How can I prevent woodworm?

Reducing high humidity levels and improving ventilation in your home is one of the best ways to ensure that a woodworm infestation can't take hold.

Woodworm is a serious problem for any property that has timber furniture and beams, but it doesn’t have to become a big issue if you can nip an infestation in the bud. Read on for our experts’ advice on how to prevent woodworm and stop it from reoccurring.

Find out if you have an active woodworm infestation

Woodworm beetles are most active in the summer. If you have holes you suspect are from woodworm, block holes during the winter with tape and you’ll be able to check if any beetles emerge in the spring. We offer further tips on how to diagnose a suspected woodworm problem here.

Test humidity levels

Buy a timber moisture meter to test the humidity of your timber rafters, furniture or flooring. High humidity and poor ventilation create the perfect conditions for woodworm, so keep your property well heated and ventilated to ensure that moisture levels stay low enough to prevent an issue. Make sure the room has access to plenty of fresh air and keep the air moisture content lower than 10% to prevent a woodworm infestation before it can take hold.

Remove any infected items

Remove all the furniture and non-structural timber that has been infected by woodworm. This will avoid the infestation spreading in any way, as the beetles still in the timber won’t be able to travel across your property to lay eggs elsewhere.

Bring in fly traps

Electric fly traps can help you kill adult woodworm beetles in the summer and prevent the spread of infestation to other areas of the property. This, combined with lowering the humidity can help to flush out an infestation, especially in the summer. You can find out more about how to treat woodworm here.

As experienced woodworm specialists we have helped numerous clients across Dorset and Hampshire resolve their problems with infestations. We are perfectly positioned to advise you on whatever the situation requires and use only suitable products when carrying out our service. Contact us to book a damp survey today on 01202 737739.