If you have young children and pets, dealing with an insect or rodent infestation can be a hassle and even dangerous. Noxious poisons and traps left around your house and yard could be a hazard, and replacement can be a hassle.
Instead, ultrasonic pest repellers produce electromagnetic and ultrasonic sound waves to confuse and irritate pests, causing them to flee. Some models plug into your home’s electrical outlets, while others use solar energy to charge built-in batteries to power their pest control.
Photo: depositphotos.com
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
From pest types to power sources, a little background about these products can go a long way when shopping for the best ultrasonic pest repellers. Be aware that the industry uses “repeller” and “repellent” interchangeably. While some shoppers might think of “repellents” as chemical dusts and sprays, for buying purposes, these can also be repellent devices.
Pests
Whether preparing your home to keep warmth-seeking mice or moles at bay as outdoor temperatures dip or simply tiring of creepy crawlies popping up overnight, you might find your solution in an ultrasonic pest repeller.
In general, these products address rodent issues within the home. If the issue is a mouse or rat problem inside, plugging one of these repellers into your outlets can help. Many of these pest control products are also effective against other pests, including squirrels, ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, fruit flies, fleas, crickets, snakes, scorpions, and bats. Some models may even help you avoid a bedbug infestation.
When you have a garden, even the deer you love to watch can turn from endearing to pest, and some ultrasonic devices are effective deer repellents. You can even find some products that will repel dogs and cats from your yard. Just beware that these repellers can also affect your dog or cat, so be selective if you’ve got a furry friend.
Working Range
For an ultrasonic repeller to be effective at pest control, you need it to provide sufficient coverage. Most of the best ultrasonic pest repellers provide somewhere between 800 and 1,200 square feet of coverage. While they may be effective in a wide-open basement, understand that your walls and ceilings can limit this range.
In this case, you may need a few of these pest repellers spread throughout your home for full coverage. A good practice is to place them in troublesome areas like the kitchen, near drafty doors, and in moisture-laden rooms like bathrooms. By placing two or three repellers throughout the home, the range of each will likely overlap, providing adequate coverage for most pest problems.
Power Source
There are three main power sources for ultrasonic pest repellers: electric, solar, and battery power.
- Electric repellers work well in the home or garage. They are plugged into a standard 110V outlet so that you can cover a kitchen, garage, laundry room, and anywhere else you might have a pest issue.
- Solar pest repellers are ideal for driving pests from your yard. These repellers typically stake into the ground and soak up the sun’s rays with photovoltaic panels, converting them into stored energy.
- Battery-powered repellers are a great option for staying bug-free while fishing, hunting, or at an outdoor event. They use batteries to repel insects and rodents from camping gear and prevent annoying buzzing around your ears while reeling in the big one.
Longevity
Ultrasonic pest repellers provide long-term coverage compared with other types of repellents designed to deter pests. Poisons, baits, traps, sticky traps, and dusts need replenishing from time to time (as often as once per week for a serious issue). Although weekly maintenance can be expensive and frustrating, most of the top ultrasonic pest repellers last for 3 to 5 years. They create the ultrasonic signal that repels pests, so they’ll work as long as they have power.
Tech Features
Most yard repellers get their energy from the sun. To be effective at night, they need to conserve their power until a pest arrives. In order to save a bit of energy, many models use motion sensors to detect movement and then emit sound waves rather than continually emitting them throughout the night.
There are also models with lights. Some work like night-lights, while others work as deterrents. The deterrent lights flash when they detect a pest, scaring it away from the yard. In some cases, these flashing lights may even double as an added layer of home security, alerting you to backyard intruders or larger, more dangerous animals.
Our Top Picks
With an idea of how the best ultrasonic pest repellers work and what to look for in one, it’s time to start shopping. These recommendations—some of the best ultrasonic pest repellers on the market—will drive pests away from your home and yard using ultrasonic sound waves and other means to scare these pests away.
Photo: amazon.com
For those who prefer to use the sun as a renewable pest-repellent source, the RUNADI outdoor kit could be the answer. This solar-powered pest repellent emits an ultrasonic frequency every 30 seconds to keep moles and other pests from hanging out in the backyard.
The company says the sonic waves cover up to 7,000 square feet. This repellent is effective against many pests, including moles, voles, rodents, snakes, gophers, and bats. Its waterproof ABS plastic body is durable, and it has a 10-inch-long stake that spikes easily into the ground.
