We have all at one time or other seen unwanted pests in our homes. Sometimes we know they are there even though we cant see them. The smell of pesticides is enough to be bothersome to both humans and pets, so fumigation is not always a valued option. Over the past 20 years, several devices have been flooding the market with the promise of ridding your home of unwanted pests, be they ants, roaches, mice, or other creepy crawleys. The fact of the matter is that these devices really have little to no effect on the insects and rodents that may invade a home.
There are two types of devices currently offered on the market. One emits ultrasonic or high frequency sound, while the other alters the electro magnetic field in and around your home with a subsonic or low frequency sound or vibration. The problem is, neither of these methods have been shown to work with a high level of success. There is little government regulation as there is with other pesticides that are chemical based. Until recently, the government did not look in to the selling of these repellers at all.
A study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with negative results that were reproduced in college campuses accross the country led the government to step in and take a closer look at claims being made by marketers of these devices that said they had scientific evidence that the devices worked. This is not to say that the ultrasonic and subsonic devices are without any value. To an extent, some of them do work, but generally not on multiple types of pest.
If you are planning to purchase one of these devices, best recommendation is to read what you are getting before you make a purchase, and study it. Will the device really suit your needs, or are you throwing away money for a bad cause? For example, there is currently devices on the market to prevent dogs from barking. I will admit, sometimes I am annoyed by a barking dog. However, what if there is an emergency, and the dogs bark is the only thing that draws your attention to it? Do you really wish to change the nature of the animal?
Seriously, one site that I visited offered deterents for 16 different types of pesky annoyances from barking dogs to stale air. The problem with invention is that there is always someone willing to buy something whether it works or not. I believe the saying goes "there's a sucker born every minute". So lets stop being suckers and really look at the situation. I have tried the repellers for mice and other small insects. I live in the country so it a continuous problem. Much to my dismay, the devices did not have an effect on the pest population in the house, so it was back to standard mousetraps, grants ant stakes, and good old fashioned Raid.
Another problem with the electronic devices is that there must be a clear shot towards the intended pests, so unless you have an empty house, or a yard with no landscaping, these devices will not be practical for you. The distance the device is effective is also very minimal. Most have a maximum effective range of about 15 feet. The strongest device that I located is the Riddex brand, which boasts to cover up to 2000 square feet. This particular device uses a combination of ultrasonic and electromagnetic frequencies.
The cost of these devices start at about ten dollars for a small model, and up to a couple hundred for a larger, complex device. The cost of more conventional methods may add up over the years, but the results will be more noticeable as well. Whichever way you decide to go, know the facts first. There are many ways to eliminate unwanted pests. It is important to look at the cost, the method, the time needed, how it will effect other living things in your home, and what the expected end result will be.
