What could be worse than rats infesting your home? Not only do they spread filth and disease throughout your home, but they also put you and your family at great risk. After all, they could bring into your home dirt and filth from anywhere and nibble on any food you might leave out and contaminate it.
Once rats and mice find your home to be warm and inviting, they will breed rapidly, making you think of the different ways of getting rid of them permanently. Traps and poison could well be your first thoughts but these days, a better way of getting rid of them is to use an ultrasonic pest repeller. They are easy to use and are completely unfussy—just plug one into a socket and let it work for you.
What Are Ultrasonic Pest Repellers?
Ultrasonic pest repellers are electrical devices that work at high frequencies, way above what humans can hear. They give out a consistent sound that rodents can hear. The sound waves are so designed that they can annoy, pester, distract and prevent rodents from being in that space anymore.
What Is the Mechanism Behind Ultrasonic Repellers?
Ultrasonic pest repeller devices function on electricity. All you need to do is to plug one into a power socket and it immediately gets to work by emitting a high frequency way above what humans can hear. These sounds cause a mental response in rats, better known as audiogenic seizure response.
The mouse repellent sound the rodent hears disorients it to such an extent that it tries to run away from it helter-skelter. It grows confused and convulses and very quickly dies due to cerebral hemorrhage.
Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Work?
Rodents and other pests can hear sounds that we can’t hear. So, sounds at these frequencies can disturb or even disorient them and cause them to run away from the sounds or vibrations they cause. For this reason, using ultrasonic mouse repellers are a good idea.
To use an ultrasonic rat repellent, all you need do is to plug into the electrical socket. Once done, it will emit electromagnetic waves or ultrasonic sounds into the room, walls or ceiling. When these sounds travel away, pests can hear this rodent repellent sound and feel the vibrations. They get disoriented and cannot go about their tasks. This will urge them to move away from the repeller and out of your home.
Are Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Effective?
Based on scientific tests, it is still not clear if ultrasonic pest repellers are indeed effective enough to completely rid homes of rodents and other unwanted pests. While this matter is being hotly debated by professionals of pest control and the scientific community, we present here the findings of two experiments conducted on the subject that would lead you to do better do ultrasonic pest control at home or at work.
1. Victor Pest Control’s Ultrasonic Pest Chaser
A study was conducted by Victor Pest Control to prove the effectiveness of their product, Ultrasonic Pest Chaser, which showed good results. Here are the findings:
• The Ultrasonic Pest Chaser was able to repel rodents from 13 sites tested out of a total of 17.
• The product was so effective that in the areas treated for pests, food consumption was lowered by 67%.
• On average, it took six days for all rodent activity and sonic pest control to come to a total standstill.
These results are in line with product reviews of some consumers who have bought this product and have reported good results in rodent removal.
2. Kansas State University’s study on Ultrasonic Effects on Arthropods
The recently conducted research study on the subject of Ultrasonic Effects on Arthropods by Kansas State University only confirmed that ultrasonic repellers repel some pests effectively, not all. The tympanate moth showed up the best results in this area, however, ultrasonic repellers made no dent on spiders and ants.
3. University of Lincoln Nebraska Extension’s findings
The University of Lincoln Nebraska Extension office, Lancaster County, published an article advising readers not to buy such gadgets that claim to give them easy solutions. The article did not cite specific brand names or companies.
What are the Ultrasonic Rodent Repellent Devices Available Today?
Ultrasonic mouse repellent devices that promise to get rid of rodents are available aplenty, but they are incapable of keeping rodents away permanently. For this reason, they cannot be considered effective enough to get rid of rats and other pests from homes.
The biggest challenge to finding success by using these devices is their correct placement. They need to be plugged into sockets to be effective. But what if the plug point available in a room is not near the rodents’ habitat? Well, obviously, the device will not serve the purpose.
It has been found that rats and mice are very resilient, and the frequency of sonic sound waves required to repel them would be so strong that it could damage pets and humans. To avoid such a scenario, manufacturers of these products do not make them with frequencies that would harm humans. With the available products, therefore, rats may be repelled and learn to keep off those areas from where the ultrasonic sound emanates. Else, it adapts to the sonic mouse repellent noise.
Which Kind of Pest Repeller Should You Use?
Perhaps, you’re only sure that you have rats running around your home. But you might well have insects too, or if you don’t, it may be prudent to prepare for them by buying electronic rodent repellers for both. Those who buy repellers that send out ultrasonic sounds also buy another that give out electromagnetic waves.
However, if you too want to do this, invest in a two-in-one repeller that sends out sound and vibrations. Check out the radius of the frequency range that the repellers travel before you buy it. Also, find out the number of electrical circuits your home has. From this, you will know just how many you require for all parts of your home.
What Should You Choose a Good Ultrasonic Repeller?
