Burgess
Burgess 1443 Propane Insect Fogger
Fogger · EPA-registered pesticide
Pros
- Knocks bugs down fast to clear an area for an event (40–70%)
- Treats a large area (about 5000 sq ft)
Cons
- Kills on contact but wears off within minutes to a few hours, with little residual — not lasting protection
- Non-selective: it also kills bees and other beneficial insects
- Highly toxic to fish and aquatic life — keep well away from water
- Active ingredient concentration is not disclosed
The full review
Long-running propane thermal fogger from Burgess, a classic backyard fogging appliance that vaporizes a pyrethroid fogging insecticide into a thick cloud to knock down and kill the mosquitoes and biting flies present in a yard. It treats an average 5,000 square foot yard in under ten minutes and is sold as the device, with the fog (Black Flag, Cutter, or Repel branded) bought separately. The kill is fast and on contact, but the fog leaves little residual outdoors, so a fogged yard reads as clear for a few hours and then insects return. Everyone can re-enter the treated area once the fog disperses, typically within about five minutes. As a non-selective insecticide it also kills bees and other beneficial insects in the fog, so it suits a pre-event knockdown rather than ongoing control.
Scorecard
Expand any pillar to see exactly why it scored what it did.
Effectiveness45%38A fogger knocks down and kills the mosquitoes present when you use it, cutting bites by roughly 40–70% for a short window, over about 5000 sq ft. It works by killing on contact, not repelling, and has little residual, so the effect fades within minutes to a few hours as new mosquitoes move back in. Scored on that reduction and treated area, then tempered because it clears a space for an event rather than providing lasting protection (lower confidence).
A fogger knocks down and kills the mosquitoes present when you use it, cutting bites by roughly 40–70% for a short window, over about 5000 sq ft. It works by killing on contact, not repelling, and has little residual, so the effect fades within minutes to a few hours as new mosquitoes move back in. Scored on that reduction and treated area, then tempered because it clears a space for an event rather than providing lasting protection (lower confidence).
Evidence & honest claims25%8No published studies in our library directly support this product's active ingredients at their concentrations (base 20). Of 4 marketing claims audited: 0 strong, 2 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-12).
No published studies in our library directly support this product's active ingredients at their concentrations (base 20). Of 4 marketing claims audited: 0 strong, 2 moderate, 2 weak, 0 unsupported (-12).
Safety15%60This is an area treatment, not applied to skin, so dermal risk does not apply. Scored on moderate inhalation risk from the fog (−18); high toxicity to fish and aquatic life (−22). It kills insects non-selectively, so it also harms bees and other pollinators. Fog outdoors only, away from people and flowering plants, keep cats away. Keep it well away from ponds, aquariums, and water features.
This is an area treatment, not applied to skin, so dermal risk does not apply. Scored on moderate inhalation risk from the fog (−18); high toxicity to fish and aquatic life (−22). It kills insects non-selectively, so it also harms bees and other pollinators. Fog outdoors only, away from people and flowering plants, keep cats away. Keep it well away from ponds, aquariums, and water features.
Transparency15%20This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Every pillar is scored from published rules. Read how we score.
Coverage & effectiveness
This is a fogger: it kills the mosquitoes present when you use it across a treated area, then wears off within minutes to a few hours as new mosquitoes return. It clears a space for an event rather than providing lasting protection.
Mosquitoes
EstimatedLow- Treated area
- ~5000 sq ft
- Fewer bites
- 40–70%
Run with a pyrethroid fog, the Burgess fogger knocks down and kills the mosquitoes and biting flies present in a yard on contact, but the fog leaves little residual outdoors. Coverage reads as mosquito-clear for a few hours and then insects move back in, so it is an event tool rather than season-long control. The band shown is a rough estimate for that short window and varies widely with wind and yard size. The fog is non-selective and also harms bees and other pollinators, and entomologists advise against foggers as a primary mosquito strategy.
Ingredient disclosure
This product publishes an ingredient list (+20); discloses 0% of active concentrations (+0); discloses 0% of all ingredient concentrations (+0); inert ingredients are not fully accounted for (0).
Only active ingredients are disclosed. The full ingredient list (inerts/carriers) is not published, so this may not be the complete formula.
Active ingredient concentrations are not published for this product.
- PhenothrinActive
Active insecticide · concentration not disclosed
Claims audit
What the marketing says, versus what the evidence supports.
“Treats an average 5,000 sq ft yard in less than 10 minutes”
EfficacyModerateReasonable area-coverage claim per fogging. The effect is a short-term knockdown.
“Kills and repels mosquitoes and biting flies for up to 6 hours”
DurationWeakContact kill is real. The up-to-6-hours figure is a best case that outdoor residual rarely sustains as insects return.
“Everyone can enter the treated area as soon as the fog disperses, typically under 5 minutes”
SafetyModerateRe-entry guidance per the manufacturer. The fog is still a pesticide and non-selective during application.
“The same effective system professionals use to kill mosquitoes”
OtherWeakMarketing comparison. Professional programs pair equipment with larval control and repeat treatment; a one-time consumer fogging does not match that on its own.
Safe around dogs & cats?
Worst case from this product’s active ingredients. Do not apply this or any human repellent to your pet.
Mainly from Phenothrin.
Not veterinary advice. Full guide to repellents around pets →