Electronic Pest Control

Insects and rodents in your home and garden can become a pesky nuisance that drives you crazy. There is an infinite supply of things to combat these creatures, but many of them are toxic and harmful to people also. Chemical pesticides and poisons are just as dangerous to people and pets as they are to the pests, so they should be used sparingly if at all. Electronic pest control devices are designed to fight the pest problem without doing damage to you, your family, your pets or the environment.

There are hundreds of different types of electronic pest control devices covering a broad spectrum of uses. No matter what kind of pest is wreaking havoc on your property, there is sure to be an electronic pest control device that claims to be the answer. Extensive testing on these devices is a bit lacking, so the efficacy of each one cannot be guaranteed. Still, anecdotal evidence makes many of them worth a try.

There are two main types of electronic pest control–ultrasonic and electromagnetic. Ultrasonic pest control devices produce high pitched sounds that are outside of the range the human ear can detect to repel pests. These are most commonly designed for rodent, bat and other animal infestations. They operate on the principle the animals are frightened and distressed by high pitch noises and will avoid the areas where it is emitted. Some of these devices use variable pulse generators that modulate the sound so animals cannot get used to it.

Electromagnetic pest control devices use electromagnetic fields to create a barrier around your home. The wiring of your home is employed to send out a signal that disrupts the nervous system of pests and makes them annoyed and confused. The theory is that pests will then want to leave your home and find a more comfortable environment. These devices are imperceptible to humans and pets unless your pet is a rodent.

There are other electronic pest control devices that fall into neither the ultrasonic nor the electromagnetic category. Sonic devices, for instance, use noises that are audible to humans to control pests. One common application of these devices is to evict underground pests like moles and gophers. Moles and gophers can turn your garden upside down, but it is hard to catch them. If you bury a sonic pest control device in the ground, the high decibel noise will send them packing. Ultraviolet bug zappers are another type of electronic pest control device. They attract flying insects with their glowing ultraviolet light and then trap them inside and zap them. Some electronic pest control devices utilize ionic technology to kill dust mites and bacteria that are sensitive to negative ions. The same negative ions actually improve air quality. You can find some devices that employ multiple forms of electronic pest control for several levels of protection.

While there is promising technology behind electronic pest control devices, they are still largely untested and somewhat controversial. Some people will swear by their efficacy and others will swear against it. One common complaint is that the device will work temporarily, but then the pest will return when it has become accustomed to it. The claims of companies that sell these devices are not validated by the government, so caution is indicated when you make a purchase. It’s a good idea to do some research on a particular product and see what kind of reviews consumers give it before you buy. If a product has a money back guarantee, that’s an added bonus. Some of these devices are quite expensive and it would be a shame to throw good money after bad.

Ultrasonic and electromagnetic pest control devices may cause distress in your pets particularly if you happen to have some rodents as pets. If you do have a pet in your home, you might want to reconsider getting and ultrasonic pest control device. It has been reported that they can cause hearing damage in household pets. Likewise, if you have neighbors close by, this could cause a problem. Ultrasonic devices, though inaudible to humans, can also interfere with other electronic devices like telephones burglar alarm and hearing aids, so use them with caution.

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