How Do I Get Rid of Sewer Ants and Flies?
Finding ants around your bathroom or little flies coming from the drains can be really annoying. You clean the area, spray a few insects, and then they seem to come back again.
In most cases, there is something attracting them. It could be moisture, food, rubbish, a dirty drain, or even a small leak that you haven't noticed.
Why Are Sewer Ants and Flies Showing Up?
There is usually a reason why these pests have turned up.
Small flies around drains are often attracted to the buildup inside the pipes. Grease, food bits, hair and other organic material can collect there over time.
Ants are usually after one of two things: food or water. A few crumbs on the floor, a sticky spill, pet food or moisture under the sink can be enough to attract them.
Bathrooms, kitchens and laundry areas are common places to notice them because there is usually plenty of water and moisture around.
How to Get Rid of Sewer Flies
Start by Cleaning the Drain
If you keep seeing tiny flies around a sink, shower or floor drain, start there.
Inspect the drain opening and clean up any hair, dirt, or mouldy sludge that can be seen in the area. Clean the area thoroughly, including using any drain cleaner you may require.
Just be sure to read the instructions carefully and do not combine different cleaners.
If the flies keep coming back after cleaning, the buildup may be further inside the pipe.
Keep the Area as Dry as Possible
Don't give pests an easy source of moisture.
Check under sinks and around taps, washing machines and pipes for small leaks. Wipe up standing water and try to keep damp areas dry.
A small leak that doesn't seem like much can still attract insects.
Don't Forget the Rubbish Bin
Sometimes the flies aren't coming from the drain at all.
A rubbish bin containing food scraps and waste can lead to a fly infestation, particularly if it is left unattended for a long time.
Empty it regularly and give the inside of the bin a clean when needed.
How to Get Rid of Sewer Ants
Find Out Where the Ants Are Coming From
Before spraying the ants, take a minute to watch them.
You may find them coming through a small gap near a window, under a door, around a pipe or from behind a cupboard.
Once you know where they are getting in, you can seal the opening and make it harder for more ants to follow the same route.
Remove Food They Can Find
Ants don't need much.
A few crumbs, spilled soft drink, sugar or food left on the bench can be enough to bring them inside.
Keep food covered, wipe down kitchen surfaces and clean up spills as soon as they happen. It's also worth checking where pet food is kept.
Seal Small Gaps
Once you've found an entry point, seal it properly.
Check around windows, doors, skirting boards, cupboards and plumbing. Small cracks can be surprisingly easy for ants to use.
Check for Water Leaks
If ants seem to be gathering around your bathroom or kitchen, have a look for moisture.
Check the pipes under the sink, taps and other plumbing areas. Fixing a leak can remove one of the things attracting them.
Does Boiling Water Kill Drain Flies?
Boiling water can assist with a bit of buildup in a drain, but it won't solve the problem of getting rid of drain flies for good.
There is still a chance that organic material is inside the pipe, which is why drain flies can continue to breed.
Thus, when the problem reappears, the best solution is cleaning the drain properly, rather than depending solely on boiling water.
Do Household Insect Sprays Work?
They can certainly kill the insects you see, but that doesn't always solve the actual problem.
You might spray a few flies in the bathroom and not see any more for a day or two. Then they suddenly appear again.
That's because the source may still be there.
The same applies to ants. Spraying the ants on the kitchen bench doesn't necessarily get rid of the nest.
Simple Ways to Stop Them Coming Back
There are a few simple things you can do around the house:
- Keep drains clean.
- Clean up crumbs and spills quickly.
- Empty rubbish bins regularly.
- Fix leaking taps and pipes.
- Keep wet areas as dry as possible.
- Store food in sealed containers.
- Check under sinks and around appliances for moisture.
- Seal cracks around doors, windows and plumbing.
- Clean drains that aren't used very often.
When Is It Time to Get Professional Help?
If you've cleaned the area, fixed obvious leaks and the ants or flies are still coming back, there may be something else going on.
There could be a hidden leak, buildup inside the plumbing, a nest in a wall cavity or another damp area that you haven't been able to find.
At that stage, spraying the insects every time you see them may only give you a temporary fix.
Finding where they are actually coming from is usually the better approach.
Final Thoughts
Sewer ants and flies can be difficult to deal with when you only treat the insects you can see.
Take a closer look at the drains, check for leaks, clean up food and rubbish, and try to find where the ants are getting inside.
Sometimes those simple steps are enough to solve the problem. But when the pests keep returning, there may be a hidden source that needs to be found.
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