![]() Wondering about those moth-like flies hanging around your drains? Drain flies may be common, but they’re also easy to get rid of if you get ahead of the game. Home drains are a prime spot for stagnant water or bacteria to accumulate, especially if the sink or drain sits unused. If you’ve suddenly noticed an abundance of very small, moth-like creatures hanging around your sinks, showers, or bathtub, you may have drain flies. These very common pests can reproduce in just 48 hours, making it easy to find yourself with an infestation in little time. Unlike some other pest infestations, understanding how to get rid of drain flies can be quick and simple. With a little diligence, you can stop them in their tracks with basic products or pantry items around the house and create a plan to stop them in the future. In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions about how to get rid of drain flies and who to call if you need the guidance of a professional pest control company. Our top recommendation for your pest control needs is Terminix, a company with PhD-level entomologists and over 90 years of experience in the industry. But, to make sure you get the best plan for your home, you should also check out top pest control company Orkin. Get a quote from both top-rated companies: What Are Drain Flies?Drain flies commonly go by a few nicknames such as moth flies or sink flies. They are about the same size as gnats and fruit flies—between 2mm and 5mm—but can be distinguished by their small, moth-like wings and round, fuzzy bodies. Drain flies also differ in color compared to other small house flies, typically ranging between pale gray to black. While they may look like moths, these little creatures cannot fly very far. You’ll notice that they make large hops from place to place instead of buzzing around your home like other pests. Drain flies have a lifespan of between eight and 24 days but can lay and hatch up to 300 eggs in just 48 hours, so it’s important to get ahead of the problem before they have a chance to spread through your pipes. Where Do Drain Flies Come From?Drain flies enjoy stagnant water that collects even small amounts of bacteria and sewage, so they are often found congregating around:
One common denominator among all of these places is low, stagnant water. Drain flies can lay eggs in the film that forms on the inside of pipes and drains when water pools and collects sewage. For this reason, drain flies may also be attracted to:
What Do Drain Flies Eat?Drain flies primarily live on organic material found in standing water, which often includes sewage or other contaminated water, typically when it causes a film to build up in a humid area of pipes with standing water. Because of this, your drains are an ideal place for drain flies to thrive and reproduce. They can also find food and sewage near a collection of garbage, animal waste, or compost. Are Drain Flies Harmful?In short, no, drain flies are not harmful to humans. Though drain flies consume and live in sewage and bacteria, they are not disease-carrying insects, but In great masses, they can carry the bacteria with them. Overall, they cause no proven harm to your health, even if they are a serious nuisance in your home. As we noted before, drain flies can also reproduce quickly, spreading nests throughout your pipes that can be costly to clear out if left unchecked. How Can You Tell If You Have Drain Flies?If you’ve started to spot these tiny moth-like flies around your home, you may not immediately realize you have an infestation growing in your pipes. There are a few sure ways to check if more drain flies are living and breeding in your pipes. Duct Tape TestPlace a piece of duct tape on top of your drain and seal it off overnight. Drain flies will eventually try to come up to the surface but will get stuck to the tape on the way out. Not only does this take care of some of the flies in your drain, but it can give you an indication of how the infestation has grown. Repeat several nights in a row to fully assess the issue. Check for LarvaeDrain flies frequently lay eggs in the organic material that builds up right at the opening of your drain. Remove the drain cover, scrape some of the slime off the sides, and look for thin, tube-like, drain-fly larvae. If you don’t spot any here but are certain you have an infestation, this could be a sign that the eggs are being laid deeper within your pipes. How to Get Rid of Drain FliesDepending on the degree of your drain fly infestation, you can take a natural or chemical route to get rid of the pests. In many instances, it is possible to quickly get rid of drain flies with common items found in your kitchen or under the sink. Natural Ways to Get Rid of Drain FliesIn some cases, simply flushing out your drains can remove both the drain fly larvae and remove any temptation for drain flies to return. Use these methods both as preventative and management tactics for managing your infestation. Boiling WaterThe simplest method to clear out your drain fly issue is to pour boiling water carefully down your drain 1-2 times a day for about a week. This will ensure that the flies do not return overnight if the water did not catch all of the organic material built up inside. Baking Soda + Salt + VinegarCombine this go-to