Drain Flies: Eliminate The Pests For Good!
Tired of icky drain flies swarming around your house? Then take time to read this article and eliminate the pesky pests for good.
Drain flies aren’t dangerous, but that doesn’t mean you’ll need to allow your home to become a breeding ground for them!
And believe us when we say this: although just 1/8th of an inch in size, these flies can multiply like anything. The average drain fly lays around 30-100 eggs at a time at just two days old! So, if you let them, they’ll quickly take over your floor drains, septic tanks, and pipes.
Such infestations can cause several plumbing headaches, including blocked drains and unpleasant odours. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on how to banish drain flies for good, helping you tackle these pesky critters effectively.
Before diving into solutions, let’s first understand where these drain flies in Australia originate. Also known as sink or moth flies, they thrive in shallow, stagnant water environments. Much like fruit flies, these little pests are drawn to moisture and can often be spotted near decaying food, stagnant floor drains, or around kitchen sinks.
They like to nest around areas that are not used that often, like workshop sinks or basements. You can also find them around septic tanks and sewers. However, they might even pop up in clean pipes and around well-maintained drains, which can attract drain flies if located near food sources or organic matter.
Even though these flies aren’t directly harmful, their presence is a sign that your kitchen, bathroom, or pipes might need a good clean. Now, let’s explore how we can tackle the drain fly nuisance and keep them from coming back.
With that settled, let’s see how to get rid of drain flies!
We recommend acting immediately if you’ve discovered drain flies in your home. And if you’re the DIY type, follow the steps outlined below to get rid of drain fly larvae and full-grown drain flies for good.
The first step in how to get rid of drain flies deals...well…with the drains. Drain flies love it when they find a slow-moving or clogged drain; that’s where they like to settle down and multiply. So, the first thing you need to do to get rid of drain flies is unclogged drains around which you find the flies lurking.
Once you’ve unclogged your drains by removing all the nasty decomposing gunk, it’s time to move on to the next step in permanently getting rid of drain flies: cleaning the drainpipes. The simplest method is to pour boiling hot water carefully down the drain.
Along with pouring warm water, you can also use chemical cleaners and sprays to clean the drains. If you still find food or animal waste stuck in the drain, use a wire brush or drain snake to complete the job thoroughly. Just remember to be careful so that you don’t damage the pipes.
It would help if you also cleaned the U-trap with the drains and pipes, as that’s where sewer flies and filter flies will congregate. You might also find drain fly eggs in the U-trap, so clean it properly. Everyday household items that can be used to clean these fixtures are baking soda or apple cider vinegar. However, apple cider vinegar can tackle just adult flies and trap them.
To tackle the larvae as well, you need to apply a solution of baking soda and vinegar. Just combine equal amounts of salt, baking soda, and vinegar and use the mixture to clean the U-trap. This will resolve drain fly issues by killing the larvae, thus nipping drain fly infestations in the bud.
For those needing a stronger solution to tackle drain flies, chemical cleaners like Drano or Bio-Clean might do the trick. However, always exercise caution when using these, ensuring they’re safe for your pipes and drains.
As the final step, rinse your pipes using warm water to make sure there are no traces of the chemicals you’ve used for cleaning the drains. This method will also remove small flies if any have escaped by chance.
Following the above steps should ensure that drain flies in your home are removed. But if they don’t work and you have an infestation, it’s time to stop Googling how to kill drain flies and call in the professionals.
These experts have the know-how to eliminate these nuisances with six legs. Whether it’s septic systems or outdoor sinks, the drain fly issue will be resolved without you needing to worry.
As we’ve highlighted, drain flies love hanging around standing water, bathroom drains, and dirty mops. To keep them out of your home, try these steps:
Following the above steps will ensure that pests like drain flies and sewer gnats don’t make your home their safe haven.
Drain flies can often gather around a drain overnight, but the problem isn’t enough to cause panic. No one finds drain flies harmful, and to kill drain flies, you can use ordinary household stuff like dish soap, boiling water, and a metal pipe brush. Using a chemical drain cleaner also takes care of sewer flies rather well.
Whatever methods you use to get rid of drain flies, remember one thing: do not let standing water gather in your home. Stagnant water attracts drain flies and entices them to lay eggs. So, this is the one factor you must remember if you want to get rid of drain flies.
We trust the information in this guide helps you eliminate drain flies in Melbourne. Still unsure? Consider reaching out for professional help.
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