Drain flies?????? Any experience?

[Belle1962]

When I returned from a trip out of town I had some flies that I thought were fruit flies in the house. (I thought DH had let the bananas either go bad on the counter or threw them in the trash and then didn't empty the trash). Anyway, after bombing twice we called a local pest control company. (The bombs took care of most them but one is one too many for me). They identified them as drain flies and explained it could be different scenarios: 1) there was a clog/slow drain somewhere in the house, the flies were "living" off the stuff there and were coming up through another drain or 2) we have a crack in our pipes "somewhere"/could even be outside and they are getting in that way. They recommended we put bleach down all the drains and then flush them with cold water. We did that but I still see a fly or two around. DH says not to worry they are probably the ones who weren't in the drains when we bleached. I'm worried they aren't going away and we "might" have an expensive pipe problem to fix. The house is less than 3 years old so I hope we don't have a crack in any of the piping.

Does anyone have any other ideas/experience in drain flies?

 

[dcgrumpy]

We had that problem with our last apartment. We came home from vacation, opened the bathroom door and almost had a heart attack. I did the bleach down the drain every couple of days and would use bug spray once a day. It helped but they still kept coming back.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

never heard of "drain flies" but you know, we were gone for a week over the 4th of July and there were maggots in my kitchen sink!!!!! Not tons but enough to totally gross me out. The disposal was clean.....I am sure of that. Well, the next few weeks we dealt with dozens of flies in our house...I know gross!!! I do see some every now and then........very strange....

 

[Tiggeroo]

Ew Ew Ew, why did I open this thread. What was that movie where the family came home and there were flies all over the one room in their house. Oh yeah Ammityville Horror. Ew...
I have a problem with pantry moths that is going to drive me nuts. I have bombed and sprayed and recently bought traps. It is crazy.

 

[4disneyfans]

We recently moved into a new house and the pest control people came out and said they are "drain flies" They only have a 3 day life span and their life starts out as "maggots" Needless to say I was "grossed out". He advised could be coming from a drain that is not being used but never mentioned anything about possible damaged pipes. We have noticed them everywhere outside and at my husband's office etc. Well, here in Florida we get alot of rain and thinking maybe it has something to do with that. I 'swat" them or use hairspray on them when I see them as opposed to bug spray because I have young children in the house. I still see them but not as bad. Hope this helps!!

 

[bananiem]

I had good luck getting rid of them a couple of years ago with the bleach idea. They even recommended doing the drain where my washer drains out. Remember to tubs and shower drains as well as sinks.
Good luck!

 

[Belle1962]

Thanks--forgot about the washer--ran the dishwasher & garbage disposal with bleach but not the washing machine drain. Glad to hear they're not as uncommon as I thought (I REALLY REALLY thought DH had left the trash go while I was out of town).

 

[Diane]

I had never heard of them before until a few years ago. Trying to get rid of them nearly drove me batty. I bought some spray recommended by an exterminator (or was it a plumber?) for about $6 a bottle. It worked a bit, I guess. Then I found something in a store called Odds -n- Ends that was kind of like a Stick-Up, but for flying insects. That seemed to do the trick, and I haven't seen one since. Unfortunately, that store has since closed, and I haven't seen them anywhere else.

 

[doxdogy]

We had the same problem. I finally hung a no pest strip in the kitchen (right by the sink) and in a couple of weeks later they were gone.

 

[tkd lisa]

Something that works for us with fruit flies is to catch them in a bowl of vinegar.

Take a little bowl with vinegar in it, put plastic wrap over it (I usually wrap a hair tie or rubber band around it), then poke little holes with a toothpick. The flies go in after the vinegar, then can't get out. Sounds weird, but it works!

 

[sue Z]

Anyone know what they look like?
We hve had some big flies that we think we finally got rid of.
they had wings and big orange eyes