Did you know that drains can be home to many unwanted pests? In fact, these hidden spaces can attract pests looking for food and moisture.
Understanding what lives in your drains and how to get rid of them is essential for keeping your home pest-free during the fall season.
1. Pill Bugs (Roly-Polies)
Pill bugs, also called roly-polies, thrive in damp environments like your drains. These crustaceans prefer areas with high moisture, as they need water to breathe through their gills.
In drains, they scavenge for decaying organic matter such as food scraps or mold. Although they aren’t dangerous, their presence indicates excess moisture and decaying matter, which can lead to more serious issues like mold growth.
How to Get Rid of Them:
- Clean and Dry: Since pill bugs seek moisture, drying out the area can help. Clean your drain thoroughly, removing any decaying matter.
- Reduce Moisture: Use dehumidifiers in areas prone to dampness (like bathrooms or basements) and repair any leaks to eliminate their water source.
- Drain Cleaning Solutions: Use a mix of baking soda and vinegar to clean out the drain, or flush it with boiling water to remove organic build-up where pill bugs might be feeding.
2. American Cockroaches
American cockroaches are some of the most common pests found in drains. They are drawn to drains for food, water, and shelter.
Cockroaches are highly resilient and can survive in damp, dark environments like drainpipes.
They feed on food scraps, grease, hair, and other debris that accumulate in drains. They can also crawl back into your home through drain openings, spreading bacteria and allergens.
How to Get Rid of Them:
- Boiling Water Flush: Regularly flush drains with boiling water to dislodge cockroaches and destroy their eggs.
- Drain Covers: Install mesh covers or drain screens to block cockroaches from entering or exiting through the drains.
- Chemical Treatments: Use gel baits or insecticidal dust inside or around drains where cockroaches are frequent. Make sure the treatments are labeled for use around drains.
- Seal Gaps: Cockroaches often enter through cracks in pipes or drains. Seal these gaps with caulk or plumber’s putty to prevent further infestation.
3. Drain Flies
Drain flies, or sewer flies, breed in the sludge and organic material found in the moist environment of drains.
They lay eggs in the biofilm inside drainpipes, which is why they often swarm around sinks, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. While they don’t pose a health risk, their rapid reproduction makes them a nuisance.
How to Get Rid of Them:
- Clean the Drain: Remove the organic build-up in your drain where drain flies breed. Use a drain brush to scrub the sides of the pipe.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar: Pour baking soda followed by vinegar down the drain. This combination bubbles up and helps clean the pipes, breaking down biofilm where flies breed.
- Boiling Water: Flush the drain with boiling water regularly to kill eggs and larvae.
4. Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are attracted to fermenting organic matter, such as rotting fruit, mold, or food debris in drains. They often inhabit kitchen sinks and garbage disposals, breeding in any moist, food-rich environment.
How to Get Rid of Them:
- Trap Them: Set traps using apple cider vinegar and plastic wrap. The vinegar will attract the flies, and they will become trapped in the liquid.
- Thorough Drain Cleaning: Clean out the drain using a drain brush and a strong enzymatic cleaner to break down any food residue or organic build-up.
- Garbage Disposal Care: If your garbage disposal is involved, use ice cubes, salt, and lemon to freshen it up and remove food scraps where flies may be breeding.
5. Gnats
Gnats, like fruit flies, thrive in areas with decaying organic matter. They can breed inside drains, feeding on the sludge and moisture that accumulate in the pipes.
If you see them around your sink, it’s often because of standing water or built-up grime in the drain.
How to Get Rid of Them:
- Drain Treatment: Use a commercial drain cleaner or make a DIY solution with baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water to clear out the gunk that gnats feed on.
- Trap Them: Set out gnat traps with vinegar or a bit of wine in a dish. Cover it with plastic wrap and poke holes to lure and trap them.
- Dry the Area: After cleaning, make sure the drains and surrounding areas remain dry to reduce their breeding ground.
6. House Centipedes
House centipedes are fast-moving, long-legged insects that thrive in dark, damp areas, making drains and bathrooms ideal hiding spots. They are nocturnal and seek out moist environments to rest and reproduce.
While they aren’t typically found living directly inside drains, house centipedes can crawl in and out of them when searching for food or moisture. These critters are predators, feeding on smaller insects like cockroaches, spiders, and flies, which can also be found around drains.
How to Get Rid of Them:
- Reduce Moisture: Since house centipedes prefer damp environments, it’s crucial to eliminate any moisture sources. Fix leaky pipes or faucets and use a dehumidifier in damp areas.
- Clean Drains Regularly: Keeping drains free of organic build-up and other insects that centipedes feed on is essential. Flush your drains with hot water and use drain cleaners to clear out organic matter.
- Seal Cracks and Gaps: Centipedes often enter homes through cracks in walls or gaps around plumbing. Seal any potential entry points to keep them from finding their way inside.
- Remove Other Pests: House centipedes thrive on other insects, so controlling pest populations like cockroaches and drain flies can help reduce their presence.
- Sticky Traps: Set sticky traps near drains or in areas where centipedes are frequently seen to catch them and reduce their numbers.
A little prevention today can save you from a bigger problem come winter and spring. Regular cleaning, fixing leaks, and sealing any gaps can go a long way in keeping these unwanted visitors away.
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.