Questions our customers ask
Who to call for drain flies?
Call or text us at 973-510-2585. We find the drains they are breeding in and treat the source for homes, restaurants and other businesses.
Why do drain flies keep coming back?
They breed in the organic film inside drains. Sprays kill the adults you see, but new flies keep hatching until the breeding spot is cleaned and treated.
Can I have drain flies without a leak?
Yes. A drain that is used rarely, or one with buildup inside, is enough; a hidden leak or broken pipe under a floor can also be the source.
What can I do myself?
Scrub the inside of the drain with a stiff brush and keep it clean. Pouring bleach down the drain usually doesn’t remove the film they breed in.
Do you treat drain flies in restaurants?
Yes. Floor drains in kitchens and bars are common breeding spots, and we treat them for commercial customers too.
Are drain flies harmful?
They don’t bite, but they come from dirty drains, so in kitchens and bathrooms you want them gone quickly.
Silver Bullet Pest ControlDrain Fly Control: Get Rid of Drain Flies, Fruit Flies and Gnats
Tiny fuzzy flies on the bathroom wall, gnats over the kitchen sink, or fruit flies all over the bar? Small flies come back until the place they breed is found and cleaned out. Silver Bullet Pest Control tracks down the source — drains, floor drains, wet soil or a broken pipe — and fixes it for homes, restaurants and bars across Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties.
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Text us a close-up photo of one fly — the shape tells us where to look.
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How do you get rid of drain flies?
You get rid of drain flies by finding the drain or wet spot where they breed and physically scrubbing out the slimy film inside it, then treating that spot so new larvae can't develop — killing the adults alone won't stop them. Drain flies lay their eggs in the gunk that builds up inside sink, shower and floor drains, so bug spray in the air and bleach poured down the pipe usually miss the larvae. The same rule holds for fruit flies, fungus gnats and phorid flies: no breeding source, no flies. Silver Bullet Pest Control finds and treats the source in homes, restaurants and bars across North Jersey. Call 973-510-2585.
Where small flies come from
Small flies don't come from nowhere. Each kind breeds in a specific wet, rotting spot — and that's where the fix is.
Floor Drains & Bar Lines
- Flies resting on walls near floor drains
- Clouds of fruit flies around the bar and soda lines
- Flies near mop sinks, dish areas and ice machines
Commercial kitchens and bars have more drains, more spills and more hidden wet corners than any home. Most of the flies we find there are breeding in drains and the gunk under equipment.
Cracked Floors & Broken Pipes
- Flies in a basement or bathroom with no obvious drain problem
- Flies that keep coming back after drains are cleaned
- Damp or sunken spots in a concrete floor
When flies keep coming after every drain is clean, the source can be a broken pipe or a leak under the slab that's feeding wet, rotting soil. Phorid flies are known for this.
Warehouses & Food Storage
- Flies around trash compactors and dumpsters
- Spilled product under racks
- Wet floors near loading docks and washdown areas
Spills that sit under racks and pallets, trash areas and washdown drains all breed flies. We look at the whole building, not just where people are complaining.
Drain fly, fruit fly, fungus gnat or phorid fly?
Four small flies get mixed up all the time. Here's how to tell them apart — and where each one breeds.
| Drain fly | Fruit fly | Fungus gnat | Phorid fly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Looks like | Tiny fuzzy moth, wings held like a roof | Tan body, often red eyes | Thin, dark, long legs, like a tiny mosquito | Small, humpbacked, tan to dark |
| How it moves | Short, weak hops; rests on walls | Hovers around food and drinks | Slow, weak flier near plants and windows | Runs in quick, jerky bursts |
| Where you see it | Bathroom walls, showers, sinks, floor drains | Fruit bowls, trash, recycling, bars | Houseplants, windows, potting soil | Drains, basements, around trash, near leaks |
| Where it breeds | Slimy film inside drains and sewer lines | Fermenting fruit, spilled beer, soda, drain gunk | Wet potting soil and rotting plant matter | Rotting organic matter — drains, broken pipes, wet soil under slabs |
| The fix | Scrub and treat the drain | Remove fermenting food, clean drains and bar lines | Let soil dry out, treat the soil | Find the hidden source — can mean plumbing repair |
Not sure which one you have? Catch one on a piece of clear tape and text a close-up photo to 973-510-2585.
How to find the drain that's breeding flies
Check at night
Flies are easy to spot resting on walls near the source. Note which room and which drain has the most.
