Is sewage in the house dangerous?

Sewage can carry bacteria and viruses. Keep people and pets away, wear gloves if you must touch anything, and clean affected areas thoroughly after the problem is fixed. Large spills may call for a professional cleanup company.

Why did my system back up after heavy rain?

Saturated soil can stop a drain field from absorbing water, and surface water can seep into tanks and lids. The system may recover as the ground dries, but repeated problems after rain point to a drain field or drainage issue that should be inspected.

Should I call a plumber or a septic company?

If only one fixture is slow, a plumber may clear the clog. If several drains are slow or backing up, or there is an alarm or odor near the tank, call a septic company.

Does fixing a septic emergency need a permit?

Pumping and small repairs usually do not. Larger repairs and drain field or tank replacement often do. Check with the Henry County health department, or ask the septic company to handle permits for you.

Emergency Septic Service in Headland, AL

Septic emergencies usually show up as a backup in the lowest drain, a sewage smell that will not go away or a high water alarm. Each of these means wastewater has nowhere to go, and it will only get worse with more water use.

Use the form or call to reach a local septic company working in Headland. Tell them what you are seeing so they can bring the right equipment on the first trip.

First steps in a septic emergency

Turn off or stop using every source of water you can: no showers, laundry, dishwasher or flushing. Keep children and pets away from any sewage, indoors or out, and do not try to open the tank yourself. If an alarm is sounding, silence it and leave the breaker on unless it keeps tripping.

Why septic systems back up

Wastewater backs up when it cannot move forward. That can happen at the pipe leaving the house, inside the tank, at the outlet filter or out in the drain field. A single slow drain usually points to a clog near that fixture. Every drain slowing at once points to the tank or beyond. The technician's job is to find which part stopped flowing and fix that, not just empty the tank.

When the septic alarm sounds

A high water alarm means water in the pump tank or aerobic unit has risen above normal. Press the silence button, cut back on water and check whether the breaker for the pump has tripped. If the alarm comes back on or the breaker trips again, call for service, because the pump may have failed.

What the septic company will do

Expect the crew to ask questions first, then locate the tank and check the water level. If the tank is full, they will pump it so the house can drain. With the tank open, they can see whether the outlet, filter or baffles are blocked, and whether water is flowing back from the drain field, which points to a field problem. For pump systems they will test the pump, float and panel. You should get a clear explanation of the cause and your options.

Preventing the next emergency

Most emergencies are preventable. Pump the tank on a regular schedule, have the effluent filter cleaned, and keep grease, wipes and chemicals out of the drains. Spread laundry across the week rather than doing many loads in one day. Keep vehicles and heavy equipment off the tank and drain field, and direct roof and yard drainage away from them. If you have a pump system, test the alarm now and then.

Choosing help in an emergency

Even in a hurry, a few questions are worth asking. Is the company licensed where you live and insured? Will they explain the cause before recommending major work? Do they handle repairs and replacements, or only pumping? the Henry County health department can confirm whether a permit is needed for repairs in Headland.

While you wait for help in Headland

If sewage is backing up in a Headland home, stop using water right away. Do not run the washer, dishwasher or showers. Keep children and pets away from any wet area in the yard. Open windows for air if there is an odor indoors, and have the tank lid location ready for the crew.

Local conditions behind septic emergencies in Headland

Soil conditions vary around Headland, so the cause of a backup can be anything from a clogged line to a saturated drain field. A technician will check both. About 53 inches of precipitation a year means saturated ground is common, and backups often follow long stretches of rain.

Local conditions in Headland that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Headland, the USDA soil survey rates 49% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 49% as somewhat limited and 2% as not limited. The most common drainage class is well drained. Conditions vary from lot to lot here, so a site evaluation is the only way to know how well a particular yard will handle a drain field.

Headland averages about 53 inches of precipitation a year, and December is usually the wettest month. January is the coldest month at about 47°F on average, so freezing is rarely the main concern here. Heavy rain and saturated ground are the bigger factors for drain fields.

Sources: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO), Soil Data Access; NASA POWER long-term climatology. Soil ratings describe mapped soil types near the city center and do not replace a site evaluation of your property.

What the soil around Headland means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Headland as 73% well drained, 10% somewhat excessively drained, 5% moderately well drained, 4% very poorly drained, 4% poorly drained, 4% somewhat poorly drained. Backups and wet spots are most common after heavy rain, so it helps to know where your tank lid and cleanout are before you need them.

Source: USDA NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO), Soil Data Access

Septic companies near Headland

These are the septic companies in our directory closest to Headland, with straight-line distance. Call any of them directly, or send one request and we will pass it to the best match.

Dothan Vault-Septic Tank Co LC, Dothan, AL, 5.9 mi
R-R Backhoe Dozer Septic, Ashford, AL, 12.2 mi
Ashford Septic Tank Co, Ashford, AL, 12.6 mi
Jones Vault & Septic Tank Co, Abbeville, AL, 13.6 mi
Bill Adams Septic Tank & Vault, Jakin, GA, 29.0 mi
Parrish Enterprises Inc, Enterprise, AL, 29.9 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

We also cover emergency septic service in these towns near Headland:

Kinsey, 4.3 mi
Webb, 7.8 mi
Midland City, 8.5 mi
Dothan, 8.9 mi
Cowarts, 10.6 mi
Newton, 13.7 mi

About Headland, AL

Headland is in Henry County, Alabama. About 5,333 people live there, across 30.3 square miles of land (about 176 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Headland

Is sewage in the house dangerous?: Sewage can carry bacteria and viruses. Keep people and pets away, wear gloves if you must touch anything, and clean affected areas thoroughly after the problem is fixed. Large spills may call for a professional cleanup company.
Why did my system back up after heavy rain?: Saturated soil can stop a drain field from absorbing water, and surface water can seep into tanks and lids. The system may recover as the ground dries, but repeated problems after rain point to a drain field or drainage issue that should be inspected.
Should I call a plumber or a septic company?: If only one fixture is slow, a plumber may clear the clog. If several drains are slow or backing up, or there is an alarm or odor near the tank, call a septic company.
Does fixing a septic emergency need a permit?: Pumping and small repairs usually do not. Larger repairs and drain field or tank replacement often do. Check with the Henry County health department, or ask the septic company to handle permits for you.