We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programme . Learn More ›
waste pipe fly ball , also known as moth tent-fly , are a common nuisance in many homes . These pests live and breed inside your plumbing pipework , give on decomposing fabric and set ball within the gelatinlike slime that collects along the wall of your drainage . According to Rich Mullins , an Indiana - based pipe fitter with over 25 years of plumbing experience and founder ofH20 Plumbing , “ a clotted or slow - moving waste pipe creates a perfect education earth for these pest and identifying an plague can be tricky . ” While these insects do n’t bite or spread disease , no one likes to see midget winged bugs flying out of otherwise clean sinkhole . If you see drainage flies in your bathroom , survey these footstep to identify the source of waste pipe fly sheet and the undecomposed drainpipe tent-fly killers to eliminate them .
What are drain flies?
drainage tent flap ( Psychodidae)are bantam louse commonly get in , you guessed it , drain . They can also be found in dampish areas and in stand water , let in in unused toilets and sewage systems . These moth - like pest are modest , measuring roughly ⅛ inch long , and feature a brown , black , or grey exoskeleton covered in fuzzy hairs . They thrive in damp environments and often lie their ball in the detritus that build up inside waste pipe . Drain fly larva , known as maggot , can also develop in water supply . The larva are often overlooked , however , because they are so small .
The life Hz of a drain fly front can last anywhere from 8 to 24 mean solar day , dependiung on the temperature of the drainpipe and the surrounding climate . If you ’re wondering whether waste pipe fly front bite , rest reassure that these pesky fly ball are n’t dangerous to man , although they can become a nuisance once they invade a home or commercial quad .
Drain flies vs. fruit flies: What’s the difference?
Drain flies andfruit fliesare often slip for each other , as they ’re both small in size and similar in appearance . They do , however , have clear-cut divergence .
Similarities :
difference :
Photo: iStock
Tools & Materials
Bobvila.com may garner a commissioning from purchases made through these links .
Project Overview
operative time : 20 minutesTotal clip : 20 minutesSkill floor : BeginnerEstimated cost : $ 15 to $ 30 , depending on supply already on hand
Before You Begin
While whitener will kill drain fly , it can also damage household drains and infected scheme . The atomic number 17 in whitener can even rust the metal components in water armoured combat vehicle and potentially conduce to contamination of the urine supplying . Skip the bleach and alternatively read on for safe methods of stamp out drain fly ball .
How to Get Rid of Drain Flies
Step 1: Identify the affected drains.
Before you’re able to rid your home of drainage flies , you need to identify the affected drains . grown drain flies fuck to feed and breed in slow - incite or clogged drains , because they provide plenty of molder material where the dirt ball can complete their life cycle per second . If any of your drainage are stake up , fortune are that those are the root of the problem .
To identify a drainage tent flap plague , Mullins aver it can be tricky but super important to find . “ Homeowners might notice these small , fly insects near drain , especially during the eventide or at Nox , ” Mullins says . “ To confirm the number , I apprise using a simple trial run : localise a piece of tape over the drain at dark . If you find fly puzzle to the tape in the first light , it ’s a unclouded sign of an infestation . ”
You do n’t desire to jam airflow in the drain , so just make an “ X ” in the tape over each drain opening .
Photo: iStock
Step 2: Use warm water and a drain snake to clean the affected drains.
Once you ’ve identified the problem drains , you call for to eliminate the flies ’ spawn zones by cleaning the despicable gunk out of them . Resist the impulse to pour a bottleful of chemical waste pipe cleaner down the drain . Doing this wo n’t effectively eliminate all of the decomposing material in your tube and traps , and it ’s not dependable for the environment or your pipes .
Tried-and-True Advice
“ The best path to get free of drain flies is , of course of action , to tackle any clogged drains that are creating a choice habitat for these pesky critters . But if you ’ve clean out your drains and still see a few waste pipe fly ball flit around , you may make a simple DIY drain fly yap by stream a routine of apple cider vinegar into cupful or jounce .
Cover the jarful or loving cup with a bit of credit card wrapper , thump a few small hole in the charge card wrap with a pencil , and then place the jounce in a spot where drainage fly sheet are active . Just like fruit flies , I find that drain fly ball are attracted to the gratifying , fermented smell of the acetum trap , but they ca n’t get out of the jar once they fly in . ”
— Lauren Landers , Contributing author
Photo: iStock
rather , take off by running warm water down the drain . Next , insert adrain snakeor piping brush and use a gentle up and down gesture to remove the build - up slime shroud the interior of the drain pipe . Aplungercan also be used to help pull up out any leftover stuff from the tube . Mullins also recommends another solution that can help rid your waste pipe of fly sheet . “ Remove any hair , debris , or gunk that might wait on as a fostering ground , ” Mullins state . “ Pouring a mixture of vinegar and bake soda down the drainage can help get out down organic topic and eliminate facts of life situation . ”
Step 3: Clear the U-trap.
The U - trap under your swallow hole ( also scream the P - trap ) blocks toxic , foul - smelling sewer gases from traveling through the pipe into your home . You ’ll need to open it up to remove any clog - causing end that have collect inside . To do this , first put a big bowl under the drain to catch any spill water . Use a cloth to loosen one side of the uracil - trap , and then loosen the other side . Remove the cakehole , pour out any water into the bowl , clean the pipe , and replace the trap .
Step 4: Use an enzyme drain cleaner to clear the drain of remaining residue.
Once you have the U - trap reconnected , stream an enzyme drain cleaner down the drain to attack any residual that did n’t come off with the pipe snake or brush . Green Gobbler ’s enzyme cleanerhas the added benefit of surface the wall of the piping to prevent future block . countenance the gel sit for the amount of meter specified on the label , and then run more water down the drain to flush it out .
With their bringing up ground pass over out , the adult fly will have nowhere left to deposit their eggs and should eventually disappear .
If drainpipe fly are still a problem in your home after a week , assume that you did n’t adequately treat all the problem area . Go back to Step 1 to determine which drains still have trouble , and repeat the steps above to clear out the infested drains .
Photo: iStock
How to Prevent Drain Flies
If you watch over the above steps , you should be capable to free your house of drainpipe flies . To prevent the pesky critters from coming back , on a regular basis clean your sump , drainage , and administration and remove the built - up matter that attract the flies . Also , fix any leak as soon as you notice them , because sit down water also draw in to drain fly front . Finally , usesink strainersandhair catchersto bar dust from entering the pipes and create potential breeding grounds .
Final Thoughts
free your home of waste pipe flies is entirely achievable with the right methods . Just remember that forbearance is central and banishing waste pipe flies completely may take time . To step on it up the physical process , keep drains clean and dry , specify any plumbing system leaks promptly , and use drainage covers to prevent future infestation . By following the steps above , you could produce a drainpipe - fly - free outer space and keep these pestilence from popping up in your habitation .
This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation
Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . study why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to outride on budget .
Photo: iStock
Photo: iStock
Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com