Tape test
Put clear tape or plastic wrap over the drain opening overnight, sticky side down, leaving a little gap for air. Flies stuck to it in the morning means that drain is breeding them.
Test every drain
Do it for sinks, tubs, showers, floor drains, laundry tubs and any drain you rarely use — including the basement.
Look past the drains
If every drain tests clean and flies keep coming, check houseplants, trash and recycling, the dishwasher, and damp spots in the floor or walls.
Call for a pro
If you can't find it, or flies come back right after cleaning, the source may be inside a pipe or under the floor — that's where an inspection helps.
Why bleach and bug spray don't fix drain flies
Drain flies lay their eggs in the slimy film that coats the inside of drain pipes — a mix of soap scum, hair, grease and bacteria. The larvae live in that film and feed on it.
- Bleach runs past the film in seconds and goes down the pipe. It may kill a few larvae on the surface, but the layer they live in stays, and new flies hatch.
- Bug spray and fly strips kill adults that are already out. More hatch every day until the breeding spot is cleaned.
- Boiling water can help a little in a clean metal pipe, but it doesn't scrub the film, and very hot water isn't good for every kind of pipe.
- Vinegar traps catch some fruit flies, which tells you you have them — but they don't touch what's breeding them.
What works is mechanical cleaning — a stiff drain brush run up and down the pipe to break up the film — followed by a drain treatment made to break down organic buildup and stop larvae from developing. Then you keep it from building back up.
Our drain fly and small fly process
Identify the fly
Drain fly, fruit fly, fungus gnat and phorid fly all need a different fix, so the first step is knowing exactly which one you have.
Find every breeding site
We check sinks, showers, floor drains, mop sinks, equipment drains, trash areas, plants and any damp spots — and test drains when the source isn't obvious.
Clean and treat the source
Drains get scrubbed and treated to break down the buildup larvae live in. Where adults are a problem we knock them down too, but the source comes first.
Point out repairs
Broken pipes, leaks, loose drain covers and dry traps keep flies coming. We show you what needs a plumber or maintenance and help you set up a cleaning routine.
Fruit flies and drain flies in restaurants and bars
For a restaurant, deli or bar, flies over the food or around the drinks are something customers notice right away — and so do health inspectors. Commercial kitchens breed small flies because they have lots of drains, constant moisture and sugar or grease in every corner.
The spots we find breeding flies most often in North Jersey restaurants and bars:
- Floor drains under dish machines, prep sinks and walk-in coolers
- Bar drains, soda gun holders and beer lines where sugar and beer collect
- Mop sinks and mop buckets left wet overnight
- Under equipment — fryers, coolers, ice machines — where food and water collect
- Trash and recycling areas, especially bottles and cans that aren't rinsed
We treat the sources, set up a drain-cleaning routine your staff can follow, and keep written service records. Scheduled visits help keep fly problems from building up again. More about fruit flies in pubs and bars and restaurant pest control in NJ.
Keeping drain flies and gnats out of your home
Drains once a week
Run a drain brush through bathroom and kitchen drains and flush with hot tap water. Pull and clean hair from tub and shower drains.
Don't let drains dry out
Run water in guest bathrooms, basement floor drains and laundry tubs every week or two so the trap stays full and sewer flies can't come up.
Fruit and recycling
Keep ripe fruit in the fridge, rinse bottles and cans before they go in the bin, and take trash out often in summer.
Houseplants
Fungus gnats love wet soil. Let the top inch dry between waterings and don't let pots sit in water. More: preventing gnats.
More fly help
Get Help With Drain Flies and Gnats
Tell us where you see the flies, what kind of property it is, and how long it's been going on. A photo of one fly helps a lot.
Why people call us about small flies
- Fuzzy little flies in the bathroom that won't quit
- Fruit flies at the bar or in the kitchen
- Flies that come back right after cleaning the drains
- Gnats in a basement or a room with no plants
- A restaurant that needs flies gone before an inspection
Request Service
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Drain Fly & Small Fly FAQ
What are drain flies?
Drain flies, also called moth flies or sewer flies, are tiny fuzzy flies that breed in the slimy film inside drains. They rest on walls near sinks, showers and floor drains.
Why do I suddenly have drain flies?
Usually a drain has built up enough gunk for them to breed, or a rarely used drain has dried out. Warm weather speeds up how fast they multiply.
Are drain flies harmful?
They don't bite people, but they come from dirty drains and sewer areas, so you don't want them landing on food or counters.
Will bleach kill drain flies?
