Drain Flies If you have tiny flies buzzing around, it can be a sign that the septic tank is full or there is a problem with the pipes. Drain flies, also known as sewer gnats, feed and lay eggs on decaying organic matter. So, an overfull septic tank provides a breeding ground for these little pests.
Sewer flies breed in drains, septic tanks, sewers and soil that has been contaminated with sewage. After a female moth or sewer fly lays her eggs in a moist, nutrient-rich environment. Sewer fly larvae are surprisingly resilient and have been known to survive dramatic shifts in temperature.
Drain flies thrive in stagnant and standing water. Common sources include slow or clogged drains, rarely used and unused toilets, refrigerator drain pans, and standing water created by leaking pipes. They typically enter buildings through basements, windows, and drains.
Mix together 1/2 cup of salt, 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar. Pour the mixture down the drain. Let sit overnight, then flush the drain with hot water in the morning. This should kill all flies and the organic material they've been feeding on.
Learn the Pest Biology
Knowing the life cycle helps you fight fly infestations. Life Cycle: Adult females lay 30–100 eggs in sludge around sewage and drainage areas. Eggs hatch in 32–48 hours, larval stage lasts 8–24 days, pupal stage 20–40 hours. Adults live about two weeks.
Toilets Flush Slowly
When your septic tank is excessively full, your toilet may start acting odd. You might find that your toilet doesn't fully flush or flushes very slowly and odd noises occur when you flush your toilet. These noises usually sound like gurgling or bubbling.
Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components should be inspected more often, generally once a year.
The average cost to pump a septic tank is about $395, but prices can vary widely, from $294 to $514. Several factors can influence the final price, including: Size of the tank: Larger tanks require more time and effort to pump, which can raise costs.
To ensure optimal performance of your septic system, it's generally recommended to schedule tank emptying every three to five years.
Take a cup of vinegar and a cup of water and mix them in a ratio of 1:1. After diluting the vinegar, pour it down the drain, and finally, use warm water to flush it down. However, in order to avoid harming the bacteria, make sure not to use vinegar excessively.
Identifying Signs of a Full Septic Tank
Here are some common signs to watch out for: Slow Drainage: If your sinks, showers, and toilets are draining more slowly than usual. Unpleasant Odors: Foul odors around your property, particularly near the drain field.
An ongoing or recurring infestation, despite careful sanitation of all drains, can indicate a broken pipe or leak under a slab or in a crawlspace beneath the home.
Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in your septic tank “eat” the solid waste, leaving behind wastewater. Because anaerobic bacteria don't need oxygen, they are most common in the septic tank, whereas aerobic bacteria are more common in the drain field.
In general, a septic tank should be inspected every 1 to 3 years and pumped every 3 to 5 years.
Your septic tank naturally contains good bacteria, and you won't really need to do much to put good bacteria in the septic tank. You can use additives like active yeast, rotten tomatoes, or store-bought septic enzymes or chemicals if you'd like, but typically, the system will produce beneficial bacteria on its own.
Spring: Spring is an excellent time for septic tank pumping. As the ground thaws and snow melts, accessing and servicing your system becomes easier. This season also prepares your septic tank for increased usage during the summer months.
An overloaded septic system can even lead to complete failure. When there's too much water in the septic tank, solid waste can't settle at the bottom. If solid waste can't get to the bottom of the tank, bacteria can't break it up. Unfortunately, if solid waste doesn't decompose, it can get through to the seepage field.
Septic system failure can contaminate groundwater and surface water and lead to costly repairs for the homeowner. Only human waste and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet.
Standing water or muddy ground could also be an indication that your drain field is clogged, which can cause water levels in your septic tank to rise. Sewage odors are coming from your drains, tank or leach field: Sewage odors are one of the first signs that your drain field might be failing.
Drain flies are most often the result of a clog in a drain or sewer line, it doesn't matter if it's buildup, a soft clog or a hard clog – it just needs to limit the flow of wastewater, causing it to become stagnant and a breeding ground for bacteria.
Boil a pot of water and pour it down the drain where you suspect the drain flies are breeding. Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain. Slowly pour a 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain. Cover the drain with a drain plug, and let it sit for at least 5 to 10 minutes.
The average cost for drain fly pest control services is $200. However, the price can range from as low as $100 to $500 in some cases, depending on the severity of the infestation and the size of the area that needs to be treated.