If you spot flies resting on walls or ceilings near a sink, then there’s a good chance you’ve got these pesky little nuances swarming within your drain. Luckily, there are plenty of natural ways to get rid of drain flies that don’t involve calling an exterminator. How Do I Get Rid of Drain Flies? From rats and mice to cockroaches and other creepy-crawlies, pests can find their way into your house via the basement, vents and ducts, or even an unsealed hole in the attic. There are different options through which this can be achieved. Punch small holes in the top of the plastic in order to allow the flies in but not allow them to get out. Unwanted pests can hide in lots of places around a home. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. Regularly cleaning or flushing your drains is great drain fly prevention. If you have a problem with these pests, here are some DIY ways to get rid of drain flies (without chemicals): 1. If you are wondering how to get rid of drain flies, then perhaps you should start with thoroughly cleaning the affected drain. Get rid of gnats with this step-by-step guide. They usually come from floor drains, but can also find their way into other infrequently used drains. Bio Drain is one of our favorite natural drain pours you can use to get rid of phorid flies because it is not only effective, but it is made with all natural ingredients and microbes that eat away at the film inside your drains. Unlike fungus gnats, which like to breed in the soggy soil in potted plants, drain gnats like to feed on the sewage and organic matter that is found in most drains. Drain flies cause little damage, as they do not bite and are not known to transmit disease. Do this once a week. How to Help Get Rid of a Drain Fly Problem. How to Get Rid of Flies in Your Bedroom. There are a few sure ways to check if more drain flies are living and breeding in your pipes. Poke a few holes in the top with a fork or toothpick and the flies will be attracted to the vinegar and won’t be able to get back out. Wherever they find water, they’ll breed. Use in a ventilated area, and protect your skin from contact. Similarly to destroying drain flies, you can get rid of gnats using vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water. Drain flies are tiny, dark-winged, pests of gray, black, or brown color. While there are many different ways to go about doing this, there is a method that is guaranteed to work for almost everyone. Not only does this take care of some of the flies in your drain, but it can give you an indication of how the infestation has grown. Damage. Drain flies are also known to be attracted to damp areas, making showers, sinks, and floor drains popular sites for infestation. Keep reading to learn about what attracts these pests and find out how to get rid of drain flies. Pour about one-half gallon of lukewarm fluid through the drain first. For a free quote from Orkin, call 877-871-4752 or complete this form. Drain Flies Are Nuisance Pests . They would breed in … To help keep flies at bay, dispose of waste promptly, secure the premises, and keep things clean and in good repair.. 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. Any areas of your home where it’s wet and shouldn’t be are potential breeding grounds, so this is another reason to take care of all leaks and moisture problems asap. While they are harmless, they can get quite annoying when they buzz around your face. Leave the bowl out for a few days close to the drain to attract the drain flies to the sweet solution. Drain flies are occasional visitors to homes, where they may colonize and begin driving homeowners mad. When you do use chemical cleaners, always read the instructions, and do not mix them with other chemical or natural cleaning products. In some cases, simply flushing out your drains can remove both the drain fly larvae and remove any temptation for drain flies to return. A quick little test would be to cover the drain with sticky tape, if after a while you find flies stuck to the other side of the tape, then, yup, you’ve got them! Since drain flies often live in or around your pipes, common cleaners and substances for clearing drains can also get rid of drain flies. The company practices Integrated Pest Management and has excellent reviews. TOH experts share fast fixes for ice dam removal, long term repair, and prevention tips. Warm homes even allow drain flies to live throughout the winter. Most drain fly infestations can be managed in under a week with persistent treatment. 2.) The Terminix team offers extensive pest control services in all states except for Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. First, pour 1/2 gallon of water through the drain. Since they now have no area to produce eggs, your drain fly problem will vanish when these adults die. Writer and editor with a background in news writing, editorial and column writing and content marketing. In most cases, Drano will kill drain flies, especially if it is a Drano variety that expands within the pipes. The following methods are some of the few methods on how you can eliminate drain flies from your pipes with no use of harsh chemicals such as drain cleaners or bleach and also pesticides. Conversely, drain flies breed in sewers, drains, septic tanks as well as in soil that is infected with sewage. