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.
What Causes Drain Flies? 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.
To make an all-natural drain fly trap, fill a bowl with apple cider vinegar and cover it with plastic wrap. Punch small holes in the wrapping. 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.
What Smell Attracts Drain Flies? Drain flies are attracted to the smell of sewage, rotten food, moisture, mildew, and other bacteria. These smells often come from kitchens and bathrooms, where moist organic matter frequently becomes trapped in pipes. Some theories suggest drain flies are attracted to vinegar.
Bleach will absolutely kill drain flies. However, using bleach comes with certain risks. It's better to try other methods first and use bleach as a last resort.
Drain flies are small and gray. They do not bite, sting, or spread diseases, but their decaying bodies may cause allergic reactions. They can also spread bacteria from trash, decaying vegetables and fruits.
The good news is most drain fly issues can be fixed within about a week with regular cleaning and careful attention.
Drain flies gather, mate, and lay eggs in moisture or standing water. The slimy film that forms in sewers and drains is a favorite breeding spot. Putting off regular cleaning and maintenance of these areas may attract the pests and offer them a place to feed and develop.
One of the reasons that these types of critters — drain flies, in particular — are so difficult to get rid of is that they have water-repellant hair all over their bodies. Furthermore, the drain fly larvae are difficult to drown since “they are able to trap air bubbles and remain submerged for a day or more.”
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.
Baking Soda, Boiling Water & Vinegar
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.
Drain flies are very common and can breed anywhere with stagnant or dirty water. They are usually only a temporary problem and happen most often when your household is inactive, like when you're away on vacation. When household activity picks up again, and water starts moving, the drain flies usually disappear.
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.
Drain worms are essentially fly larvae. These species are also known as sewer flies, filter flies, or sink flies. They lay eggs, which hatch into larvae within 32 – 48 hours.
Do Drain Flies Die in Winter. Most fly species cannot survive outside temperatures below 32°F (0°C). They die unless they find a warm and conducive place to overwinter, such as your home. Drain flies are one of the few insects that can tolerate cold weather conditions.
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.
Behavior: Drain flies are most active at night. They are weak flyers that make short hopping flights of a few feet when they are disturbed. Drain flies rest on surfaces with their wings held over their back like a roof. You'll usually find a drain fly close to its breeding ground.
Like really love it! They're attracted to moist places like bathroom drains or sink drains and moist towels where there is a lot of stagnant water for them to breed and lay their eggs.
Drain flies are typically only found in the summertime or in places with moderate year-round climates. Cold weather kills off more drain flies than any of their predators. If drain flies are able to find a home indoors, they can continue their development throughout the year, even during the winter.
Drain flies can breed outdoors during the summer with adults entering homes through open doors or windows. Low, wet areas where air conditioning units drain, or clogged guttering are excellent places for these insects to develop.
Sink and floor drains in restaurants are the most common source of the drain fly larvae, but do not overlook drain pans under the refrigerator, around or inside of garbage containers, wet sewers or leaky toilets, condensate lines for ice makers, and even under a leaking washing machine.
For the most part, drain flies are not dangerous and not harmful. Having drain flies around your home does not mean your drains are dirty or your kitchen, bathroom or other areas are unclean. They are opportunistic insects and can get inside and find any moist area to lay their eggs and breed.
Many people associate the control of drain flies and bleach. The idea that pouring bleach down the drain gets rid of drain flies is actually a common misconception since doing so rarely helps get rid of these insects.