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( votes)Bell Howell Rids a Gamut of Pests
Bell and Howell is quite the famous and well-established brand. They manufacture a multitude of products from cameras to sunlamps. Recently, they ventured into manufacturing ultrasonic pest repellers and they are obviously great at it! One of their bestsellers (actually #1 in Amazon) is the Bell Howell Ultrasonic Pest Repeller 4 Pack. A fast and effective ultrasonic pest repelling solution against mice, roaches, spiders, ants, and even gnats, this device is mostly used in terrariums but also functions well in small to medium-sized homes and offices. And because it caters to an unusually large scope of pests, you don’t need to buy a lot of repellers in case you have multiple infestations.
General Thoughts on the Bell Howell Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
The thing we love about this Bell and Howell product is that it is a safe and humane alternative to chemicals and traps, much like other ultrasonic pest repellers. This means that you can use it even if children and pets are around. With this handy pest repellent, you minimize (if not completely remove) contact with pests that are potentially carriers of deadly diseases. It also removes the hassle of disposing dead animals that is a consequence of using traps – the pests throw themselves out!
When you use these units you should realize that they need to be in an open space to work. Hard surfaces deflect ultrasonic waves so plugging this device behind couches, counters, or secluded corners will greatly diminish its effectiveness. Plug it in an area where it is not obstructed. Also, do not get this if you have hamsters, gerbils, chinchilla, or anything that is a rodent-like pet because they can hear ultrasonic sound. After all, you don’t want to terrorize your own pets.
What we noticed with the Bell Howell Ultrasonic Pest Repeller (or any other ultrasonic repellent) is that its full effect takes time. Pests are adaptive and resilient creatures so it may take a while before they give up their nests. Many reports states that an average of 2-4 weeks is needed in order to completely flush out the pests. Remember though, that you did not get an infestation overnight; completely getting rid of it will not happen overnight either.
Handy and Flexible Pest Repellers
This gadget has dimension of 26 x 19 x 16 inches and weighs a hefty 8 pounds. Individually though, each unit only weighs less than a measly 2 pounds. According to our experience, Bell and Howell’s pest repeller is effective against mice, rats, ants, roaches, and spiders. Given its handy size, this is ideal for home and office use. However, this device is mostly used to keep pests away from terrariums.
The good thing about buying this device is that one unit is enough to cover a small or medium-sized room. This means just one whole package of this pest repeller can already cover 4 rooms! It’s very easy to use too – just plug it in and it’s good to go. And with a price of just $25.99 (prices may vary), this one’s definitely worth every penny.
Like all the products we review, the 4-Pack, gets rid of pests by emitting high-frequency or ultrasonic sound, ranging from 20,000 Hertz and beyond. Such high-frequency sound is inaudible to the human ear which makes this pest repellent convenient to use. Pests, however, have extremely acute senses and the ultrasonic sound the emitted from this bad boy drives them away. If you want more information regarding this bestseller, click here to view more reviews, ratings, and pricing.
Bell Howell Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Variations
Bell and Howell’s creativity gave rise to repellers that don’t take up outlet spaces. This company manufactured the Bell Howell Ultrasonic Pest Repellers with Extra Outlet – 3 Pack, a variation of the original ultrasonic pest repeller. It functions exactly just like the original repeller but with the addition of an extra outlet on the side. If the 3-pack is one unit too many, they also have the exact same model in 2-packs. You can also look at the whole list here.
A Good Pest Repelling Investment
Based on the number of positive reviews and our review, its cost-effectiveness, and the multitude of pest species it repels, the Bell Howell Ultrasonic Pest Repeller 4-Pack is one of the best (if not the best) pest control devices in the market.
Check out our Pest Repelling FAQ for more information.
Why does this product need to be replaced after one year? Do other’s last longer?
Hi there. The product’s working life usually lasts one year. Other products may last longer, but 1 year is more or less the average lifespan of these devices.
Does the LED blink off and on or is it supposed to stay illuminated?
Hey Lisa, please see the comment above for more info. Meg did some awesome research!
After purchasing this product everyone in my household started getting severe headaches! We unplugged them and threw them out and WOW the headaches stopped instantly! I do not recommend this product to anyone!
So sorry to hear that Maranda. That sounds like an extreme exception and I hope you’ve outreached to the manufacturer.
Some people are highly sensitive and while they can’t hear the frequency it can give headaches but this is very rare. For everyone in your home to experience it, I wonder if it wasn’t a defective product.
I’m curious, can you share how long it took for you to experience these symptoms and perhaps the specific settings you had engaged?
Thanks!
Hey Miranda your family must have super hearing, because my fiance, I, and our pets our fine. However our year long roach problem dissapeared without a trace, It’s been a year and i haven’t went from 3-4 sightings a week, to 0 sightings in a year. great product if your not too sensitive.
Will Bell and Howell pest repellant harm our cat
Thanks Vera. I believe the Bell Howell products are pet safe so I’d go forward with it if it were me. I’d simply monitor your cat’s behavior over the next couple days to see if there’s any affect.
Thanks
whick device will work for pigeons on a small urban deck?
Hey Terri, I just recently received a similar question and just posted that response. I’ll paste in the key points below. I’ll also look at creating an article on this topic as it’s a popular question.
Thanks!
Now, with that in mind, let’s think about our options for getting rid of these nasty pigeons.
