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The key to controlling drain flies is finding and eliminating their water and food source. You can do this using simple traps made with a plastic cup or an insect glue board.
Can drain flies come from outside?
Contrary to popular belief, drain flies don’t come up through the drain. Rather, they come in from outside, looking for water — the more disgusting, the better — and once they find it in your drains, they set up residence and gorge themselves on their standard diet of the sewage and bacteria found in these places.
What instantly kills drain flies?
Pour in 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda plus a cup of white vinegar. Allow it to work its magic overnight then flush the drain with hot or boiling water the next morning. This will sanitize the drain and kill the flies and their eggs.
How do I get rid of drain flies in my yard?
A super simple fix is to pour boiling water down the drain to eliminate drain flies. 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.
Where are drain flies coming from?
Locate the Source Drain flies can come from organic buildups in any area where there is standing water. Check your bathroom drains, kitchen sink, shower, sump pump, sewage system, and even floorboards where there might be a pipe leak. Look for multiple flies hanging out on the walls near these possible sources.
Why do drain flies keep coming back?
What causes drain flies? Stagnant pools of water, particularly in pipes and other drainage areas, attract drain flies. These small, gnat-like insects feed on and breed in sewage. Organic material can build up along the side of drains quickly, welcoming drain flies to eat and reproduce.
What temperature kills drain flies?
Do not pour insecticides down drains to kill drain flies. The drain fly life cycle takes from about 10 to 15 days at about 70° F.
What is the best drain fly Killer?
Best Drain Fly Killers American Bio-Systems DrainGel. Lawson Drummond DF5000. Valtec Bio-Action Total Solution Gel. Pest Peeve Bye Bye Drain Flies. Green Gobbler Drain Fly Goodbye. Forid. Drano. Rid-X.
How long do drain flies live?
Adult drain flies usually live about two weeks, but newly emerged adults rapidly replace them. These flies are also known as moth flies due to their appearance: they are small and furry with large, ovoid wings and prominent antennae.
How do you get rid of drain flies with bleach?
Does Bleach Kill Drain Flies? Combine 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Pour this mixture down the drain. Let it sit for about 4 hours. Run cold water down the drain.
Why are there drain flies outside my house?
Drain flies do not come up from your pipes or drains, rather they come from outdoors to the drain when they smell the organic matter they need to breed. Before treating for drain flies, you’ll need to make sure your infestation is really coming from the drain rather than some other hidden source of moisture or decay.
Who treats drain flies?
Exterminators understand drain flies, their life cycle, and how to best get rid of them. Plumbers may be able to open the pipes and clean out blockages after the issue is diagnosed. However, exterminators can also help with this process by using organic enzyme drain cleaners or gels.
Do drain flies eventually go away?
The length of the life cycle of a drain fly varies depending on the climate and temperature of the drain, but it can last anywhere from eight to 24 days. Once you’ve wiped out their breeding ground, the adults will eventually disappear because there is nowhere left for them to deposit their eggs.
Why won’t drain flies go away?
Drain flies need humidity (usually some form of standing water) to stay alive and reproduce. Larvae also need organic material, such as slime buildup in drain pipes. Besides adult drain flies, you must find all eggs and larvae in order to prevent them from reappearing.
What drain flies look like?
Adult drain flies are tiny (1/5 to 1/6 inch long), fuzzy, dark or grayish insects with the body and wings densely covered with hairs. The antennae are long (13 segments), with each segment being bead-like and having a whorl of long hairs.
Will bleach get rid of flies outside?
Do not use bleach. Since bleach does not coat the pipes, it will not kill the flies. It’s the bio-buildup that attracts fruit flies to your drains.
Will Clorox get rid of drain flies?
Does Bleach Kill Drain Flies? While this chemical might get rid of some larvae, bleach passes quickly down the drain and does not penetrate the thick build-up where eggs are deposited by the female drain fly and larvae live. As a result, in most cases, bleach does not get rid of drain flies.
How much bleach do I pour to drain gnats?
Removing Gnats from the Bathroom If some hover near the surface of the drain, try this trick to get rid of the gnats: Dilute some bleach with water, and then pour it down the drain. One-half cup of bleach to one gallon of water should be enough.
What do drain flies indicate?
Drain flies are attracted to still, stagnant water. If you have noticed these pests around your home, it could signify the presence of drain blockage or leaks.