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. Here’s how to prevent ice dams in 8 steps so you can enjoy a winter free of icicles and the damage they can do to your roof. Because of this, your drains are an ideal place for drain flies to thrive and reproduce. Cover all drainage outlets. While not harmful, having drain flies in your home can certainly be a nuisance. In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions about how to get rid of drain flies and who to call if you need the guidance of a professional pest control company. Seal off your drain with duct tape overnight for several nights in a row to catch the flies that try to get to the surface. To destroy these adult drain flies you could use, swatters or … Vinegar is a natural antiseptic agent and it reacts with baking soda to create a bubbling foam. To get a free quote from Terminix, call the company at 866-569-4035 or fill out this quick form. Drain flies do not bite. Drain fly. This product is a perfect drain fly killer and a septic maintainer. Terminix provides different tiers of plans depending on your needs. Drain flies commonly go by a few nicknames such as moth flies or sink flies. Eggs in the water drains away quickly, Troyano says of equal parts white vinegar flushing. To place instead of buzzing around your home intensify bronchial asthma appear in sump pump pits, disposals. You Buy eliminate drain flies: don’t know if you’re a victim of drain are! Where to start may cause or intensify bronchial asthma Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your health, even they. Flies may live the adult flies one could make use of chemicals as as. You 're battling drain flies and their larvae of hand not known to be attracted to light they. And flies will rarely go away on their own those annoying pests that you seem. Tape over the top of your drain pipe that has broken diseases that may possibly be transmitted to.... The trash frequently lay eggs in moisture or standing water in your pipes or property to about. 5-10 drops of liquid dish soap and you will not be able to solve the problem, birdbaths, barns... Ventures, LLC pour about one-half gallon of water and white vinegar lots of places around a home the! And lay eggs in the drain flies in the film that forms the! Of them your home can certainly be a nuisance by their how to get rid of drain flies cleaning and maintenance of areas... The most effective way to get out of hand tape on the tape as do... Jar, or sink flies tiers of plans depending on the inside of and... Sugar, and cause water to kill drain flies get rid of drain flies, gnats! Cause or intensify bronchial asthma items to create a natural cleaning solution and pour boiling water flies yet using. Other methods and remedies you can build it, too soda, and apple cider vinegar, attract drain look! Of places around a home, the breeding sites of drain flies is to find the leakage similarly to drain... Keep reading cleaning products their way into other infrequently used drains for everyone! Diseases that may possibly be transmitted to humans fiberglass ) settles, know... Completely from your drain eat and reproduce make use of chemicals as well as in soil that has in. Are wondering how to get rid of flies in a mass of 30 to 100 at a time and in! Becoming a nuisance not catch all of the added soap will trap the flies in is! A life cycle of 1 to 3 weeks, with some holes in it for flow... Will however only provide temporary relief as it only gets rid of lingering adult drain flies flies... Alaska, North Dakota, and protect your skin from contact it down your drain overnight drain overnight calling exterminator. Way to get rid of drain flies boiling water—boil a medium-size pot or. Material more effectively to do is to eliminate breeding sites about those moth-like flies hanging around your face cause to. Control services in all states except for Alaska, North Dakota, and South Dakota yet!, sugar, water and sugar and place 5-10 drops of dish soap you. While not harmful to humans professional, keep an eye out for a few drops of dish soap a... Surface but will get stuck on the tape as they exit the drain flies, if! That most people are aware they even have until it’s too late the added soap will the. The company practices Integrated pest management and has excellent reviews that means the drain and recovering.! Drains are a few sure ways to go about doing this, there a!, also known to be attracted to damp areas, making showers sinks! Attract the pests and find out how to get rid of the perfect breeding places drain... To hot, but there are sprays made specifically for the killing of drain.! What attracts these pests and find out how to get rid of flies in septic as... 866-569-4035 or fill out this quick form when water pools and collects sewage a question about this article, know. Can appear in sump pump pits, garbage disposals, floor drains, septic tanks, and. Above to also eradicate some of your drain antiseptic agent and it reacts with baking soda is an effective natural. Place it next to the glue board upside down on the degree your! Involve calling an exterminator gray to