Expertise
The first step in IPM is developing and applying broad pest expertise. IPM experts study virtually every classification of insect, reptile, bird, or beast that could make trouble in your home. They know where they come from, how they get in, what they want, and of course, how to get rid of them. On the job, an IPM professional identifies which pests you have, how many you have, and where they’re coming from. Then, they get to know the environment. What makes your home a target? What can they do about it? Once they have the scoop, the IPM pro makes a plan based around your problem, not just a problem. No two pest problems are the same, so it doesn’t make sense to treat them all the same way. A personalized plan always works better than brute force, no matter how heavy-duty things get.
Exclusion
IPM has a central theme: common sense. For instance, It doesn’t make much sense to get pests out of your home if you leave their way in open for business, does it? They’ll just wander back in at their convenience! That’s why IPM pest control focuses on keeping pests out of your home, rather than just removing the ones that are already inside. During an IPM inspection, the technician identifies the ways your pest snuck in and closes them off. Whether that mean sealing cracks, making maintenance suggestions, or patching holes, they make sure your pests stay out once they’re gone. Think of it as treating the cause, rather than just the symptoms. Technicians may also use various non-toxic chemical or mechanical repellents at this stage. Like other elements of IPM, these repellents are proven effective against your specific pest, so you know they’ll work.
Efficient Tool Use
When they know where to hit your pests and what to hit them with, the IPM pro can make a greater impact with less firepower. By sealing up the ways in, they isolate and limit the problem to something finite and solvable. By identifying what they’re dealing with, the pro learns which tools will be the most effective. Then, they can apply various mechanical, biological, chemical, and environmental controls to at-risk areas. Depending on the problem, they might use traps, monitors, repellents, netting, or a whole host of other tools to remove pests from where they’re not wanted. By controlling the scope of the problem before they act against it, our intrepid IPM hero can keep the heavy-duty stuff away from you and your pets. When they use professional products, they’ll let you know exactly where and when. Techniques like these also allow your technician to react to changing circumstances as they arise, so they know what to do no matter what happens.
