If you experience difficulty ridding your home of adult sewer flies, contact your local pest control professional.
Drain fly extermination services usually cost between $100 and $300. However, the price may vary depending on the exterminator's rates. Some exterminators charge by the hour, while others charge a flat rate or a per-treatment fee.
When To Call In The Professionals. If you have a large number of flies, it may be difficult to get on top of the problem using DIY methods alone. While using enzymatic cleaners and homemade traps can mitigate the problem temporarily, tackling a large clog or infestation is best done by a professional plumber.
Apple cider vinegar with a drop of dish soap: leave in a shallow plate or bowl (I used a tiny fish bowl from thrift store) near drains to catch those flying around. They will fly in and drown. Replace every day or every other day as needed.
The goal is to eliminate their breeding site. The most effective method for doing this is to call a plumber and have them mechanically clean the pipes of the slime and organic material that tends to collect in the pipes and drains.
Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage drain flies and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique fly treatment program for your situation.
The simple answer is yes but with a caveat. While bleach can kill drain flies and their larvae on contact, it's not the most effective method for long-term control. Bleach's caustic nature allows it to clean the drain pipes and kill some of the larvae.
Peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils are especially beneficial. Pour a few drops of the chosen oil with water down the toilet. The oils' pungent aroma repels drain flies and disturbs their breeding cycle. To keep the solution effective, reapply it every few days.
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.
The most modern way to get rid of drain flies is to remove the film inside pipes with enzyme cleaners. Foaming enzymes applied by pest control professionals break down the film coating that drain flies are eating and may also target drain fly eggs; thus helping to prevent future breeding.
If your drain fly issue persists, consider using commercial drain cleaners such as Drano. These solutions are formulated to clear out the drains and pipes effectively, removing any debris that might serve as a breeding spot for drain flies. Using these products can aid in preventing new eggs from hatching.
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.
Clean suspected drains with a commercial drain cleaner, and scrub the drain pipe vigorously with a long-handled brush. After their breeding sites have been eliminated, the reproductive cycle is disturbed. If you experience difficulty ridding your home of adult sewer flies, contact your local pest control professional.
An effective fly control program begins with sanitation and exclusion management. After sanitation and exclusion, we carry a wide assortment of insecticides in residual forms, aerosols, fogging materials, and baiting forms. Fly Lights with distinctive UV spectrums attract flies and traps them.
Several plumbing problems create ideal conditions for drain fly breeding: Slow-draining pipes that allow organic material to accumulate. Hidden leaks creating moisture in walls or under floors.
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.
A cup of household bleach is generally more than sufficient to kill most drain flies, and all you need to do is pour it down the affected drain. The chemical is strong enough to kill the larvae, and the rest of the adult flies should die off within a few hours to a day or so.
Create a fly and wasp repellent.
This DIY pest repellant should be a staple in the Southern home. Pour equal parts water and Pine-Sol in a spray bottle to spritz on outdoor furniture, the deck, and indoor areas where flies are most likely to flock, such as kitchen countertops.
Drain flies are most often the result of a drain or sewer clog, one that limits the flow of wastewater. Unused toilets, refrigerator drains and leaking pipes can also cause them. As we previously mentioned, these insects thrive in stagnant water. What's more stagnant than a backed up drain?
Pour Vinegar and Baking Soda Down the Drain
This will clear out the buildup in your drains, eliminating drain fly habitats.
Combing, boiling water, vinegar and baking soda will kill drain flies, but will also help remove all the flies breeding ground which includes hair, grime and grease. It will create a chemical reaction and an clear the blockages caused by organic matter in the drainpipe.
Drain flies thrive in environments where organic material accumulates, such as: Clogged or Dirty Drains: Organic debris that builds up in your plumbing provides an ideal breeding ground for drain flies. Regular cleaning of your drains and routine pest control treatment helps prevent these pests from taking hold.