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How to Get Rid of Drain Flies Australia In 3 Easy Steps

29 November

When it comes to household pests, you’re always on the alert for rats, termites and cockroaches. But here’s something that might not be on your radar: drain flies and drain fly larvae. Ever been around septic tanks or a sink, a shower or bath, or a kitchen and noticed a teeny-tiny little moth-like fly (or 50) buzzing around?

These annoying moth-like drain flies typically set up shop in your bathroom drains or kitchen pipes and garbage disposals – mainly if there’s much organic matter to feast upon. Are moth flies or drain flies harmful? No. But the real question is simple: how to get rid of drain flies quickly and effectively? Is using a wire brush and pouring hot water into your drains enough for pest control? Or should you lure and trap them using plastic wrap?

Australian Drain Flies In Gold Coast – How To Spot Them

What’s that tiny thing buzzing around in your bathroom? If it:

  • looks like a tiny moth
  • about the same size as gnats and fruit flies
  • Has six legs
  • Has a set of fuzzy wings
  • And a set of antenna

Then it’s highly likely that you’ve run into one of the drains flies Australia-wide is growing to hate. Yes, you read that right. You’re not the only one with a drain fly problem. They’re often called sink flies, sewer gnats, moth flies, filter flies or sewer flies, and the scientific name is Psychodidae. But how do you get rid of drain flies? How do you solve recurring drain fly infestations?

Drain Fly On Blue Wall

Drain Fly On Blue Wall

How to Get Rid of Drain Flies For Good

First things first: don’t panic. As mentioned before, you’re not the only one with sewer flies or a drain fly problem. And although they munch on the gross organic material that lurks in your drains and drain pipes, these little critters aren’t going to kill you.

Moth flies are not as alarming as mosquitos and standing water. And they aren’t going to endanger the structure of your home either, so drain fly issues are not to be a cause for panic. They have been known to trigger asthma symptoms in sufferers if inhaled at the very worst. So, they’re not really that much of an emergency plumbing situation. There are far worse plumbing problems out there.

If you’ve discovered small flies or fly larvae in a shower or bathroom drain, it is most likely where they will lay eggs. Once the eggs hatch into tiny white larvae, it takes about 8-24 days to mature fully. As adult flies, their life span is only two weeks, unlike a housefly that lives up to a month.

Even if your unused bathroom appears clean, without using or thoroughly cleaning it regularly, you’re laying the groundwork for a stagnant accumulation of the slimy stuff and stagnant water that the drain flies find so tasty. And if you can visibly see mould in your bathroom, it’s time to get out the rubber gloves.

Drain Fly Remedy #1: Trapping Drain Flies

Regularly cleaning and flushing your drains is a great way to prevent drain flies. But that solution will not help you get rid of drain flies that have already made their way into your house.

For that, try this easy DIY recipe. Add equal parts of water, sugar and vinegar to a bowl, and now add the secret ingredient: drops of dish soap. The drain flies won’t be able to resist it – and the consequences for them will be dire.

Drain Fly Remedy #2: Boiling water.

But wait! Shouldn’t we be trying to stop the drain flies at the same source? It’s all good and well to know how to kill drain flies once they’ve crawled out of the drain, but what about the ones that are still down there?

For that, the solution really couldn’t be more straightforward. Hot water is your answer! The main problem is usually stagnant drains and pipes that are not often used, and the best way is to pour boiling hot water down the kitchen sink or drain. Not only is this a great way to kill the drain flies, but it will also help to clear your drains of the gunk drain flies love to eat. You can add baking soda and vinegar (apple cider vinegar or white vinegar) to the clear-the-drain ingredients! Let this mixture sit in your drain overnight. The baking soda with white vinegar will surely do an excellent job and clear and clean pipes.

Drain Fly Remedy #3: Go The Extra Mile.

Are you already feeling more relaxed about how to get rid of Psychodidae? It sounds like you’re ready to go one step further to get on top of your drain fly infestation and clean away their breeding ground.

  • Remove any fruit from the area.
  • Empty, clean and dry your bins; regular cleaning is necessary to keep the pests away.
  • Cover your drains with a plug; leave no small holes to fly into when unused.

We regularly install a great product here on the Gold Coast for protecting floor drains. Drain Mate is an Australian-made product. You can easily install it in your existing floor drains. It will reduce noise, trap odours (no more smelly drains), and prevent drain flies. Get in touch today to know more.

Prevent Drain Fly Infestation, Let’s Fix Your Plumbing Problem

While these three remedies should help to eradicate those annoying flies in shower and bathroom areas, one unfortunate fact does remain: you might have an underlying plumbing problem with your drains or pipes. Which means the critters will keep coming back. And you may need professional plumbing services to get rid of drain flies the next time they show up. Luckily, Gold Coast Plumbing Company has all the know-how, experience, equipment and skills to keep your drains, pipes, kitchens and bathrooms running smoothly all year round – so give us a call today!