine. You can also try using citronella candles or torches specifically designed to repel mosquitoes.
How to Effectively Use Fire Pits to Repel Mosquitoes
- Fuel: The best fuel sources for repelling mosquitoes include natural materials such as wood, charcoal, and dried leaves.
- Smoke: Generating enough smoke from the fire pit is key to an effective mosquito repellent.
- Placement: It’s also important to be mindful of the pit’s location to other objects, especially plants. Mosquitos tend to flock around plants and nearby water sources.
- Maintenance: Regularly maintain the fire pit by cleaning out ashes and removing any debris that may have built up over time. This will help ensure the fire remains hot enough to repel mosquitoes.
What To Put In A Fire Pit To Keep Mosquitoes Away?
Even though the smoke from your fire pit can successfully keep mosquitoes away, there are more than a few types of woods and herds that make it even more effective. Let’s find what to put in your fire pit so that it can repel mosquitoes better.
- Lavender: Lavender is one of the most common and effective herbs you can put on an open fire to keep mosquitoes at bay. Throwing this herb in your burning patio fire pit makes the smoke more mosquito and bug-repellant and produces a pleasant smell. This makes the surroundings super soothing and relaxing.
- Mint: Mint is widely known for its ability to keep bugs and insects away. Burning this herb in the fire will produce a strong smell that irritates the mosquitoes and keep them away from you.
- Lemon Balm: Just like mint, the strong smell of burning lemon balm also hits the sense of bugs and mosquitoes and deters them in no time.
- Sage or Rosemary: Sage or rosemary has incredible aromatherapy properties. When you put them in your fire pit, the pleasant fragrance from these herbs works as an incredible mosquito repellant and makes the outdoors even more comforting. However, for maximum repellant effect, make sure to use fresh sage or rosemary. The fresh ones offer the highest results.
- Citronella: Compared to the others, citronella has a super strong scent. And this is the main factor that keeps mosquitoes away from your lounging area. Even if you use other herbs and woods in your fire pit to deter bugs, try putting in some citronella too. You will definitely be amazed by the results.
- Pinyon/Pinion: Even though pinion is not hardwood, you should still try to burn them in your outdoor fire pit to keep bugs and mosquitoes at arm’s length. Its super sweet smell repels mosquitoes in any given condition, making the environment even more soothing and welcoming.
- Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus wood is considered the boss in repelling mosquitoes from your patio area. The active ingredient, eucalyptol or cineole, present in this wood can successfully keep away the annoying mosquitoes and ensure a safer environment for your evening gatherings.
Do Fire Pits Attract Mosquitoes?
Surprisingly, fire pits can attract mosquitoes too. The light and warmth of the open fire allures bugs and mosquitoes and might crowd the surrounding with more mosquitoes than ever before.
But then again, as a wood-burning fire pit produces smoke, it will suffocate these bugs in no time and protect you and your guests from bites.
Do Gas Fire Pits Keep Mosquitoes Away?
No, Unlike wood or charcoal-burning fire pits, a gas fire pit won’t keep bugs and mosquitoes away from you. As propane gas doesn’t produce any smoke, which is the main mosquito repellant, it will not deter them from your lounging area effectively. In fact, because the fire is clean and offers warmth, a gas fire pit would actually attract mosquitoes towards it rather than moving them away.
Moreover, as gas fire pits usually come with special designs, it’s quite impossible to burn even herbs in them to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Do Propane Gas Fire Pits Keep Mosquitoes Away?
No, Unlike wood-burning fire pits, a gas fire pit won’t keep bugs and mosquitos away from you. As propane gas doesn’t produce any smoke, which is the main mosquito repellant, it will not deter them from your lounging area effectively. Because the fire is clean and offers warmth, a gas fire pit would attract mosquitos toward it rather than moving them away.
Moreover, as gas fire pits usually come with special designs, it’s quite impossible to burn even herbs in them to keep mosquitos at bay.
How Gas Fire Pits Can Keep Away Mosquitoes?
Although you cannot burn wood or herbs in a gas fire fit, it doesn’t mean that you cannot adopt other measures to repel mosquitoes away from your outdoor living space. We have discussed a few efficient ways just for you.
- Try Electronic Devices: Electronic devices, like a bug zapper, placed near your gas fire pit can successfully deter mosquitoes away and ensure a safe environment to hang around on your patio. The UV lights incorporated in these devices attract mosquitoes and other insects and kill them instantly to ensure you don’t have to suffer from bites.
- Use Chemical Repellent: Another effective way to protect yourself from mosquito bites is by applying chemical repellent creams on your skin. These creams are loaded with mosquito-repellent properties and can actively keep them away from biting you anytime soon. However, as a few of these products might contain flammable materials, you should stay safer from the fire pit after applying them.
- Citronella Repellants Works Too: Citronella is an incredible material to keep mosquitoes at bay. Any product [usually wristbands and candles] that contains 10% citronella can deter mosquitoes effectively for at least 20 minutes and ensure incredible safety. Light a citronella candle in your sitting area, or wear a wristband to enjoy a peaceful patio gathering.
Wrapping Up
There is no doubt that a wooden fire pit can keep mosquitoes away to ensure greater comfort in your outdoor living area. However, you also need to burn just the right materials to enjoy maximum efficiency. And therefore, to make your patio even safer and more comfortable, burn just the right materials in your fire pit.
Henry Jurk is an experienced architect with over 20 years of expertise in paving. He shares his knowledge and provides solutions through his blog posts at OkPatio.com. If you have any questions about patios, gardens, and outdoor spaces, you can find the correct answers from Henry. You can contact him via email at ar.henryjurk@gmail.com or through the website’s contact page.
