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.
Floor drains often collect standing water in their drain traps, and the stagnant water and sludge in these traps are prime areas for drain flies to lay eggs. Clean floor drains with a stiff brush and hot water, then rinse with a baking soda and vinegar mixture (see above).
The adult flies don't move far from the site they infest, which is usually a drain. They are most often infesting the pipes leading away from floor drains, especially those drains that get a lot of organic material.
Drain flies breed in areas that are moist and have a lot of organic remains, including: Sinks. Tubs. Under the washing machine.
They are attracted to rotting food, feces, human hair, and moisture. You can also find them in humid, warm, and poorly ventilated areas. Drain flies are attracted to dirty drains, standing water, and slow-moving or clogged drains.
The 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.
Boil a medium-size pot of water once or twice per week, and pour down and around the drain. Another easy option uses baking soda: Combine 1/2 cup salt with 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar, and pour down the drain. Leave overnight, and finish by pouring boiling water down the drain in the morning.
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.
One common remedy for killing drain flies is using household bleach. This is a very useful and cost-effective manner for getting rid of these little pests with an item you already have around the house.
This is the simplest method for killing drain flies and clearing out your pipes. Boil a medium-sized pot of water 1-2 times per day for a week and carefully pour the water down and around your drain. The repetition will ensure the flies don't return if your first pour didn't remove all of the organic buildup inside.
For effective drain fly treatment, use three products: Forid Drain Gel Cleaner, Gentrol IGR Aerosol, and Pyrid. Forid is an organic microbial grease degrader that breaks down organic material and waste, which will eliminate their food sources and their breeding grounds.
In many of the hotter regions of the world a fly can actually lay her eggs on damp clothing which has been laid out to dry. This usually happens when the clothes are drying in shaded areas and not so often if they are left in the direct sunlight.
Check under sinks in the kitchen and bathroom, especially around garbage. Consider investing in dehumidifiers for particularly humid areas of your home. Clean up and prevent any other sources of excess moisture, too. No matter how small it may seem, flies can and will use it.
These pests are a nuisance because they infest in large numbers. Once inside, drain flies may plug pipes and spread bacteria from the filth they live in, possibly contaminating food in the process. These pests, even though they live in filth, are not known to spread any disease to humans.
These flies will breed in any moist area that they can find. So if you are facing a drain fly infestation that you cannot figure it out, you may want to look deeper for the cause. The problem could be from a leaking pipe or drain under the sink or even a leaking pipe inside of your walls.
IT STARTS WITH MAGGOTS IN YOUR DRAINS!
It's the larvae or maggots of these flies that live inside the drains, feeding on the gelatinous goo that forms on the inside of the pipes.
DIY Ways of Getting Rid of Drain Flies
The pour half a cup of bicarb soda down the sink as well, followed by a half cup of white vinegar. Let it settle for a few minutes then poor some more boiling water down the drain. Follows these steps every few days until the drain flies have completely disappeared.
Mix 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar and then pour the mixture down the drain, leaving it overnight. In the morning, pour boiling hot water down the drain.
The vinegar's smell will attract the drain flies, and the wrap will trap them inside the bowl. Another option is to mix a few drops of dish soap with a cup of vinegar. The vinegar attracts the flies, and the dish soap makes it impossible for them to stand on the surface, so they drown.
The black or brown flies/moths you see in your drain are most likely “drain flies” that live on decomposing, organic matter in your drains, which explains why they hang out near sinks or showers. These flies are also referred to as: Moth flies. Filter flies.
Drain flies may cause a health hazard by carrying pathogens to places that need to stay clean. Drain flies can carry bacteria from the trash or drains to areas of your home that should be sterile, like where you prepare food in the kitchen.
Drain flies, also known as moth flies or sewer flies, are small, hairy, moth-like insects measuring 2 to 5 millimetres long depending on the species. They are weak fliers and are often seen walking near breeding sites. Females lay 30 to 100 eggs in masses on the surface of breeding medium.
Drain flies, also known as sewer flies, filter flies, moth flies or sink flies, look similar to the average house fly as they are very small – about an eighth of an inch – and black/brown. They also have a unique vein pattern in their wings, which are covered in tiny hairs. They leave a powdery smudge when crushed.
Some species hold the wings out to the side, which gives them a moth-like appearance—hence the name "moth fly." They are weak fliers and make irregular, hesitating flights covering only a few feet in short, jerky lines. Eggs are tiny, brown or cream-colored and are laid in irregular masses of 10 to 200.
How Do Flies Get in the House? Flies often enter homes through open doors and windows, damaged screens, or cracks in foundations. Drain flies in the house often get inside through gaps around pipes.