Not reliably. Bleach flows past the film where larvae live; scrubbing the drain with a brush and treating the buildup works much better.
How do I know which drain they're coming from?
Cover each drain overnight with clear tape, sticky side down. The drain with flies stuck to the tape in the morning is the one breeding them.
What's the difference between drain flies and fruit flies?
Drain flies are fuzzy, gray and moth-like and rest on walls; fruit flies are tan, often have red eyes and hover around fruit, trash and drinks.
Why do I have gnats but no houseplants?
They may be drain flies, fruit flies or phorid flies instead of fungus gnats. Phorid flies can come from a hidden leak or broken pipe, so a fly that keeps coming back is worth an inspection.
How long does it take to get rid of drain flies?
Once the breeding source is cleaned and treated, most people see far fewer flies within a week or two. Adults that already hatched die off over the following days.
Do you treat restaurants and bars for fruit flies?
Yes. We find and treat breeding spots in floor drains, bar lines, mop sinks and under equipment, and keep written records for every visit.
Are you licensed for fly control in New Jersey?
Yes. Silver Bullet Pest Control is a licensed NJ pest control company, License 90568B, based in Garfield.
¿Pueden eliminar las moscas de drenaje en mi casa o restaurante?
Sí. Encontramos de dónde salen las moscas, limpiamos y tratamos el drenaje, y le explicamos cómo evitar que regresen. Llame o mande texto al 973-510-2585.
Drain fly control near you
Based in Garfield, we handle drain flies, fruit flies and gnats in these towns and across Bergen, Passaic and Essex counties.
Our service area
Bergen County
973-510-2585- Allendale
- Bergenfield
- Bogota
- Carlstadt
- Cliffside Park
- Closter
- Cresskill
- Demarest
- Dumont
- East Rutherford
- Edgewater
- Elmwood Park
- Emerson
- Englewood
- Englewood Cliffs
- Fair Lawn
- Fairview
- Fort Lee
- Franklin Lakes
- Garfield
- Glen Rock
- Hackensack
- Harrington Park
- Hasbrouck Heights
- Haworth
- Hillsdale
- Ho-Ho-Kus
- Leonia
- Little Ferry
- Lodi
- Lyndhurst
- Mahwah
- Maywood
- Midland Park
- Montvale
- Moonachie
- New Milford
- North Arlington
- Northvale
- Norwood
- Oakland
- Old Tappan
- Oradell
- Palisades Park
- Paramus
- Park Ridge
- Ramsey
- Ridgefield
- Ridgefield Park
- Ridgewood
- River Edge
- River Vale
- Rochelle Park
- Rutherford
- Saddle Brook
- Saddle River
- South Hackensack
- Teaneck
- Tenafly
- Teterboro
- Upper Saddle River
- Waldwick
- Wallington
- Washington Township
- Westwood
- Woodcliff Lake
- Wood-Ridge
- Wyckoff
Passaic County
973-510-2585- Bloomingdale
- Clifton
- Haledon
- Hawthorne
- Little Falls
- North Haledon
- Passaic
- Paterson
- Pompton Lakes
- Prospect Park
- Ringwood
- Totowa
- Wanaque
- Wayne
- West Milford
- Woodland Park
Essex County
973-510-2585- Belleville
- Bloomfield
- Caldwell
- Cedar Grove
- East Orange
- Essex Fells
- Fairfield
- Glen Ridge
- Irvington
- Livingston
- Maplewood
- Millburn
- Montclair
- Newark
- North Caldwell
- Nutley
- Orange
- Roseland
- Short Hills
- South Orange
- Verona
- West Caldwell
- West Orange
Hudson County
973-510-2585Union County
973-510-2585- Berkeley Heights
- Clark
- Cranford
- Elizabeth
- Fanwood
- Garwood
- Hillside
- Kenilworth
- Linden
- Mountainside
- New Providence
- Plainfield
- Rahway
- Roselle
- Roselle Park
- Scotch Plains
- Springfield
- Summit
- Union
- Westfield
Morris County
973-510-2585- Boonton
- Butler
- Cedar Knolls
- Chatham
- Denville
- Dover
- East Hanover
- Florham Park
- Hanover
- Kinnelon
- Lincoln Park
- Madison
- Mendham
- Montville
- Morris Plains
- Morristown
- Mountain Lakes
- Parsippany
- Pequannock
- Randolph
- Riverdale
- Rockaway
- Roxbury
- Whippany
Updated October 2026 by the Silver Bullet Pest Control team, Garfield, NJ • NJ License 90568B