Most people want to get rid of unwanted visitors —whether they be rodents, mosquitoes, or cockroaches—out of their home, and fast.
This sends many looking for answers: What actually works the best? Which methods are environmentally friendly and humane? Do I need to invite strangers into my home?
Luckily, there are two methods that get the job done without causing any unnecessary harm or inconvenience: ultrasonic and electromagnetic pest repellers. Understanding their benefits and key differences can help you choose which is best for you.
In this article, we will go over basic pest prevention, as well as how to decide whether to choose ultrasonic vs. electromagnetic pest repellers.
Prevention Comes First: Our Tips
While you’re in the midst of removing pests, you should also be making sure that you’re taking the right steps to help prevent the issue from happening again. Moreover, these precautions will also enhance the pest removal solution you choose. Here’s what we recommend:
- Seal up cracks: Vermin and insects are somehow finding their way into your home. Oftentimes, it’s through tiny openings around your home’s foundation. Take a look around the perimeter of your interior and exterior to find any openings that could use filling. Wire mesh, caulk, and spackle will come in handy.
- Remove food sources: Leftover pet food, uncovered trash cans, and day old dirty dishes can all attract creatures looking for a free meal. Never let your trash overflow, and be sure to seal up food in your pantry.
- Clean up clutter: Pest problems aren’t necessarily due to a messy home. However, boxes, newspapers, and magazines can give rodents nesting material and be the perfect hideout for bugs.
The Benefits of Ultrasonic and Electromagnetic Technology
If you’re considering electronic pest control, you’re likely fed up with traditional methods. And for good reason: many are expensive, inhumane, and harmful to the environment.
Let’s take rodent control, for example. Rodenticide, a popular rodent deterrent, can cause lasting harm to ecosystems. What’s more, other poison-based pest repellants can be risky to use around pets and children. Snap and glue traps aren’t any better, leading to unnecessary suffering (not to mention, a messy clean up).
This is where electromagnetic and ultrasonic pest repellants stand out. They are easy to use, affordable, and fuss-free. Most importantly, they cause no harm to the pests they target. Instead of poisoning or killing, the technology works to irritate, annoy, and drive them out.
What is an Ultrasonic Pest Repeller?
It’s clear that ultrasonic pest repellers offer many benefits. Let’s take a closer look at how they actually work.
After plugging into your wall, they begin emitting a high-pitched frequency. So high pitched, in fact, that it’s completely undetectable to humans and household pets like dogs, cats, and birds. For reference, humans can only hear up to 20 kilohertz (kHz). Ultrasonic pest repellers' frequencies typically fall between 20 kilohertz (kHz) and 100 kHz.
Why such a high frequency? Because pests like crickets, mice, and cockroaches can hear them—and they hate it. The high frequencies confuse and irritate them, causing them to vacate the area as quickly as they can.
The technology runs 24/7, within a specified square footage, usually one room. It works best when placed right next to possible entry points. That way, when the pest leaves their nest they are automatically bombarded with the high frequencies.
What is an Electromagnetic Pest Repeller?
Electromagnetic pest repellers are very similar to ultrasonic ones. They use the existing electromagnetic fields in your home’s electrical wiring and pulse them on and off. This action does not change the field but makes it pulse. Pests, which often live and nest inside walls, are disturbed by these pulses and they are driven out of your home.
These pulses interfere with the pests’ nervous system but do not harm them. It’s like creating a forcefield around your home. This not only drives pests out but also helps keep them from coming back.
What really sets electromagnetic pest repellers apart is their range. They can cover larger spaces, including attics, basements, and even the entire floor of a home.
Installation is typically straightforward. They plug directly into the wall and require minimal effort. These devices operate silently in the background, driving pests out of your home without intruding on your peace.
Finding the Best Solution For You
Now that we understand the basics and benefits of both solutions, let’s determine how you can know which works best for you.
When to Choose Ultrasonic Repellers
If you’re dealing with a pest problem isolated in one part of your home, ultrasonic repellers will be your best bet since their ultrasonic frequences pack a strong punch within a smaller square footage.
Since ultrasonic repellers can’t penetrate walls, they are better for pests that you know are out in the open (like cockroaches or mice at night). They work especially well when placed next to the pests’ entry points.
Additionally, if you have a hamster, insect, or guinea pig as a pet, ultrasonic is a better option since electromagnetic repellers may disturb such pets.
Unsure which ultrasonic product is best for you? Riddex’s Sonic Plus is a great place to start, offering effective, affordable, and easy-to-use rodent control.
When to Choose Electromagnetic Repellers
Electromagnetic repellers are well-suited for large spaces. If you are dealing with a pest problem that encompasses your whole home, then an electromagnetic repeller, like Riddex X, is the solution for you.
Another advantage of these devices is that they are able to penetrate walls. So if you are sure there’s a rat colony nesting within your walls, electromagnetic pulses can reach them and drive them out. Due to this, however, it’s best not to use this method if you have rodents or insects as pets.