Sewer flies

Sewer flies, also known as moth flies, often cause a lot of nuisance. They are in large numbers in your home and fighting sewer flies is not easy. Want to get rid of these swarms of pests flying in your bathroom or around your sink? In this article, you will read all about control, costs and options, so you can get rid of them quickly.

What does sewer fly control cost?

For sewer fly control, you will pay an average of £50 to £400. These pest control costs include the inspection and call-out charges. The final cost depends on the size of the infestation and whether the breeding site is easily accessible. Check out the average cost of sewer fly control in the overview below. £250

How to recognise sewer flies?

It is important for the specialist to know what kind of pest you are dealing with. You can recognise sewer flies by their round, hairy upper body. The flies are a few millimetres in size and have wings, which are larger than their bodies. Sewer flies often sit together on the wall, near the bathroom or sink.

Habitats of sewer flies

It is possible to find sewer flies both inside and outside your home. The pests nest around damp places, such as your drains, but also in your rain barrel or crawl space. An adult sewer fly lays up to 200 eggs a day, so you’ll have an infestation in no time.

Sewer fly control

You can have sewer flies controlled in various ways. You can also do your bit yourself, for example by cleaning properly and fixing blockages immediately. See below the different steps to have sewer flies controlled.

1. Find the cause of the problem

First of all, it is important to find the cause of the problem. The professional will look for the sewer flies’ breeding nest through an inspection. This is possible with standing water or in the sewer. This is because a blocked or cracked pipe is the ideal place for sewer flies to lay eggs and grow larvae.

2. Carry out work as soon as possible

When the breeding nest is located in a broken or clogged sewer, this should be addressed first. If you don’t have it repaired, chances are you’ll have another infestation in no time. Therefore, have the sewer repaired or unblocked first, before having the flies controlled.

3. Fight the sewer flies

Fighting sewer flies can be done in several ways. Sometimes, repairing the sewer or removing the stagnant water is enough to control the sewer flies. The sewer flies no longer get a chance to lay eggs, so they disappear on their own. In other cases, the professional uses insecticide to exterminate the sewer flies. Keep in mind that you should not enter your home for at least 2 hours after this. The poison will kill the flies as well as the larvae and eggs within a few days.

4. Clean your home

After exterminating the sewer flies, it is wise to clean properly after this. Over the next few days, use a hoover to suck up all sewer flies. Dispose of them immediately in a sealed bag to prevent new eggs from hatching here. Then you can enjoy your pest-free home again. You don’t need to take any extra measures in your garden, because the sewer flies will digest on their own.

Preventing sewer flies

Do you want to prevent small flies from bothering you again in the future? Then take some measures to reduce the chances of sewer flies nesting in your home again. Check out some common options below.

Check for leaks or blockages

The sludge stuck in a broken or clogged pipe is the ideal breeding ground for a sewer fly. The flies feed on the bacteria and fungi, leaving them unaffected by natural enemies. It is therefore important to check carefully whether your sewer is leaking or clogged and, if this is the case, get a professional to come by as soon as possible.

Clean the drains

Also at other drains, such as your gutter, sewer flies are likely to find their home here. Moreover, the leaves that accumulate in these are the ideal food for the larvae. So empty your gutter regularly and check it extra when winter is coming to an end.

Prevent stagnant water

Although you cannot always prevent it, it is important to avoid stagnant water as much as possible. Turn over empty flower pots and put a lid on your rain barrel. Do you have a pond? Then make sure to turn on the pump regularly to keep the water moving. This will prevent the flies from laying larvae in here and you will enjoy a house and garden free of sewer flies all year round.

Tips for controlling sewer flies

You have now read a lot about controlling sewer flies. Before calling in a specialist, it is wise to use the tips below to choose the specialist that best suits your needs.

Choose specialist with a quality mark

You can be sure that the control is in good hands if you choose a recognised specialist. With the NVPB seal of approval and KPMB seal of approval, you are guaranteed that the specialist has sufficient knowledge, making it more likely that the sewer flies will be exterminated immediately in 1 go.

Help with the control

By helping to control the sewer flies yourself, you will get rid of the pests faster and also save on your costs. Although you leave some work to the specialist, you do have the option of already looking for the possible breeding ground yourself. You also save costs by cleaning your home yourself, which means the specialist does not have to visit again.

Take care of all pests

In both summer and winter, there is a good chance that you are not only bothered by sewer flies. For wasp nest removal, mice control or cockroach control, the professional will also be happy to help you. Moreover, you do not have to pay any extra call-out charges, which may also make it even more economical.