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Drain flies are tiny flies that are often found flying around the kitchen.
They're annoying, disgusting, and they don't understand boundaries!
Unfortunately, these fruit-fly-looking insects can be extremely difficult to get rid of, because they breed in your drains, and their larvae feed on the gunk in your dirty pipes!
But, don't worry folks! We've spoken with the drain cleaner Barrhaven residents have used since 2006. Following his advice, you can clean your drains, exterminate drain flies, and preserve your sanity!
What are drain flies?
Drain flies are tiny little insects that lay eggs onto rotting organic material.
If you look closely enough, they look like tiny moths. They're fuzzy, grey, and have antennae.
However, they're easily mistaken for fruit flies as they're similar in size and enjoy similar habitats.
The biggest problem with drain flies, is while they only live for a couple of weeks, they can lay eggs several times during their lifetime - and, their eggs can be difficult to deal with.
Signs of a Drain Fly Infestation
Drain flies like to be near standing water. We often find them in our kitchens and bathrooms, because once they find their way into our home, they like to stay!
If you have a drain fly infestation, you'll see tiny insects flying clumsily through rooms with water and drain pipes. These bugs fly slowly and appear to be quite lazy, as they spend a lot of time hanging out on surfaces.
How to get rid of Drain Flies for good
Unfortunately, drain flies breed quickly so they can be quite difficult to eliminate from your home.
However, if you take the following steps, you should be able to rid your home of these pests.
1) Clean the room with the drain fly problem.
Get rid of any sources of food or water for the insects. Scrub the counters, clean the sink, get rid of the garbage, etc.
2) Use a home remedy to clean your drains.
Pour half a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar. If you have a double sink, do this for both drains.
Let the chemical combination bubble for about half an hour.
After that, flush it down with boiling water.
Repeat this every morning and evening until your problem is gone.
3) Catch the adults.
Pour some apple cider vinegar or some other insect bait into a cup, cover it with plastic wrap, and poke several holes through the plastic wrap.
Place the cup somewhere in the room, where the insects will be attracted.
Additionally, you can use a handheld vacuum to catch the fruit flies - but, you're unlikely to catch all of them as they hide.
4) Routine Professional Drain Cleaning.
The most effective way to get rid of infestations is to eliminate their food source.
The gunk and grime that has accumulated in your drain pipes makes for a plentiful food source. As long as you have filth in your drain pipes, drain flies will have a source of food.
Our recommendation is to have a professional drain cleaning service performed on your drain system every now and again. Professional drain cleaners have several kinds of equipment that can powerwash the insides of your drain system and rid your pipes of drain fly food sources.
Once their food source is gone, it's only a matter of time until the fruit fly population in your home starves and dies off.
There you have it, folks! Drain flies can be quite a nuisance, but they're among the easier pest problems for homeowners to handle.
Good luck!
