Do you have small flies or gnats in your bathroom or kitchen? Have you noticed these little annoying pests buzzing around your sinks, shower, or tub, but you can’t figure out where they came from or how to get rid of them?
You may have a problem with the drains in the plumbing. Drains may hold stagnant water which allows bacteria to collect. Some insects LOVE this type of environment and feed on the gook that might be present in your pipes.
In addition to fruit flies and gnats, you might also find that you have attracted some small, fragile, moth-like creatures known as drain flies. None of these are welcome guests, and, luckily, there are some things you can do to quickly rid yourself of these nuisances.
Get Rid of Any Moist Items
If you have moist towels, clothing, mops, or anything of that sort, get rid of them. Also, if you find small puddles of water or any kind of standing water anywhere, check for leaks and mops up the area. Even a little water can host a colony of larvae.
Attract Existing Flies into a Trap
Remember these flies like moist areas? They also like stinky things like vinegar. Use 5 tablespoons of vinegar with a few drops of dish soap in a disposable cup or water bottle. Cover the cup with plastic wrap and make some holes big enough for your unwelcome visitors to enter. The soap will keep them from escaping.
Clear Your Drains
Clean out your drains with boiling water. You can also heat some vinegar and pour it down the drain. This treatment should destroy any existing gnats, fruit flies, or drain flies and their larvae. Make sure that your drains are flowing clearly using an at-home plumbing snake.
Get Your Drains Professionally Serviced
If you find that you still have standing water in your tubs or sinks, that your fly problems aren’t going away, or that you have slow-moving drains – especially with a sewer smell – it may be time to call your local Dependable, Reliable, and Courteous plumbers at DRC Plumbing and Sewer.