Signs You Have Drain Flies During the day, you'll notice drain flies resting on the wall since they aren't good fliers. At night, when they are active, they will congregate towards light sources, like lampshades. They will also feed and breed at night, so you'll see them near food sources or breeding areas.
Drain flys look like a drawing of a fly in that their wings are bigger than their bodies. To test it out, hit one on a wall or light colored surface. If it leaves a black smudge that you can't easily wipe off with a dry piece of tissue or paper towel, its a drain fly.
If you're unsure which drain is the source, line a clear plastic cup with a very light coating of vegetable oil or petroleum jelly and invert over the suspected drain for several days. This will help catch emerging adults and identify breeding sites.
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.
As with most flies, the most noticeable sign of drain flies are the adults. They typically are seen resting on the walls in bathrooms or near the breeding materials.
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.
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.
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.
Pouring boiling water is quite risky as it might lead to a steam burn or scalding. Another thing to keep in mind is what type of material you are pouring in into. If you have a porcelain sink, it is likely to crack due to the heat. All in all, pouring boiling water down your drain will only cause issues down the road.
During the day, adults rest in shaded areas or on walls near plumbing fixtures and on the sides of showers and tubs. Most activity occurs during the evening when these flies are seen hovering about drains and sinks.
Most of the time, flies live in organic materials. Check for flies in places like the soil around houseplants or in your trash. They're also commonly found in bathrooms or in areas around or inside drains. You should also check for gaps along your house's foundation, windows, and doors.
One way is to set a trap — a bowl containing one part water, one part sugar, and one part white vinegar. Add five to eight drops of dish soap. Leave the bowl overnight, and adult drain flies should be attracted to it. Another method is to create a do-it-yourself spray containing equal parts warm water and dish soap.
The most glaring problem that drain flies may cause you is a health code violation. Drain flies are not known to cause diseases to humans, but they are known to trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions because of the dust and fragments from their bodies.
They may also breed in areas of sewer leaks and back-ups, dirty garbage cans, saucers under potted plants, clogged storm drains, and in condensate pans under refrigerators and air conditioners. Adult flies may live up to 2 weeks and total development time from egg to adult may take 7 to 28 days.
Drain flies are attracted to small amounts of stagnant water they find in plumbing pipes, sinks or other drainage areas. The flies feed on tiny amounts of bacteria, algae and sewage, so you can find them gathering around kitchen and outdoor sinks, shower and bathtub drains, basement sinks, sewers and septic tanks.
One possible sign of an undetected mold problem in your home or office could be the presence of Phorid flies, sewer flies or some other gnats or bugs.
Chemical cleaners can eat away at your pipes, and boiling water can melt important components. Over time, this damage can lead to leaks and expensive plumbing repairs.
Using a combination of baking soda and vinegar can effectively clean a drain, as it helps to break down grease, mineral deposits, and bacteria that may be causing clogs or unpleasant odors. This maintenance method is a natural and chemical-free alternative to commercial cleaning products.
PVC drain pipes are more susceptible to damage from boiling water compared to other plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene, and of course metallic pipe materials.
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.
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?
Vinegar and baking soda: Pour 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar down the drain.
Although often mistaken for a small version of the common house fly species, drain flies have a distinctive furry or moth-like appearance.
If possible, keep the drains covered when not in use. It's a simple and cheap solution to stop drain flies from getting inside the drain. Most importantly, keep your drains clean with and enzyme cleaner once a month to reduce grime build-up.
These flies lay their eggs in standing water or in the film that can develop on the inner surfaces of drains. Their larvae feed on the organic matter present in these locations, including decaying vegetation and trapped debris. Drain flies are primarily nocturnal and are most active during the evening.