Drain Flies, HELP!!!!!
#1
09-27-18, 07:20 AM
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Drain Flies, HELP!!!!!
So I'm having an issue with drain flies in my master bathroom. I've tried bleaching both the sink and shower drains as well as purchasing bio-drain and doing the same after taking a brush and scrubbing out both drains, but the *******s keep coming back.
Should I try something different? Is there an area of the bathroom I'm missing they could be coming from? Should I be looking in another area of the house besides the bathroom? I feel like no matter how much stuff I dump down the drain or how clean I keep my bathroom I can't get rid of these guys. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Should I try something different? Is there an area of the bathroom I'm missing they could be coming from? Should I be looking in another area of the house besides the bathroom? I feel like no matter how much stuff I dump down the drain or how clean I keep my bathroom I can't get rid of these guys. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
#2
09-27-18, 12:42 PM
I'm assuming that they've been ID'd correctly and are either sewer flies (psychoda) or phorid flies.
Generally wherever the density is the greatest, then they are entering near there and it sounds like the bathroom is that place.
As well as you've cleaned the drains, I'd say that we can eliminate them as a source, as long as they are holding water in the trap. If something changed and the traps aren't holding water, then that would be a likely place no matter how clean they are.
Other potential sources in bathrooms are overflow drains for tubs, though it sounds like you only have a shower. Some sinks have overflow drains.
Otherwise the toilet to floor connection may be how they are getting in, if the wax ring has shrunk or cracked open. Consider putting clear tape around the gap between toilet and floor to see if you trap any coming out.
What is underneath that bathroom? Basement, crawl space, slab?
What is above that bathroom?
Generally wherever the density is the greatest, then they are entering near there and it sounds like the bathroom is that place.
As well as you've cleaned the drains, I'd say that we can eliminate them as a source, as long as they are holding water in the trap. If something changed and the traps aren't holding water, then that would be a likely place no matter how clean they are.
Other potential sources in bathrooms are overflow drains for tubs, though it sounds like you only have a shower. Some sinks have overflow drains.
Otherwise the toilet to floor connection may be how they are getting in, if the wax ring has shrunk or cracked open. Consider putting clear tape around the gap between toilet and floor to see if you trap any coming out.
What is underneath that bathroom? Basement, crawl space, slab?
What is above that bathroom?
#3
10-02-18, 07:33 AM
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#4
10-04-18, 01:07 PM
Good question about the traps holding water. Hopefully someone else will offer.
An idea that I've heard of but never tried myself is to take a clear drinking glass and lightly coat interior with cooking oil and invert over the drain so if any are coming out of drain they will get stuck on the oil. Needs to be a clear glass so that they see light. If there are overflow drains on the sinks you could tape them shut.
An idea that I've heard of but never tried myself is to take a clear drinking glass and lightly coat interior with cooking oil and invert over the drain so if any are coming out of drain they will get stuck on the oil. Needs to be a clear glass so that they see light. If there are overflow drains on the sinks you could tape them shut.
#5
10-08-18, 04:46 AM
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I'm on the back end of a phorid fly infestation. I'll throw out my experience and maybe something might help. They are horrid creatures to be sure.
Be sure of what fly you are dealing with. Phorid flies look like fruit flies with black eyes, you will find them during the day running on and bouncing on windows and at night attracted to lamps and tv and computer screens.
1. If they are coming from a drain, cover all drains with clear (so you can see if you've trapped any) packing tape (don't forget overflow drains in sinks and bathtubs - I didn't even realize my tub had one until I looked for it under the lever for the drain plug). If they are coming from these drains that are covered, you will notice a dramatic decrease overnight. Kill as many as you can in the house after covering the drains.
2. I used Bio Drain and Bio Drain foam (the foam is for the overflow drains).
3. You can also use a Fly Web Wall Outlet Fly Insect Trap. If they are phorid flies, they will be attracted to it and get stuck in the glue strip.
4. Check ALL your plumbing. For me this was key. I thought my dishwasher, that I haven't used in years, was plumbed into my sink trap. It was not. Once I filled the trap with water, phorid flies were gone. It was instantaneous for me.
If you want to check your drains, you can hire someone like Roto Rooter to come in with a camera. But the tape should help rule that out.
I learned a whole lot about these flies after dealing with them for about 6 weeks or more. Good luck. I hope you find the source quickly.
Be sure of what fly you are dealing with. Phorid flies look like fruit flies with black eyes, you will find them during the day running on and bouncing on windows and at night attracted to lamps and tv and computer screens.
1. If they are coming from a drain, cover all drains with clear (so you can see if you've trapped any) packing tape (don't forget overflow drains in sinks and bathtubs - I didn't even realize my tub had one until I looked for it under the lever for the drain plug). If they are coming from these drains that are covered, you will notice a dramatic decrease overnight. Kill as many as you can in the house after covering the drains.
2. I used Bio Drain and Bio Drain foam (the foam is for the overflow drains).
3. You can also use a Fly Web Wall Outlet Fly Insect Trap. If they are phorid flies, they will be attracted to it and get stuck in the glue strip.
4. Check ALL your plumbing. For me this was key. I thought my dishwasher, that I haven't used in years, was plumbed into my sink trap. It was not. Once I filled the trap with water, phorid flies were gone. It was instantaneous for me.
If you want to check your drains, you can hire someone like Roto Rooter to come in with a camera. But the tape should help rule that out.
I learned a whole lot about these flies after dealing with them for about 6 weeks or more. Good luck. I hope you find the source quickly.
#6
11-14-18, 02:29 PM
Drain or Sewer flies
These are so gross! My shower grout is cracking and teensy blank wormy thong would just appear and I notice little flying things with a translocent wing and a little bigger and lighter colored than fruit flies. Fruit flies sort of zip around in flight and the swee flies are more straight line fliers and fast. Bleaching, other cleaners and home remedies will not destroy them. Locating a source by talibg likely entrances like drains, etc. is a good idea although not perfect. I bought a product online called Invade BioDrain (Tockeell Labs Ltd.) that uses natural microbes to eliminate the scummy environment in drains where these things thrive. Check your crawl space for leaks as well. If you call Rockwell, their bio team will tell you all about the pests, I repaired the shower problem and use BioDrain still to keep my drains from getting stinky.