The only downside to this particular device is that the noise can bother cats and dogs, so shoppers with pets need to be aware. This 8-pack can cover plenty of ground to repel pests in your yard.
Product Specs
- Power Source: Solar
- Species: Moles, voles, rodents, snakes, gophers, and bats
- Coverage: Maximum of 7,000 square feet
- Quantity: 8 units
Pros
- Durable, waterproof body with 10-inch stake
- Effective against a wide range of pests
- Uses solar energy to recharge each day
Cons
- Can affect household pets while they’re in the yard
Photo: amazon.com
Anyone hoping to repel pests in their entire home without breaking the bank should give the Bell+Howell pest repeller kit some consideration. This affordable pest repeller system comes with six plug-in units so the user can distribute them throughout the house for maximum coverage.
The plug-in devices come in two different sizes: two units that fit corners and small countertops, and another four medium-sized units for open areas like living rooms and play rooms. They connect to standard outlets and emit varying ultrasonic frequencies to repel mice, rats, ants, spiders, cockroaches, and more pests.
By changing the frequencies, this kit prevents pests from getting used to one particular frequency. Each plug-in repeller features an LED power indicator for peace of mind. It might not be ideal for vacation homes or cabins, however, if there isn’t full-time electricity to the building.
Product Specs
- Power Source: Plug-in
- Species: Mice, rats, ants, spiders, cockroaches
- Coverage: Maximum of 120 square feet per unit (720 square feet in total)
- Quantity: 4 units
Pros
- Affordable indoor solution
- Includes two device sizes that fit into different home spaces
- Automatically adjusts to prevent pests from getting used to a particular frequency
- LED light indicates that the devices are on and working
Cons
- Not ideal for cabins or vacation homes without year-round electricity
Photo: amazon.com
Neatmaster’s Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Plug In might be the method of choice for keeping those creepy-crawly pests at bay. This plug-in unit uses a standard home outlet to provide up to 120 square meters (roughly 1,300 square feet) of pest-repelling coverage. It’s also compact enough to hang out in a suitcase for repelling pests in hotel rooms.
The Neatmaster has three modes, including green, blue, and red. Green is for mild infestations, blue is for medium-size infestations, and red is for large pest issues. Red is also the only mode that is audible to a human, and Neatmaster suggests this mode be used only when no humans are in the home.
Product Specs
- Power source: Plug-in
- Species: Primarily insects
- Coverage: 120 square meters
- Quantity: 1 unit
Pros
- Compact design
- Three levels of repellency
- Plenty of square-foot coverage
Cons
- Red mode is not suitable for humans
Photo: amazon.com
For tough infestations or anyone who doesn’t want to take any chances, check out the Loraffe Plug-in Ultrasonic 4-in-1 Pest Repeller. This corded plug-in model is large and has a ton of features to keep mice, rats, and other pests from setting up shop.
This model has a sensor that detects motion and activates one of the four modes: ultrasonic frequency, impulse waves, predator sounds, or strobe lights. It has three speakers and 12 high-intensity strobe lights to disorient rodents and send them packing.
Also, for those who might prefer not to hear the sounds of hawks or cats while they’re sleeping, this model has a volume adjustment for predator sounds. If there’s a downside, it’s that the Loraffe is large compared to other plug-ins, so it can’t travel easily.
Product Specs
- Power Source: Plug-in, corded
- Species: Rodents
- Coverage: 50-60 square feet
- Quantity: 1 unit
Pros
- Offers four methods of repelling rodents
LED lights strobe to disorient rodents
Has volume adjustment to tone down predator sounds
Cons
Large rooms require more than one device
Photo: amazon.com
Unless a home is open concept, there’s a good chance it will require a few ultrasonic pest repellers. For that reason, the Victor Pestchaser Rodent Repellent with Nightlight might be the right product to choose. This kit comes with six plug-in pest repellers, each of which has a built-in night-light for those late-night walks through the house.
These pest repellers are extremely compact, so they’re attractive enough for the home plus easy to pack in a suitcase for travel. And, since they emit ultrasonic frequencies that a human can’t hear, they should not disrupt sleep. The only issue is that these devices—like most ultrasonic devices—cannot penetrate furniture or other solid items, meaning users will have to get creative with where they plug them in.
