What Can You Do to Fend Off Flies?
If you see flies in your facility, don’t turn a blind eye. These filthy pests not only disgust customers but can also contaminate food and other surfaces and cause illness. Our free, comprehensive guide to Flies & Fly Control Strategy breaks down the top concerns for the flies that are the biggest threat to your business. Usually, flies are a symptom of a larger sanitation or maintenance problem, so it’s important to identify the source and take measures to help treat and prevent an infestation.
How to Use IPM for Commercial Fly Control
Because flies pose a constant threat, managing them requires an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy focused on the following:
Inspection
Flies don’t just show up out of nowhere—they’re attracted to specific conditions that you can identify with a little detective work. Before jumping into exclusion measures, take the time to inspect your space thoroughly. Here’s a quick checklist to help you uncover what might be inviting them in:
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Stocked food items: Especially in food-handling facilities, check for improperly stored or exposed food that could attract flies.
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Drains and pipes: Inspect moist, hidden areas where fly larvae might be thriving.
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Outdoor spaces: Look for trash bins, compost, or other potential sources near entry points.
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Building entry points: Check for gaps, cracks, or openings where flies could be sneaking in.
Exclusion
The best way to handle a fight is to not get into one. Exclusion is all about keeping flies outside where they belong.
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Install Air Curtains: These aren't just for AC retention. A properly installed air curtain (also known as a fly fan) creates a wall of air that flies physically cannot penetrate.
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Positive Air Pressure: If your kitchen smells great, you’re essentially inviting flies in for dinner. By adjusting your HVAC system to create positive air pressure (where air flows out of the building when a door is opened, rather than sucking air in), you literally push pests away.
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Mind the Mesh: Screens are your best friend, but size matters. To keep out smaller filth flies, ensure your screens are at least 16 mesh to 1 inch. Anything larger is just an open door for smaller pests.
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The Dollar Bill Test: Check your door sweeps. If you can slide a dollar bill between the door sweep and the floor, a fly can get in. Replace worn sweeps immediately.
Sanitation
Flies need three things: food, water, and a place to lay eggs. Take away these things, and you take away the flies. Two of the biggest culprits are your drains and dumpsters as they both act as welcome signs for flies. Here’s how to clean up their act.
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Drains: Pests like phorid flies feast on the bio-film in drains.Bleach won't cut it—it just slides right over the gunk. Use a biological drain cleaner with enzymes to eat the organic matter. No slime, no breeding ground.
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Dumpsters: Keep dumpsters as far from your building as possible. And don't forget to pressure wash the concrete pad underneath regularly. "Dumpster juice" is a powerful fly magnet.
Mechanical Controls
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a fly gets in. That’s where mechanical controls come in. But simply hanging a zapper isn't enough; you must think like a fly.
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Go Low: House flies are lazy. They spend most of their time patrolling near the floor, not the ceiling. Install wall-mounted Insect Light Traps (ILTs) no more than 3 to 5 feet off the ground for maximum catch rates.
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Don't Showcase the Catch: Never place a light trap where it can be seen from the outside because it will lure bugs in. You also shouldn’t place them directly above food prep areas.
When to Call the Pros
Work with your pest management provider like Orkin to identify areas and conditions that are most likely to attract flies and allow access to your building. Once you have determined potential sources of the problem, you can create a fly control plan that treats existing flies and helps prevent a future infestation.
Contact Orkin to schedule a free commercial pest control inspection and learn more about our commercial fly control services.
Don’t want your bottom line to be harmed by flies? Download our free, comprehensive guide to Flies & Fly Control Strategy to learn everything that you need to know.
More Fly Resources
10 Common Flies Found in Businesses
Identify ten of the most common flies found in businesses and learn how their distinct traits can signal sanitation issues and impact business operations.
Learn key facts about flies, from how different species breed and spread bacteria to why proper identification and prevention matter for your business.
How to Get Rid of Flies in Restaurants
Learn why flies are a major risk in restaurants and discover practical steps to prevent and eliminate infestations through sanitation, exclusion, and proactive fly control measures.
Fly Activity in Food Handling Facilities
Flies in food handling environments seek out food, moisture and shelter. Their activity can contaminate products, spread disease and lead to costly health violations.