I like the Yard Gard which we review here – https://pestrepellercenter.com/reviews/review-of-yard-gard-ultrasonic-bird-repeller/
A personal favorite is the Gardeneer Solar Powered Owl Scarecrow. It’s a physical product that should deliver immediate results. We have a review of this product coming out soon and I share a personal story about my dad using a similar tactic to get rid of some pesky birds at his office when I as younger.
Bird Spikes or the Tanglefoot are known to run off birds as well.
https://pestrepellercenter.com/reviews/tanglefoot-bird-repellent-review/
I have finished basement area of approximately 650 square feet. That part has a dropped ceiling that has about 1.5 feet clearance above it. I purchased a package of 6 Bell and Howell repellers, but I already have 6. Must they be pointed or directed in a certain way in the dropped area to be effective? Can I simply lay them up there facing up? This is where the annual mouse problem occurs every fall when the cold weather comes. I was thinking of gang wiring up 3 or 4 on a switch so after winter I could turn them off. Would this extend their life?
Hey John thanks for the question.
I like your ideas of putting them in the ceiling and also gang wiring them so you can turn them off in the summer. I would expect that to increase their life span but I’d recommend you check them each fall once you’ve activated them to ensure they are still operational. I have no reason to think they wouldn’t be, but I’d just want to be sure.
Generally speaking I’d want to place the units facing in the direction that you want to protect. That’s not 100% required but the sound will travel better in the direction to which the device is facing.
Let us know how that works out. I’m sure there are others with similar issues and ideas.
Thanks!
Well color me stupid! I didn’t go to the Bell and Howell product and then scroll for your review and answer. Thanks again for the advice!!
Hey John, don’t mention it. You’re searching for information and putting out in as many places as possible. I’m just glad we made your list twice!
Good luck with your project.
Question is it safe for birds we have a pet african grey parrat ?
Hey Emily. The frequency for products, even those by the same manufacturer, can vary by products so you’ll need to check out the frequency range for each product. On our FAQ we offer hearing ranges for common pets but here’s a resource more specific to birds.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1076&context=icwdm_usdanwrc
I hope that helps.
Dave
Are the Bell and Howell Pest Repellers safe for a Quaker Parrot?
Hey Amy, we just received a similar question and here’s how we addressed that. Let me know if this helps.
Thanks,
Dave
The frequency for products, even those by the same manufacturer, can vary by products so you’ll need to check out the frequency range for each product. On our FAQ we offer hearing ranges for common pets but here’s a resource more specific to birds.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1076&context=icwdm_usdanwrc
can the bell and howell be plugged in to a extension cord, for we have no outlet in our bathroom, and thats where we have our worst roach problem. I saw in one review where someone did use an extension cord and it seemed to work, but in the instructions that came with the product, it says not to use an extension cord. I was wondering if you might have an opinion on the subject matter? thank you and have a good day!
Hey Shelly, thanks for your question. I personally think you’re better off anytime you can plug anything directly into your wall outlet. It’s a more reliable power source and it was, presumably, installed up to code and subject to inspection. Meanwhile, extension cords are of varying styles and standards. Further, some ultrasonic repellers promote themselves as being able to redirect their signal into your walls to help compete pests. This functionality would be lost if you use a cord.
Now, I say all of that to help set context as to why the manufacturer would prefer you to use a wall outlet. I agree with their logic and I’m sure you do too, but you just have a room with no available outlet and still have a need to address.
If you have an outlet very near the bathroom, I think I might give that a try. But, at the end of the day, if you want to use a quality extension cord, I can’t imagine that would be a big deal.
Good luck and drop back my to let us know how that goes. I’m sure many others have the same question.
Thanks.
Dave
Hi. I’m interested in deterring large American cockroaches… and to a lesser extent, Argentine ants. I have a young dog whose hearing is excellent. I’m an electronics engineer and I like to read specifications.
I cannot find the specified frequency output… let alone decibel level… for this gadget. Can anyone direct me? I only found fuzzy marketing ploys, and testimonies of pet owners whose pets seem oblivious to the gadget.
Not good enough for me! Without specs, that is.
Thanks,
John
Love the detailed approach… that level of spec is going to have to come from the manufacturer. Try reaching out to Bell Howell directly.
Good luck.
Our dog is on a petsafe wireless fence that has the shocking collar. Will the frequency of the Bell & howell Repeller interfere with that signal? I am interested in purchasing the pest product but would like to be assured that these should not interfere. Thanks for your help!
I would think that these systems would not interfere with one another but I’m not sure exactly how the pet fences are designed to work. I might check with your installer to get their advice, but overall, I think you’ll be ok.
I have a rabbit will the ultrasonic pest repellers harm my rabbit
It’s going to depend upon when one you select. They each operate on different frequencies to target specific pests. Check the product and then check out our FAQ which offers a table of common pest hearing ranges.
One thing to keep in mind is that you may not be able to trust the ‘pet safe’ scoring on some products due to the nature of your pet. Some folks want to repell rabbits and you have one as a pet. That makes your search a little more nuanced, but still possible.
Let us know what you select and how it works. I’m sure other rabbit owners will be interested.
Thanks
What about bed bugs?
I don’t believe the Bell Hoowell is rated for bed bugs. Those are harder pests to tackle and we’re working to develop a robust guide to help address these critters.
If I have an ultrasonic that’s helpful in removing other pests – like the Bell Howell, or Pest Offense, or Hoont, and others… I’d certainly try it against bed bugs but with the knowledge that most of these are not rated for bed bugs.