Drain Flies and Bleach

Drain flies can be very difficult to control. The eggs are laid in the gelatinous mass which lines drain pipes and larvae hatch and feed on the plant and animal forms found in the mass. Adult drain flies appear seemingly one at a time and the homeowner can become frustrated.

Some homeowners have tried to pour bleach down drains to control drain flies. While bleach might control some larvae, bleach passes quickly down the drain and does not have the proper residence time to control these flies. In addition, bleach might not be suitable for older pipes as bleach is corrosive and people will use full strength bleach from the container. Also, some homeowners have tried bleach followed by ammonia for good measure. This is extremely dangerous as mixing bleach and ammonia can create chlorine gas, a dangerous and potentially fatal gas if breathed.

The most modern control is to remove the film through the use of enzymes. Foaming enzymes applied by professional pest control companies will breakdown the film through the action of the enzymes. Enzyme treatment will not form any dangerous byproducts nor will it harm pipes.