For mice and rats, we’ve seen some limited success with ultrasonic and electronic repellers over short periods. But rodents are smart – they seem to catch on pretty quick to whatever noise the devices make and then just ignore it. Mice can become desensitized within days. Plus, the ultrasound waves don’t even penetrate walls or past heavy furnishings.
Our experience shows they might help keep pests away temporarily but they won’t offer reliable, long-term control. And the effective range is actually pretty small – the sounds fade out within 15 feet or so. They’re just not a substitute for professional pest management using proven methods like sanitation, traps, targeted pesticides, and sealing up entry points.
So in my professional opinion, you shouldn’t rely solely on those ultrasonic or electronic gadgets to really solve an infestation. They might be part of the solution, but not the whole solution.
Should you get confused with the technical and marketing terminology, the main difference between electronic rodent repellers and ultrasonic pest repellers is the type of sound waves they emit to deter rodents:
Electronic rodent repellers emit electromagnetic waves that are outside the range of human hearing. The waves are designed to annoy and disorient rodents, driving them away. These devices emit electromagnetic noise in the 12 to 55 kHz range.
Ultrasonic pest repellers emit high frequency sound waves that are above the range of human hearing (typically over 20 kHz). The ultrasonic waves are unpleasant and disorienting to rodents and insects, encouraging them to avoid the area.
