How to Get Rid of Drain Flies in 4 Steps

If you’ve noticed small flies hanging around your drains, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of drain flies as quickly as possible.

Although not dangerous, these tiny moth-like creatures are persistent, and annoying, and can make your kitchen or bathroom seem dirtier than it is.

CDL Plumbing and Drainage are the plumbing experts in Newcastle; we’ve dealt with our fair share of drain flies over the past 15 years. We’re here to help you learn how to stop drain flies from taking over your household drains in a few easy-to-follow steps. We’ll also cover ways you can maintain a fly-free home once the infestation is under control – read on to learn more about preventing and getting rid of drain flies.

What Are Drain Flies?

Before we can tackle how to get rid of drain flies, let’s first identify what drain flies are exactly. Drain flies, or Psychodidae, are small, winged insects with hairy bodies and furry wings, making them look like miniature moths. They typically hang around sinks and drains because they like aquatic to semi-terrestrial or sludge-based habitats, including bathroom sinks, where they feed on the bacteria that builds up over time.

Clogged or blocked drains, especially in areas that are used infrequently, are where drain flies love to live. Drain flies especially enjoy stagnancy and slow-moving water as this is where they lay their eggs. With a frighteningly speedy reproductive cycle of 48 hours, once these pesky flies take hold, they can be difficult to get rid of.

If you’re unsure whether your drains are home to drain flies, you can perform a small test by taping over the opening with duct tape overnight. While the flies might initially stay away from the tape, over the course of the night they’ll eventually fly towards the opening but will get stuck on the tape. When you take the tape off in the morning, you’ll have a good idea of your infestation level.

How to Get Rid of Drain Flies in 4 Steps

1. Unclog and Clean Drains

Freeing up water flow in your pipes is the first step to getting rid of drain flies fast, as they prefer murky environments with stagnant water. There are a number of ways you can clean your drains naturally, including pouring boiling water down your drains or using a wire snake to physically break down grime. You can also mix up a concoction of sugar, vinegar and dishwashing detergent in a bowl and leave it by the offending drain. The flies will quickly smell and be drawn to this potent mixture but will drown once they land in the water.

2. Use a Chemical Cleaning Agent

If a natural approach doesn’t work, chemical cleaners like Drano are available and are ok when it comes to a one-off clean for kitchen and bathroom drain pipes. It can be difficult to access areas like the U-bend in your kitchen sink without professional intervention, so chemical drain cleaners are your best bet (when used with caution) without physically removing the U-trap.

Usually, chemical or enzyme drain cleaning agents need to be mixed up and left to sit in your drains overnight before being flushed out with warm, or boiling water. Each product will come with instructions and it’s best to follow the manufactures instructions closely to avoid damage to yourself or your pipes.

3. Call in the Professionals

In some cases, it won’t be possible to clean your drainpipes thoroughly enough to get rid of a drain fly infestation. If this is the case, you’ll need to call in a plumber to take a closer look. It’s possible you’re unable to get rid of drain flies in sinks and drains around your house because your piping is compromised. If there are kinks and bends that shouldn’t be there or cracks that are letting in bacteria, you’ll need a qualified plumber to properly clean, repair or replace these sections for you.

4. Maintenance

Once you’ve managed to get your drain fly infestation under control, it’s imperative you maintain the results by keeping your drains well cared for and clean. This might mean that you have to make a special effort to use low-use areas in your home more frequently to make sure there’s not a build-up of debris in the drains. You can also clean your drains every other week with a mixture of salt, baking soda, and vinegar followed by boiling water. This should stop any drain flies who make their way into your pipes from breeding.

In kitchen areas, it’s best to keep fruit bowls away from drain openings and ensure your bins are emptied regularly. In bathrooms, it’s good to make sure any stagnant water in showers recesses, sinks and on the floor is swept away quickly and a high standard of cleanliness is maintained to keep the flies away permanently.

Rely on Your Local Drainage Experts

When it comes to how to get rid of bugs coming from drains, it really is best to leave it to the experts. At CDL Plumbing, we take drain fly infestations seriously and will have your drains unblocked and back to full function in no time. We’re proud of our team who are all highly professional and will provide an honest quote before starting any work.

If you’ve done your best to get rid of a drain fly infestation with no luck or you’re wondering how to stop drain flies from returning in the future, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team. We have over 15 years of experience clearing When it comes to how to get rid of bugs coming from drains, it really is best to leave it to the experts. At CDL Plumbing, we take drain fly infestations seriously and will have your drains unblocked and back to full function in no time. We’re proud of our team who are all highly professional and will provide an honest quote before starting any work.

If you’ve done your best to get rid of a drain fly infestation with no luck or you’re wondering how to stop drain flies from returning in the future, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team. We have over 15 years of experience clearing blocked drains and providing advice for our customers across the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas.

Give us a call on 0477 76 2937 or complete our contact form.