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Find immediate answers to commonly asked questions about ultrasonic rodent repellents, common mistakes, how they work and more. Is it safe for my pets? Find the rodent repellent answers you need.
A: Ultrasound is a frequency of sound too high to be heard by humans. Ultrasound is reflected by hard surfaces and absorbed by soft surfaces. The Victor® PestChaser® sweeps a frequency of 32-62 kHz. Rodents find this sound irritating and will avoid it if possible. The non-repetitive frequency levels cause additional discomfort and do not allow the rodent to become habituated to the sound.
For additional effectiveness, the loudest spike in sound replicates the sound of a dominant male rodent. Rodents are very territorial and will constantly fight to establish dominance. The sound of a dominant rodent will discourage others from inhabiting a territory.
It is important to note that ultrasonic frequencies do not travel between walls. So for the most effective rodent control, ultrasonic units need to be placed in multiple rooms.
A: Ultrasound can repel rodents by subjecting them to intense auditory stress. This method is a classic animal behavior modification technique.
Unlike traps and poisons, ultrasound does not kill rodents. The PestChaser® has the ability to provide long-term reductions in rodent populations by creating a "rodent-unfriendly" environment that discourages rodent infestations.
Q: What are the most common mistakes people made with repellents?
A:Ultrasound Alone to Control Infestation: The most common repellent mistake is using ultrasound units alone to control an established infestation. Simply plugging in a PestChaser® will not send rodents running for the door and out into cold winter temperatures if there is still sufficient food & shelter in your home or shed. It is important to also incorporate sanitation and exclusion techniques. Additionally, traps and baits should be used in conjunction with Ultrasonic devices.
Not Enough Units are Used: Ultrasound does not travel through walls so it is important to place 1 in each room.
Poor Placement: Ultrasound is reflected by hard surfaces and absorbed by soft surfaces. Placement behind a couch will not allow waves to bounce around freely, causing a hostile sound environment.
A: The PestChaser® sweeps a frequency of 32-62 kHz, well above the range of hearing for humans and non-rodent pets like cats, dogs, birds, and fish. If you have rodent pets such as a hamster or guinea pig, move it to a room without a PestChaser® unit.
A: The sound generated by each repellent unit can cover an average size room up to 400 sq. ft. While these high frequencies are called sound, ultrasonic waves act more like light than like sound. Imagining the speaker is a floodlight; you can visualize how ultrasound travels. It will radiate outward in a cone shape, throwing “shadows” behind solid objects such as furniture, and casting little “illumination” into other rooms.
Coverage of multiple rooms requires the use of multiple units.
A: First, identify a room that has signs of rodent activity. Rodents are nocturnal creatures, which mean they rarely surface during the daytime. Look for the signs of an infestation: chewing or gnaw marks, droppings, tracks and nests. Next, plug the unit into an outlet which is open to the rest of the room, not behind furniture where the sound waves may be blocked.
Ultrasound is reflected by hard surfaces and absorbed by soft surfaces. In a room with mostly hard surfaces, like a kitchen, ultrasound will “bounce” around giving more effective coverage.
The ideal placement would be one that allows the sound waves to cross in front of an entrance way.
A: Constant pulsing at 68 to 80 times per second in a non-repetitive wave pattern, with three design spike points, provides a highly complex sound pattern that prevents rodents from acclimating to their environment.
A: Allow 2 weeks for ultrasonic sound waves to affect pests with an established food source. For established infestations, it is necessary for you to also use baits and traps to reduce the population.
A: Some insect species can produce or perceive sound in ultrasonic frequencies and are affected by high-frequency sound. That is not to say that it can effectively repel them or control them.
There has been little true scientific research to determine if ultrasonic sound generators could produce effective insect control results. You may find that some insects seem to respond to ultrasound while others are oblivious to it. The PestChaser® should not be used for insect pest control.
We believe that it is improper for any company to make specific insect claims unless backed by validated scientific studies.
Q: What about "electromagnetic" pest repellers that claim to repel pests behind walls?
A: These devices claim to somehow alter the electromagnetic output of common house wiring to turn your whole house into a giant pest repeller and drive all species of pests out of the walls of your home.
In fact, there is scant credible scientific research to suggest that electromagnetic fields have any repellent affect whatsoever on any living creature, much less specific pest species (mice, insects, etc.).
The EPA and U.S. Postal Service took action to remove all "electromagnetic" (not ultrasonic) pest control devices from the market in 1980 when a flood of them entered the market. Additionally, Health Canada has banned the sale of electromagnetic pest repellers in Canada. And finally, there are serious questions as to the advisability of increasing one's exposure to electromagnetic energy.
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may find that some insects seem to respond to ultrasound while others are oblivious to it. The PestChaser® should not be used for insect pest control.
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