Do you have unwanted company in your home? When pests invade, ultrasonic pest repellents are often suggested as the solution.
Read on to find out more about this controversial technology and its effects – both good and bad.
What Is an Ultrasonic Pest Repellent?
The idea behind an ultrasonic pest repellent is that prevention is better than cure.
Rather than deal with the gruesome process of trapping pests, people invest in ultrasonic repellents designed to keep them away in the first place.
In theory, this is a much simpler way to manage a potential pest problem!
The way these devices claim to work is by emitting a high-pitched sound that drives away pests.
This sound emitted is supposed to be so uncomfortable and abrasive to a pest that they steer clear of your property.
You shouldn’t be able to hear a thing at this frequency, but insects and rodents definitely should.
To operate an ultrasonic pest repellent, all you have to do is plug it in! If you need a repellent for outdoor areas, battery-operated options are also available.
Some pet collars even come with ultrasonic technology to keep fleas at bay.
Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellents Really Work?
Ultrasonic pest repellents sound like a great idea; after all, who wants to clean out rat traps on a regular basis? However, their efficacy remains contested.
If you buy one, you might notice a positive short-term effect.
For example, if you have a mouse problem, installing an ultrasonic pest repellent should put them off your place… at least for a while.
The issue is that pests are highly adaptive. At first, the noise will be annoying enough to keep them away.
Over time, though, they will get used to it, and it won’t bother them enough to act as an effective repellent.
Also, the frequencies emitted by pest repellents aren’t strong enough to travel long distances.
Clever pests might just find areas of your house that the sound doesn’t reach.
Although ultrasonic pest repellents might sound like an ideal solution, many brands have actually been challenged over making false claims for their products.
It seems that ultrasonic pest repellents don’t perform to the expected standards; in other words, they don’t really work.
Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Go Through Walls?
If you have a pest problem, you don’t want pests in any part of your house!
One major limitation of ultrasonic pest repellers is that they only work when the pest is in the direct vicinity of the device.
The high frequency is easily interrupted by doors, walls, and furniture.
Don’t pests usually prefer these hidden away nooks? Unfortunately, ultrasonic frequencies can’t reach their favorite hiding places.
If you’re determined to use ultrasonic technology for pest control despite the obvious drawbacks, you’ll have to invest in multiple devices.
Really, you’d need one in every single room for this strategy to be effective! You’d even have to buy one for the roof cavity.
That sounds expensive, and this investment wouldn’t even guarantee a pest-free home. After all, a pest only has to get behind a closet door to evade the unpleasant effects of these devices.
I Can Hear My Ultrasonic Pest Repeller, Why?
The ultrasonic noise that your pest repeller emits should be beyond human hearing level.
However, those with particularly strong and sensitive hearing may be able to detect the sound.
For example, children and teenagers might hear it even when older adults don’t.
Ultrasonic means sound of more than 20,000 Hz. A sound at this frequency shouldn’t be picked up by normal human eardrums.
If you’re able to hear your device, that’s a sign it could be ineffective. After all, pests like mice and rats hear at a much higher frequency than human beings.
An ultrasonic pest repeller is designed to cause discomfort and distress – but only for pests! If it’s audible to you, that’s not just annoying.
It could also mean it’s broken, and it might even be a health hazard to the humans in your household.
Are Electronic Pest Repellers Safe For Humans?
There are health problems associated with prolonged exposure to ultrasonic noise. Just because you can’t hear it doesn’t mean it isn’t having a negative effect, either.
It’s important to bear in mind the ways that ultrasonic noise exposure can manifest, as people suffering from these common symptoms can otherwise struggle to identify their cause.
Children and teenagers are particularly susceptible to ultrasonic sound exposure, so they may be worst affected by electronic pest repellers that use this technology.
If you choose to have these devices in your home, be attentive to any possible reactions.
Consult a doctor if you suspect your pest repeller is causing health problems. Look out for ringing in the ears, headaches, or migraines.
Ultrasonic noise can also reduce sleep quality, causing fatigue. More extreme reactions can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fainting.
Given these risks, electronic pest repellers using ultrasonic technology cannot be described as entirely safe for humans.
Are Electronic Pest Repellers Safe For Dogs And Other Pets?
If you have a cat or a dog, it’s unlikely that the ultrasonic sounds from your pest repellers will cause them any problems.
They can detect it due to their enhanced hearing; however, it’d have to be significantly louder to cause them any significant distress or discomfort.
Do you have a smaller pet such as a hamster or a guinea pig? Then you should keep them far away from ultrasonic pest repellers.
Because they are so similar to mice and rats, the device will affect them as it would an unwanted pest. The closer they are to the device, the more likely they are to be harmed by it.
When it comes to our animal friends, it’s generally better to be safe than sorry. Check with your vet before installing ultrasonic pest repellers in your household.
Even reptiles have been known to feel their effects.
Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Work on Spiders And Other Insects?
Because tests on ultrasonic pest repellers have generated very mixed results, it’s hard to say for sure how well they work on insects.
Because their benefits lack convincing scientific backing, some people believe these devices are a scam.
Are you suffering from an insect infestation? Do you need to scare away spiders? Using an ultrasonic pest repeller may not be the most effective method.
A 2002 study found that although the devices successfully repelled crickets, they had almost no effect on cockroaches.
Ants and spiders weren’t affected at all by ultrasonic pest repellers!
Even the insects that did respond as planned to the pest repellers eventually got over their negative reaction.
Once they realized the noise couldn’t hurt them, they got used to it and were able to ignore it. Who knew they were so smart?
It appears that the impact of ultrasonic pest repellers is both limited and short-lived when it comes to insects.
What Is The Most Effective Ultrasonic Pest Repeller?
There are many pest repellers on the market. Some of the most effective models, according to experts, include:
- Neatmaster: This model features a dual microchip. It has different noise levels, so you’re able to increase the volume and hopefully deter those more persistent pests. It claims to repel a wide range of pests, including mice, spiders, and mosquitos.
- MaxMoxie: What makes this model so appealing is the large number of sincere positive reviews it has generated from customers. It claims to cover a range of 1200 square feet, and people have testified to its successful repelling of cockroaches and mice.
- WahooArt: This model plugs straight into the wall, and packs of two are available to increase coverage. This is a more expensive option; however, it claims to cover an impressive range of 2000 square feet, so maybe the additional investment is worth it!
- Rostermark: The great thing about Rostermark ultrasonic pest repellers is that they come in packs of six. If you’re planning to cover as much of your house as possible – which is surely the most effective strategy – then these bulk packs make that plan more affordable and achievable.
- TEL Solar Powered: Because TEL pest repellers are fueled by solar energy, they can be used outside without an electrical connection. What makes this model uniquely attractive is the idea that they could repel pests before they even enter the house.
What Are The Alternatives to Ultrasonic Pest Repellers?
Ultrasonic pest repellers definitely have their critics. If you’re still unconvinced that they’re the right fix for your pest problem, you might try hiring a professional pest control service.
You can also buy traps in home stores and set them up yourself. Humane options are usually available.
Remember that pests are attracted to your home for different reasons. Good waste disposal practices might make your home less appealing to them.
If you have a structural issue that is permitting rodents to enter the house, then repairing this damage could solve the issue entirely.
Pests in the home are considered a serious health hazard, so if your ultrasonic pest repeller isn’t proving effective, you shouldn’t hesitate to investigate and implement alternative solutions.
REFERENCES
https://www.nachi.org/ https://www.terminix.com/ https://www.familyhandyman.com/
