Flies Musca domestica & drain flies

House flies circling the kitchen have an outdoor source — usually trash cans or pet waste within 100 feet. Tiny flies rising from sink drains are a different pest entirely: drain flies breeding in the film inside your pipes. Naming the fly correctly is 90% of solving it.

Flies — identification photo
Photo credit · CC BY-SA 3.0

Signs you have them

  • Persistent circling in kitchens near doors
  • Tiny fuzzy flies resting on bathroom walls (drain flies)
  • Clusters on sunny exterior walls in fall

What you can do today, free

  • Bleach doesn’t fix drain flies — scrub the pipe film with a brush, then enzyme cleaner
  • Lid + weekly rinse for outdoor bins
  • Check door sweeps and screen tears

Questions, answered straight

Can you treat drain flies?

Yes — identifying the breeding drain and treating the biofilm is part of a Pest Plan visit, and we’ll show you the drain so you can keep it clear.

Often found together