Summer is the time of year that we start to see fruit flies, but are they fruit flies or drain flies? Both seem to appear in the heat of summer and can be difficult to get rid of. Drain flies can be identified by their very hairy bodies. They thrive in dark, damp conditions and often find an ideal home inside a drain, in floor or a sink drain, sink overflow or another area open to plumbing. They don’t bite but their presence can exacerbate asthma in some people. These flies lay their eggs in the organic film that lines drain pipes. Homeowners don’t notice a problem until adult drain flies appear in kitchens and bathrooms. Many people believe that pouring bleach down the drain gets rid of drain flies but it might kill a few larvae but bleach passes quickly down the drain and does not penetrate the thick build-up where eggs are deposited. Also, bleach is corrosive at full strength and might not be suitable for older pipes. Some homeowners might research drain flies on Google and after trying bleach might follow up with ammonia. This mixture can create chlorine gas, which is fatal if inhaled and pollutes waterways. To get rid of drain flies you need to use a drain cleaner that has enzymes that eats away the film coating that drain flies eat and lay their eggs in. This treatment is both safe and does not harm plumbing.
