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Get Rid of Drain Flies

sink drain in a bathroom

If you've ever seen small, dark flies hovering around your drains, sinks, or showers, you may have encountered drain flies. These pesky pests are commonly found in damp areas and can be a real nuisance. While they don't bite humans or pose a major health threat, they can be extremely annoying because of their constant presence near damp areas in your home. If you're wondering how to get rid of drain flies, there are some things you need to learn first.

This guide from DIY Pest Warehouse will provide you with all the information you need to identify drain flies, understand their behavior, and get rid of them in your home. Keep reading to learn more from industry experts you can trust.

What You Should Know About Drain Flies

Whether you have seen small black flies in bathrooms or bugs coming out of drains, it's important to understand these pests before finding a solution to get rid of the drain flies in your home. Here's what you should know:

How to Identify Drain Flies

Drain flies get their name because they are often found near drains, inside and outside homes or business properties. They are small insects, only growing to be about a quarter-inch long or a sixth of an inch long. Their bodies and wings are covered in tiny hairs, which give them a fuzzy appearance.

They have dark and winged bodies that range from gray to dark brownish-black. Because of their size and coloring, they are sometimes mistaken for gnats. Drain flies are most active at night when they are attracted to light, so you might see them near lamps or televisions. During the day, they rest on walls and ceilings. With a clear picture of how they look, it's easy to get rid of the drain flies in your home.

How Drain Flies Breed

Drain flies lay eggs in organic matter that is moist. They can lay 10 to 200 eggs at one time. After the eggs are laid, they hatch in approximately two days. They spend the next 9 to 15 days as larvae feeding and growing before entering the pupal stage for 20 to 40 hours, after which they are considered adults. The life cycle can take as little as eight days to complete, but it might take up to 24 days under varied environmental and temperature conditions.

Where Do Drain Flies Thrive?

If you want to get rid of drain flies, you have to understand where you're most likely to find them. These small flies are often found near moist and organic matter, such as food waste.

They thrive in areas with standing, dirty water and are often found in:

  • Residential and commercial drains
  • Damp kitchen and bathroom sinks
  • Infrequently used bathrooms
  • Sewage systems
  • Near toilet tanks
  • Septic tanks
  • Moist compost
  • Cesspools
  • Dirty garbage cans
  • Other places where rainwater collects, such as tree holes

sink in a kitchen

Potential Hazards of Drain Flies

Before we discuss steps on how to get rid of drain flies, it's important to understand the potential hazards they present in your home. While they are not known to bite or sting humans, drain flies can carry diseases. They have been known to spread bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella, as well as other viruses, including polio and hepatitis.

Drain fly larvae also consume decaying matter, which can cause them to become contaminated with disease-causing bacteria. These contaminants can be transferred to humans when the drain fly comes in contact with food or surfaces that are not properly cleaned. Therefore, it's important to take measures to get rid of drain flies as soon as you see them in your home.

How DIY Pest Warehouse Can Help

If you've seen small black flies in bathrooms or kitchens, or any bugs coming out of drains, then you may have a drain fly problem. At DIY Pest Warehouse, we can help you get rid of drain flies and keep them from coming back. We carry a wide variety of proven and easy-to-use DIY pest control products that will kill drain flies and their larvae, so you can get your home back to being pest-free.

Our solutions include glue, gels, and foams specially formulated to eliminate drain fly infestations right at the source. Simply apply the product to affected drains and let it work its magic. In no time, you'll see a significant reduction in drain fly activity, and your home will be back to being the haven it should be. We offer low prices, reliable product support, and excellent customer service. 

Want to learn how to get rid of drain flies or other pests in your home? Read our pest guides or contact our industry experts.