Help! Gnats in apartment, not from plants!!?

Question

Has anyone ever had gnats and did NOT have indoor plants? I've moved in my apartment 2 months ago and ever since the first day I've been battling fungus gnats.We have no indoor plants, the apartment is clean, no food left out, no water leaking...nothing. I almost want to move but I have a year lease. The apartment manager sent over a pest guy who claims they don't handle gnats. Also at the time the gnats seemed dormant, so he didn't see any. Now they are in full force. I've tried spraying, bleach & ammonia down drains.. nothing. I can't even find out where they are coming from. I can only kill some by spraying on them directly when they land or when they drown in a cup of vinegar. There are too many to assume they are coming from outside. They are constantly buzzing around me in the kitchen and living room. HELP

Answer 1

Sounds like it could be 'black flies', they look like gnats. Pouring bleach in every drain-(even drains you don't normally use) is the key. Make sure you dont miss any hidden floor drains. After about an hour after pouring in the bleach- flush with plenty or water then put a 1/4 cup of cooking oil in each drain.

Or-it could be fruit flies. They come in apples, bananas, peaches and so on. The flies lay eggs in the fruit out in the field. The bugs hatch out after the fruit lays out in your home a couple days.

Answer 2

Another possibility not listed is moisture in the carpet or walls.  On a warm day when the air conditioner is off feel around the carpet with the palm of your hand. You should be able to detect moisture.  For walls, use a needle or other pin around obvious places there may be leaky pipes.  You should notice the pin goes in very easily if its wet.  Another possible wet wall would be around windows or doors.  As far as catching what is there, the easiest is one of those fly paper coils that hang down from the ceiling.

Answer 3

i have some coming thru the screens of my house in New England,i keep a clean house and yard;seems that they're everywhere this year.

I keep air freshner spray around and hit the screens a few times a day,it helps somewhat;also facing fans out really gives them trouble.