Product Specs
- Power Source: Plug-in
- Species: Mice, rats, and other rodents
- Coverage: 400 square feet
- Quantity: 6 units
Pros
- Has a built-in night-light
Very compact, ideal for travel
Kit comes with coverage for several rooms
Cons
- Might require more than one in a room
Photo: amazon.com
Large rooms need a lot of power in a pest repellent, so striking the balance between repelling pests and being kind to household pets’ ears can be tough. But Victor’s Heavy-Duty PestChaser Pro Rodent Repeller can do it. This device is designed for large rooms but is also safe for cats and dogs. It varies in volume and frequency, ensuring pests don’t become immune to its ultrasonic waves.
This unit features a heavy-duty, industrial design that’s tough enough for warehouses, meaning a large kitchen, dining room, and living room combination won’t be an issue. It has three speakers built in, as well as an LED light to indicate that it’s on and functioning. While it’s effective in a large space, it’s much less portable than a compact plug-in repeller.
Product Specs
- Power Source: Plug-in
- Species: Rodents
- Coverage: Approximately 1,200 square feet
- Quantity: 1 unit
Pros
- Three speakers for plenty of coverage in large rooms
Varied volume and frequency so pests won’t become immune
Safe for household pets
Cons
- Not as portable as a compact model
Photo: amazon.com
Employ the Angveirt ultrasonic repeller to keep rodents out of a car, where they could chew on the wires inside. This unit uses three AA batteries to provide up to 45 days of coverage. It emits random blasts of ultrasonic sound waves as well as an LED strobe to scare rodents away before they can do damage.
The repeller works when your car is parked and shuts off to save battery life when it detects the engine’s vibrations. It protects from rats, mice, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and other small pests.
Not only will the Angveirt scare these critters away from your ride, but it’s also suitable for use in a boat, cabinet, attic, basement, closet, or anywhere else that needs to remain rodent-free. Keep in mind that this unit requires battery changes every 6 weeks or so, so users will have to pay attention so they don’t leave their car unprotected.
Product Specs
- Power Source: 3 AA batteries
- Species: Rats, mice, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and other small pests
- Coverage: 1 vehicle
- Quantity: 1 unit
Pros
- Automatically shuts off when the vehicle is running
- Emits sound waves and LED strobe lights
- 3 batteries provide 45 days of coverage
- Also suitable for boats, cabinets, attics, closets, and other spaces
Cons
- Requires battery replacement every 6 weeks
Our Verdict
If you want to pest-proof a large outdoor area without breaking the bank, check out the MOSTATTO RUNADI pick. This affordable 8-pack of solar devices provides up to 7,000 square feet of yard coverage. To keep rodents from coming indoors, consider the Bell+Howell, a set of 4 plug-in units capable of covering several average-sized rooms.
How We Chose the Best Ultrasonic Pest Repellers
It’s important that we suggest only the best ultrasonic pest repellers, so we put a lot of effort into assembling this list. We kept all of our most important considerations in mind, noting power sources, indoor and outdoor scenarios, as well as which pests each device is designed to deter.
Then, we used our own experience with ultrasonic pest repellers, coupled with lengthy product research, to develop our list of the best ultrasonic pest repellers. We also considered the different scenarios for which someone might be shopping and narrowed the products down into specific categories. The result of all the experience and research is this list.
FAQs
If you have some questions about the best ultrasonic pest repellers, don’t fret. Below is a collection of the most frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers about these pest control products. From how they work to their safety, you may find an answer to your question here.
Q: How do ultrasonic pest repellers work?
Ultrasonic repellers emit high-frequency sounds that annoy or confuse pests, causing them to turn around and flee the area.
Q: How do you use an ultrasonic pest repeller?
Simply connect an ultrasonic pest repeller to its power source and place in a room or outdoor space you suspect to have a pest issue. This involves plugging into an outlet if it’s corded, adding fresh batteries if it’s a battery-powered model, or situating in an area with plenty of sunlight if it runs on solar power. As long as it has power, it’ll work on its own.
Q: Can ultrasonic pest repellents hurt humans?
Some humans with extra-sensitive hearing may find these repellents annoying or even become nauseated with prolonged exposure.
Q: Do ultrasonic pest repellents bother dogs and cats?
Some do, yes—particularly models designed to repel cats and dogs. If you’ve got a repeller in your yard, your cat or dog may find it uncomfortable to be around.
Q: How long do ultrasonic pest repellents last?
The average lifespan for an ultrasonic pest repellent is 3 to 5 years. But as long as the LED indicator lights up, your repellent is working.
