How to Get Rid of Drain Flies (A Quick Guide)

Signs and Causes of Drain Fly Infestation

There are several signs of drain fly infestations around your home. Here, we uncover the most common ones.

Increased activity indoors

If you suddenly notice a higher number of drain flies indoors, it could mean there’s an infestation somewhere in your home. Although fruit flies aren’t usually aggressive, they sometimes display a high activity level.

蜂拥而至

Adult male drain flies typically emerge在女性之前。The highest point of activity occurs during the spring and summer months.

Males swarm to attract females. As a result, there could be thousands in one location. Then, once paired up, the female lays her eggs, and the lifecycle begins again.

Causes of Drain Fly Infestations

流水侵扰的许多原因可能是显而易见的。但是，有些可能没有。因此，在这里，我们更深入地了解了为什么您可能会在家里和周围看到更多的排水苍蝇。

• Dirty drains.Drain flies prefer an environment where there is a lot of sludge buildup. These layers of organic material accumulate over time. And then it gets to the point where drain areas in your home become magnets for drain flies.
• Open drain pipes.The buildup of organic material in open drainpipes attracts flying pests. In addition, the combination of moisture and decaying matter in open plumbing is a strong attractant for drain flies.
• Unsealed septic tanks.Drain flies love areas around septic systems. So, if your cover is even slightly open, they will find a way in.
• Open trash areas.Rotting garbage attracts all sorts of flying pests. Drains flies find it especially appealing if it has decayed enough to form a thick sludge.
• 院子覆盖物。分解院子废物可能是吸引人的对于某些类型的排水蝇。但是，最重要的是它花在腐烂的时间里。对于排水蝇，越长越好。

How to Get Rid of Drain Flies

Eliminating drain flies starts with a thorough inspection of all possible harborage areas. Then, it’s time to eliminate all those breeding spots. And finally, it’s vital to prevent this nagging pest by utilizing proactive control measures.

Here are the most important steps to take for getting rid of drain flies:

1.清洁你的drains

确保您摆脱排水蝇的第一步是清洁排水沟中的污泥。有几种方法可以做到这一点。这里有一些想法：

热水

热水can help loosen some of the surface debris and make drains flow better. However, use caution when using boiling water. It could harm your PVC pipes over time, especially if you’re using it to remove clogs.

If you decide to go the boiling water route, it’s wise to limit it to once a week. Also, it’s best to use less than about 16 ounces at a time. However, this amount should still be sufficient to kill any developing larvae.

Baking soda and vinegar

One of the best DIY methods for cleaning household areas like drains is baking soda and vinegar. First, pour about 1/2 cup of baking soda in. Then, follow it with about 1/2 cup of vinegar— white vinegar usually works the best.

This mixture helps to remove built-up grime in your drains and plumbing. Leave it overnight for the best results. It will also keep your pipes from smelling bad.

Bleach

Chlorine bleach has its place as a cleaner and deodorizer for bathroom drains, kitchen sinks, and floor drains. However, using it too often can harm your home’s plumbing. Also, it’s best to flush the bleach thoroughly from pipes after about 15 minutes of use.

Enzyme drain cleaners

Lipase enzyme cleanerswork well to remove grease, food, and sludge from your drains. Most utilize a natural ingredient like citric acid. However, these are powerful cleaners, so be sure to read the label directions before use.

Pipe brushes

One of the most cost-effective methods to clean your drains is with a pipe brush. It works well when used with drain cleaners. Or it can help with the rinsing process by scraping any stubborn particles left on the pipes.

Some of these brushes come with a long, flexible wire so you can reach far into the plumbing. This will help remove grime from otherwise remote areas.

2. Repair water leaks

Puddles under your sinks can cause drain fly infestations. The combination of moisture, mold, and rotting food sources can become breeding areas. So, it’s a good idea to repair leaky plumbing to keep that from happening.

漏水的淋浴盆也可以提出一个问题。Drain flies are drawn to the dark, warm area underneath the shower. In this case, you want to either repair the leak or replace the shower pan.

