Drain flies are small, black bugs that can be seen swarming around the kitchen sink or bathroom drains. If a drain fly infestation is not addressed, it can cause serious damage to plumbing systems, resulting in costly repairs and flooded homes. Mr. Rooter Plumbing has found that the greatest challenge associated with removing drain flies from your home is in the inconvenience of trying to physically remove the pests, rather than eliminating the root cause of the problem. If you are struggling with drain flies, reaching out to a plumbing service can help get to the root of the problem.
Drain flies are a type of fly that is attracted to drains, sinks, and other areas where there is standing water. They are also known as sewage flies, drain gnats, and sink flies. Drain flies are not actual flies at all; they are small, wingless gnats in the family Psychodidae. These insects live near sources of moisture such as drains, pipes and damp soil. You may see them flying around light fixtures or buzzing around the floor or sink when there is water on the surface.
The adults have wings with a length ranging from 2mm to 4mm. They have large eyes and bodies that are brownish-gray in color with black stripes across their bodies. The larvae are white or cream colored with dark heads and tails. The larvae develop in wet organic matter such as rotting vegetation or garbage.
Drain fly larvae can cause damage to plants by eating plant roots and root hairs. They feed on decaying organic matter such as leaves, grass clippings, or other plant waste materials lying on the ground around your home or business property. Drain flies can be annoying pests because they are attracted to light and can often be found hovering near windows or lights at night during warm weather months. They do not bite or sting people but they do leave behind an unpleasant odor from their feces which can be quite disgusting if you get too close to them!
Drain flies are attracted to the smell of food and dampness. They often enter homes through cracks in the foundation or through pipes and drains. Drain flies are harmless and do not bite or sting. They may even be beneficial because they eat fungi, bacteria and decaying organic material that can cause disease.
Drain flies can be very difficult to get rid of because they lay their eggs so quickly and reproduce so quickly that it is hard to keep up with them. This makes getting rid of drain flies even more difficult because once you have gotten rid of them in one location they will just move on to another one until there is nowhere left for them to go!
The length of time it takes to eradicate drain flies will depend on how many flies there are and how many drains they are breeding in. The more drains they have access to and the more eggs they lay, the longer it will take for them to be completely eradicated.
Bleach will kill drain flies only if you have enough concentration of bleach mixed with water to create a solution strong enough to kill them quickly. Diluting bleach with water weakens its effectiveness, so it's important not to mix too much bleach into your drain before pouring it down the drain or toilet bowl because this dilution may allow some flies to escape death. However, bleach is not great to be pouring into your drains and definitely not recommended if you have a septic system.
A safer, yet still quite effective option, is ½ cup salt, ½ cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar. Pour this solution down the drain in the evening and in the morning pour boiling water down the drain.
Drain flies can be a nuisance, but they won’t harm your home or family members. They don’t bite or sting people and they don’t carry disease. However, they do multiply quickly if their breeding ground isn’t eliminated immediately. It’s important to take action as soon as you notice drain flies buzzing around your home or office because left unchecked, drain fly populations can grow exponentially.
So, will drain flies go away? If you are diligent in your efforts and are able to constantly disrupt the reproductive cycles, then yes, they will go away.
As a general rule, the key to successfully getting rid of drain flies is to treat the underlying cause of their infestation. That means cleaning your drains and other plumbing fixtures regularly, and repairing any cracks or leaks that might be allowing water to collect in hidden places. When you feel you have tried everything, it is time to contact a skilled plumber. Mr. Rooter Plumbing can help eliminate these pests!