Can I flush the toilet during a septic backup?

No. Every flush adds water that has nowhere to go. Hold off on all water use until a septic company has found and fixed the problem.

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.

Is SepticTank.com the company that comes out?

No. SepticTank.com connects you with an independent local septic company that serves Bakersfield. That company provides the service and sets its own prices and availability.

Emergency Septic Service in Bakersfield, CA

When a septic system fails suddenly, homeowners in Bakersfield need two things: to keep the problem from spreading and to get a qualified crew on site. Most emergencies trace back to a full tank, a clogged line or a failed pump.

A local company that works across Kern County can find the cause, pump the tank if needed and get your plumbing working again.

What to do right now

Stop using water. That means no laundry, dishwasher, showers or flushing until the problem is found, because every gallon has to go somewhere. If sewage has come up into the house, keep children and pets away, avoid touching it without gloves and open windows for ventilation. If your system has a pump and an alarm, do not keep silencing and ignoring it. Note what you see, when it started and anything that changed recently, then call a septic company.

Common causes of septic emergencies

A tank that is overdue for pumping is the most common cause. Other frequent culprits include a clogged line between the house and the tank or a blocked outlet baffle or filter. A failed pump or a drain field that can no longer absorb water can also cause a sudden backup. Heavy rain can make a struggling drain field fail suddenly. Tree roots, crushed pipes and items like wipes or grease also cause blockages.

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.

How an emergency call usually goes

The crew will ask what happened, then find and open the tank. If it is full, pumping it gives the house room to drain again. With the tank empty they can see whether the inlet is blocked, whether a baffle failed, or whether water is flowing back from the drain field, which points to a bigger repair.

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 Kern County health department can confirm whether a permit is needed for repairs in Bakersfield.

While you wait for help in Bakersfield

If sewage is backing up in a Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield

Soil conditions vary around Bakersfield, so the cause of a backup can be anything from a clogged line to a saturated drain field. A technician will check both. With only about 8 inches of precipitation a year, rain is rarely the trigger here. Heavy water use and clogs are more common causes.

Local conditions in Bakersfield that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Bakersfield, the USDA soil survey rates 47% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 53% as somewhat limited and 0% 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.

Bakersfield averages about 8 inches of precipitation a year, and December is usually the wettest month. December is the coldest month at about 46°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 Bakersfield means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Bakersfield as 53% well drained, 47% somewhat excessively 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 Bakersfield

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

American Septic Tank Pumping, Bakersfield, CA, 1.7 mi
Valley Pumping Service LLC, Bakersfield, CA, 2.1 mi
Fred C Gilbert Co, Bakersfield, CA, 4.7 mi
Super Heroes, Bakersfield, CA, 4.9 mi
AAA Pumping Service, Bakersfield, CA, 7.5 mi
Argo Chemical, Shafter, CA, 14.3 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

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

Shafter, 12.7 mi
Arvin, 16 mi

About Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield is in Kern County, California. About 413,381 people live there, across 150.3 square miles of land (about 2,751 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Bakersfield

Can I flush the toilet during a septic backup?: No. Every flush adds water that has nowhere to go. Hold off on all water use until a septic company has found and fixed the problem.
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.
Is SepticTank.com the company that comes out?: No. SepticTank.com connects you with an independent local septic company that serves Bakersfield. That company provides the service and sets its own prices and availability.