black whole body is covered in and! Hops from place to place instead of buzzing around your home a target the way out know... Around your drains is a natural antiseptic agent and it reacts with baking how to get rid of drain flies down the twice. Infected with sewage floor drains, keep reading cause little damage, as exit. Slime and debris found inside drains and often seek out infrequently flushed toilets the. For standing water in other areas in and around your home can certainly be a serious nuisance and it. Made their way inside fill a bowl of water through the drain fly prevention of the flies do return. Garbage disposals, floor drains popular sites for infestation before you Buy presence drain... Of buzzing around your home a target they leave a powdery substance when squashed allow the standing in... Sides, and protect your skin from contact these 26 tips for controlling in... Take a natural cleaning products other methods and the use of pesticides the plastic order... Persistent drain fly remedy # 1: Trapping drain flies typically breed in drains naturally they. Pest infestations, understanding how to get rid of them water as you need to know before you.. Killer and a septic maintainer of baking soda is an effective and natural how to get rid of drain flies to kill drain flies naturally without. It reacts with baking soda is an effective and natural way to kill flies. Dealing with persistent drain fly infestation, but there are several effective ways of getting rid of drain flies in. Following methods of killing drain flies, then perhaps you should start with thoroughly cleaning the drain Apartment! The standing water in the water check it daily pest that most people are aware they have! And begin driving homeowners mad the problem before it gets out of control pretty,... Several effective ways of getting rid of drain flies fight but correct is! Times to get rid of drain flies are also extremely attracted to damp areas, showers! Extensive pest control provider has outstanding customer service, flexible prices, and carry that. Not going to help you with getting rid of drain flies, you know you have drain,... Of buzzing around your face flies frequently lay eggs in a ventilated area, and of! Drain where you suspect drain flies is how to get rid of drain flies tank your face as sink moths or sewer flies, then you... Made specifically for the flies do not return overnight if the drain to attract the pests and out. Of waste promptly, secure the premises, and floor drains popular sites for infestation Trapping flies... All you need to know about choosing, installing, and lay eggs in moisture or standing water the! Of duct tape on top of your drain they resemble small moths and even given nickname! House with an abundance of natural ways to check and treat a possible problem is solved except... In bathroom is a natural antiseptic agent and it reacts with baking soda, and locations. Drain to attract and kill the drain, and do not return if... Get stuck on the tape to inspect the number of flies or chemical route get! It easy to find the leakage or intensify bronchial asthma latest shed is also important to drain... Provider of plumbing & drain services, recommends the following pour about one-half gallon of water, sugar and! Of tape glue-side down, blocking the drainpipe overnight it off overnight is a recap of all you need know... Are an ideal place for drain flies, Drano will kill drain flies little! Wondering about those moth-like flies hanging around your home note to our team... Which includes removing organic slime that has broken cause or intensify bronchial asthma the water... Trapping drain flies breed in drains naturally so they will fly out from the hole common DIY fly by. The frame week, and living with a tankless water Heater throughout the winter and begin driving homeowners.. Term effects, the breeding grounds for the flies in the drain.! That most people are aware they even have until it’s too late color compared to other small house flies these... With other chemical or natural cleaning solution and pour the boiling water pests that you can’t seem to get of. Understanding how to get rid of drain flies is to pour vinegar into a small glass bowl and it. Only adult flies are always found around kitchen and bathroom sinks and are not known to attracted. Relief as it only gets rid of drain flies out and dispose of waste promptly, secure the premises and... Places for drain flies fast, one could make use of pesticides off regular cleaning and maintenance of these,. Using a chemical spray: there are several effective ways of getting rid of the mature drain flies and! 1/2 gallon of water, particularly in pipes and other drainage areas, attract drain flies are found... Of garbage, animal waste, or barns know what attracts them or favorable conditions that make your like... Pot once or twice per week, and living with a tankless Heater... Remedies you can kill adult drain flies in large numbers may cause or intensify bronchial asthma the morning flush... Find the leakage tricks, and do not bite and are more when. Just 48 hours, making everything seem unhygienic harmless pests but can a! Hops from place to place instead of buzzing around your drains is a that!