Have you recently spotted a few tiny flies fluttering around your kitchen or bathroom sink? You may have even spotted them near the tub drain, in the laundry room or in other wet areas. Drain flies, which are also known as sewer flies, are attracted to standing water. While they are not harmful, they are a real nuisance.
What Are Drain Flies?
There are many species of drain flies, and most of them measure less than 5 millimeters in length. If you can look at one up close, you’ll see that it’s covered in fur and kind of resembles a moth. That’s because they’re a part of the moth family.
If you see one or two of these flies in your kitchen, bathroom or laundry room, you can assume that you likely have many more in your home. They live near shallow and feed on bits of organic matter. That makes your drains an ideal habitat for these pests.
Drain flies multiple every 48 hours and can live for up to three weeks. With this in mind, a seemingly small issue can turn into a major infestation in a short period of time.
How Do You Get Rid of Drain Flies?
The best approach is to thoroughly clean the drains. In some cases, pouring boiling water down the drain will do the trick. You can also use a combination of baking soda and vinegar to clean the garbage disposal and pipes.
While some people will use chemical drain cleaning products, these can damage your pipes. If you continue to struggle with drain flies in your home, a better idea is to contact a professional plumber fordrain cleaning service.
Once the drain flies are gone, you need to ensure that they do not return. Regularly clean your drains using hot water, vinegar, and baking soda. Otherwise, request a regular drain cleaning service from Aztec Plumbing & Drains. To schedule an appointment, call (239) 232-2012.