One instance is where we have items that cannot be, or the customer doesn’t want them to be, treated with insecticides. Another common application for this green, non-chemical woodworm treatment is when there is excessive and deep damp that needs dealing with as well as a woodworm infestation.

All wood boring beetles require a level of moisture in the wood. But with some, like the Death Watch Beetle, damp is a pre-requisite as they feed on the fungal growth on and in the damp wood. In this situation, insecticide alone will not work, because it not dealing with the root cause.

In terms of how does heat treatment for woodworm work, the areas to be heated are sealed and insulated, and the air brought gradually up to temperature. It is then held at that temperature and circulated over several hours, so that the heat penetrates all nooks and crannies and into the wood itself.

Heat treating large spaces for wood boring beetle infestations is a highly specialised area. The key with woodworm heat treatment is to heat over a prolonged period so that the larvae, insects and eggs are killed inside the wood.

• Dries out damp wood as well as killing the woodworm eggs, larvae and beetles.
•  Specialist approach that takes many hours and requires a survey.