另外，不要忘记外部管道泄漏。这些也可能引起飞行昆虫的侵扰。它们也提供育种区域。

3. Other sanitation measures

Drain flies don’t just breed indoors; they’re trulyoutdoor pests。They infest anywhere there’s moisture combined with decomposing, solid waste material. For example:

• 化粪池系统
• Sewage treatment plants
• Outdoor drain pipes
• Stormwater drains
• Mulch
• Outdoor garbage areas/dumpsters
• Air conditioning condensate pipes

It’s vital to keep septic tank covers secure at all times when not performing maintenance. Also, be sure to repair any lines in the system that can cause leakage. Lawns contaminated by sewage will attract all sorts of pests, including drain flies.

Cleaning, repairing, or replacing drain pipes will help ensure you keep drain flies at a distance. In addition, it’s crucial to keep trash containers sealed as much as possible. Also, be sure to limit the amount of moisture in these areas.

4.捕获排水蝇

When getting rid of any flying pests in your home, there’s no better way than usingtraps。对于大多数，不涉及化学物质。他们通常在孩子和宠物周围安全。

水果陷阱

First, throw some rotting fruit into a glass bowl. Now, cover it with plastic wrap. Then, poke small holes in the plastic with a toothpick or sharp knifepoint. Finally, place the bowl near a sink or shower area to draw the drain flies out.

当他们闻到果实的辛辣气味时，他们将无法抵抗。他们将通过微小的孔爬上来进入它。但是，他们将无法找到出路并最终死于窒息。

Apple cider vinegar trap

Apple cider is a strong attractant for most flying pests. That’s why this trap works so well for drain flies, gnats, and fruit flies.

要制作陷阱，请使用一个小的开放容器，例如盘子或碗。将一汤匙苹果醋，一汤匙糖，半杯水和三滴洗碗肥皂混合在一起。现在，很好地搅拌混合物。

Leave several traps in humid environments such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Once lured, the drain flies will land on the mixture and become trapped by the dish soap.

Candle trap

Candles sometimes attract flying insects. And drain flies are no different.

对于此陷阱，您将使用一个装满水的蛋糕盘。接下来，加约三到四滴洗碗皂。现在，将一支小蜡烛放在中间并点亮。

在整个房屋中使用几个水龙头。然后，当排水蝇来调查蜡烛时，将会发生三件事之一：

1. The insect will get close enough to the candle and burn up
2. The insect will get overheated and fall into the water, eventually drowning
3. 昆虫将被吸引到水中，并被洗碗皂。

Flytraps

Flytraps can work for drain flies if positioned properly. They typically come with a glue board attached to a string.

You can hang these traps anywhere. But, for best results, position several throughout your home to catch gnats, mosquitoes, and house flies.

Electronic UV light traps

紫外线是大多数昆虫的绝佳吸引力，在某些情况下，light trapswill work for drain flies. However, they may be more effective if you utilize afly baitfor the glue boards.

5. Environmental control

Most flying insects hate cool, dry climates. So, why not create that environment in your home?

The most important consideration is temperature. Drain fly larvae develop better in temperatures above 70°F. Therefore, to limit infestations, it’s best to bring temperatures down below that.

Also, you need to lower humidity levels. Consider a dehumidifier in the summer. Better yet, invest in a quality central air unit that will lower both temperature and humidity in your home.

如果这不是您的选择，请考虑增加空气流通。一定要在整个家庭中使用吊扇。另外，在洗澡时打开浴室风扇以最大程度地减少湿度水平。

6. Spray treatments

我们不建议用气溶胶喷雾剂喷水以进行排水苍蝇。它可能不会产生太大影响。它可能污染食物。

However,户外治疗may have some limited use when it comes to drain fly management. Most have an excellent residual effect for long-term control and depending on the formulation, outdoor spraying can limit insect breeding for a wide range of flying pests, including drain flies.

Be sure to treat grass areas where decaying material may accumulate. Also, perform a perimeter barrier treatment for overall protection from pests. And finally, be sure to spray around window and door sills to keep out flying insects.