As with all products, when buying an ultrasonic repeller too, you need to look out for various features. These are:
• Strength and Range
Devices have different levels of ultrasonic waves, measured in frequencies. Choose a device whose frequency is higher than what humans and other pets can take and will prevent rodents from infesting your home. Generally, 60Hz is considered the ideal frequency.
• Durability
You could opt for the disposable variety of pest repellers whose lifespan isn’t long, or the expensive models which go on for many years. The former are inexpensive and require to be replaced often due to their cheap build.
If you want to have many repellers for your various rooms, you will have to buy as many. Or, if there’s just one problem area in the home, buy an expensive one that will last long.
• Pest Control Technology
By using modern pest control technology, rodents are repelled twice as much as with ordinary removal methods. Ultrasonic waves harm their nervous system which makes them writhe and ultimately die.
• Area Under Coverage
To be not just effective but also cost-effective, sonic repellers should work on large areas, about 1600 sq ft-3200 sq ft. They should prove effective in homes, offices, gardens, warehouses, hotels, etc. Since the ultrasound cannot go through walls or even solid objects, it’s advisable to install one repeller per room.
• Keeps Pests and Humans Safe
Sonic pest repellers are usually audible only to pests like rodents. We and our domestic pets can’t hear its sound, and pregnant women and kids too are safe from it.
• Easy to Use and Lightweight
Pest repellers are easily portable and use—just plug it in and set it to work. No wonder, it is widely used in office and home establishments, gardens, parks, etc. They are also energy-efficient and protects your home from four-legged intruders.
Top Models to Consider
The market is full of various models of ultrasonic pest repellers. By reading the best electronic rodent repeller reviews online, you can shortlist a handful of them to choose from. They are:
The Bell Howell Repeller: This repeller uses electronic sound waves to deter rats. It comes with three repellers, has a night light with outlet and offers 24×7 protection from rats. It is also effective in eliminating ants, cockroaches, rats and spiders.
Black and Decker Pest Repeller: This electronic repeller emits ultrasonic frequencies that are not constant. This makes rodents and other pests adapt very poorly to their environment. This repeller is ideal for very large rooms, so you would have to buy only one repeller. Care should be taken not to place the repeller behind furniture or curtains, as ultrasonic waves need unhindered space to move around. It can also be operated on battery.
Emerson Ultrasonic Pest Repeller–Model EM101: This model of Emerson pest repellers is small and is encased in hard plastic. Affordably priced, it emits sound waves at a frequency of 27,000 Hz. It runs at 120 volt AC. If you or any member of your family uses a pacemaker or any such medical device, he or she should not be anywhere near this ultrasonic rodent repeller as it could harm them.
Read some ultrasonic pest repeller reviews online before buying so that you get the best product for your needs.
For What Duration Do Ultrasonic Pest Repellers Last?
Since it is electrically connected to your home circuit, you can keep it going on for years. As long as you have a continuous flow of electricity, this device will continue to give you good service. After a few years, perhaps, you might have to replace it, but certainly not under five years of continuous use.
Once you set up the repeller, give it two or three weeks to start working. If you see a considerable drop in pests running around the place, you know your repeller is working.
Natural pest repellers
Here’s another type of pest repeller for your rat. Some experts say that their use is limited, while others totally put them down as ineffective. However, there’s no harm trying, particularly if you have little kids and pets at home.
Steps to Take
- Discourage rats from entering your home
To make themselves feel comfortable anywhere, mice only need to be sure they’ll get food and somewhere to lay down their heads. To discourage this, close all food sources to them, including pet food and dry food in plastic or metal boxes.
Put away all fluffy material like blankets and rugs, eiderdown. Mice chew everything and that includes paper, cardboard, light plastic, and steel wool, so keep them out of the rodents’ way.
- Close up all the entry points to your home
Mice need the tiniest of cracks and holes to squeeze themselves into your home. So, be very sure that your home is watertight and you have left no entry point open to it.
Natural Pest Repellers to Use:
- Mice hate the smell of cayenne pepper, peppermint oil, cloves, and pepper, so spray them liberally in their nesting places. Alternatively, soak some cotton balls in the peppermint oil and leave them in places where you’re sure rats abound in.
- Spread small portions of kitty litter at the entrance to your home. The smell of cat urine is enough to put the rats off and they will clear out of there as soon as they can.
- The strong smell of ammonia is another deterrent to rats entering your home. Leave small parts of this liquid in caps of bottles in the path of mice, so they won’t enter your home beyond that point.
Conclusion
Though not entirely efficient, these devices are less dangerous than pest control, so you, your kids and pets will be unharmed while they are in use. Second, with these around, you needn’t use any traps or poison. You and your family, and your pets won’t be affected by the sound of these devices, and lastly, they aren’t expensive.
They are also good for those who don’t like the idea of cleaning up after a dead rat. It’s also low on maintenance. For all these benefits, even if the results aren’t as near to perfect than you would have liked, yet they are worth trying out.