mixture of pantry items to create a natural cleaning solution and pour it down your drain overnight. The baking soda expands with the vinegar, reaching more areas than the boiling water. After letting the solution sit until the morning, flush out the pipe with boiling water. Soap + Water + Sugar + VinegarAdd a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of water, sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Leave the bowl out for a few days close to the drain to attract the drain flies to the sweet solution. The thickness of the added soap will trap the flies in the water. Apple Cider Vinegar + Plastic WrapCreate another common DIY fly trap by covering a bowl, jar, or mug with plastic wrap. Fill the bottom of the container with an inch of apple cider vinegar. Punch small holes in the top of the plastic in order to allow the flies in but not allow them to get out. Drain + Duct TapeUse our detection method mentioned above to also eradicate some of your drain fly issues. Seal off your drain with duct tape overnight for several nights in a row to catch the flies that try to get to the surface. How to Get Rid of Drain Flies with ChemicalsSince drain flies often live in or around your pipes, common cleaners and substances for clearing drains can also get rid of drain flies. When you do use chemical cleaners, always read the instructions, and do not mix them with other chemical or natural cleaning products. Traditional Drain CleanerAfter flushing your drain with warm water and giving it a pass with a metal pipe brush, you can clean out the remaining residue with products like Drano and Bio-Clean. Be sure to check if it is safe to use these products more than once if necessary and whether they can be used in drains outside of the bathroom. Chemical Sprays and RepellentsMany common pest control killers, typically for fruit flies or gnats, can also be used to kill drain flies when the pests are listed on their labels. Since many of these contain caustic chemicals, check if you should keep them out of the kitchen area and be extra careful about damage to your drains.
How to Prevent Drain FliesDrain flies look for pools of sitting water containing sewage and other organic material. Preventing drain fly infestations requires clean pipes that are frequently flushed out either with water, or in more extreme cases, cleaning solutions on a regular basis. If you have a drain that frequently goes days or weeks without use, close it up with a stopper so that drain flies cannot find a home there in the meantime. Outside of your drains, keep an eye out for standing water in other areas in and around your home. Never leave dirty mops in buckets of water and be sure you have a healthy septic system. Always keep an eye out for early signs of an infestation, even if you just see a few drain flies out of the blue. Taking precautionary steps to check and treat a possible problem is essential. Top Recommended Providers for Drain Fly ControlSeasoned professionals can eliminate drain flies quickly and efficiently using proven methods. We’ve reviewed the nation’s top pest control providers. Here are our favorites for drain fly control based on experience, price, and customer reviews. TerminixThe Terminix team offers extensive pest control services in all states except for Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Terminix provides different tiers of plans depending on your needs. This pest control provider has outstanding customer service, flexible prices, and decades of experience. OrkinOrkin has been remediating pest control issues for homeowners across the country for more than a century, available in all states except for Alaska, Wyoming, and South Dakota. The company practices Integrated Pest Management and has excellent reviews. Frequently Asked QuestionsDealing with persistent drain fly issues and not sure where to start? Here is a recap of all you need to know about stopping the problem before it gets out of hand. What causes drain flies?Stagnant pools of water, particularly in pipes and other drainage areas, attract drain flies. These small, gnat-like insects feed on and breed in sewage. Organic material can build up along the side of drains quickly, welcoming drain flies to eat and reproduce. How long does it take to get rid of drain flies?Most drain fly infestations can be managed in under a week with persistent treatment. If you have a large issue throughout your pipes, you may need to consult a pest control professional to get to the root of the larger issue. Will Drano kill drain flies?In most cases, Drano will kill drain flies, especially if it is a Drano variety that expands within the pipes. For long-term treatment, however, you will also need to take precautionary steps to keep the drain flies from returning. Will drain flies go away on their own?If you allow the standing water in your pipes or property to go unchecked, drain flies will rarely go away on their own. Warm homes even allow drain flies to live throughout the winter. Be sure to take preventative measures after flushing out your system to keep drain flies in check. However, if these DIY efforts keep the flies coming back, we recommend speaking with a specialist to make sure you are treating the whole issue.
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