How To Get Rid of Drain Flies
Drain flies can make it feel a bit too much like you are living in the swamp from Shrek. You may not notice them at first, but once you do, drain flies can drive you insane! Known as drain flies, moth flies, sewer flies or filter flies, they multiply quickly and tend to congregate around stagnant water. Botanical Plumbing has outlined below what drain flies are and where they come from, and how you can work to get rid of them.
What Are They?
Drain flies are tiny flying bugs that set up shop in your drain. Ranging in size between 1–4 mm and are easy to spot at first glance. This gnat has a grey or tan-coloured body and lighter wings that fold over its body when not flying.
Where Do They Come From?
Drain flies love stagnant water and moisture, along with organic debris. They are often found near food sources or bacteria, for example, sinks and showers. They are also more likely to occur near areas not used frequently, like a basement or secondary sink in a kitchen. Because they are attracted to stagnant water, they can appear even in clean areas. By the time you spot drain flies, they have set up shop. They have found organic build-up in your drains and laid eggs in the decomposing matter. To find out if you have them in your home after maybe seeing one bug, place sticky tape over the drain, and as they try to escape, they will get attached to the sticky tape. This can also be a great way to tell the kinds of numbers you are dealing with.
Solutions
Hot Water Down The Drain
The easiest way to deal with drain flies is to simply boil the kettle. Pouring a whole kettle of boiling water down the drain twice a day for roughly a week can quickly let your new unwelcome housemates know they are not welcome. This also ensures if you are doing it twice a day, the flies do not have time to return to your drain. If this does not work, you may need a more hands-on approach.
Baking Soda, Salt, And Vinegar
This mixture is not only a go-to cleaning solution but also a great way to clean out your pipes. This does involve slightly more prep than just pouring water down the drain. Combine half a cup of salt and half a cup of baking soda, then mix in vinegar. Once you have made up your concoction, pour it down the drain with the drain flies and then leave it overnight. The following day, pour boiling water down the drain, and your problem should be solved. If natural remedies do not work, however, you may need to look at using chemicals.
Drain Cleaner
The last home remedy you can try to remove drain flies is good-old store-bought drain cleaner. Drain cleaners like Drano can be bought at your local supermarket and can work to remove drain flies. These solutions will clear out the drains and pipes, which can work to remove any material or debris that creates a positive environment for drain flies. This stops new eggs from hatching and also cleans out your drains! However, if you still have drain flies after using drain cleaner, it is time to contact professionals to clean out your pipes.
Need Your Pipes Cleaner? Contact the Experts at Botanical Plumbing
You may need to call professionals to improve your home and remove drain flies. At Botanical Plumbing, we have over 8 years of experience with all aspects of domestic plumbing and provide a lifetime guarantee on our workmanship. For a plumber with no hidden costs and friendly service, contact Botanical Plumbing today.
