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.

Will pumping the tank fix a backup?

Often it gets the house draining again, but it may not fix the cause. If the drain field or a pump has failed, the tank will refill and the problem will return, so ask for a diagnosis along with the pumping.

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 Cumming. That company provides the service and sets its own prices and availability.

Emergency Septic Service in Cumming, GA

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 Cumming. 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.

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.

High water alarms explained

A high water alarm tells you wastewater is rising above where it should be in a pump or treatment tank. The cause might be a stuck float, a failed pump, a tripped breaker or more water coming in than the system can handle. Silencing the alarm is fine, but the underlying problem still needs attention. Tell the septic company what type of system you have and the brand on the control panel if you can see it.

Finding the real problem

A careful technician works from the house outward: the line to the tank, the tank itself, the outlet and filter, any pump chamber, then the distribution box and drain field. A camera may be used to look inside pipes. Knowing exactly where the failure is keeps you from paying for work that does not solve the problem.

Keeping your system out of trouble

Regular pumping and inspection are the best insurance against a surprise backup. Install risers so the tank is easy to reach, which makes service faster in an emergency. Fix leaking toilets and faucets, since constant trickles add up. Plant only grass over the drain field and keep trees at a distance. A maintenance plan from a local company can put all of this on a schedule.

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 Forsyth County health department can confirm whether a permit is needed for repairs in Cumming.

While you wait for help in Cumming

If sewage is backing up in a Cumming 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 Cumming

Soil conditions vary around Cumming, so the cause of a backup can be anything from a clogged line to a saturated drain field. A technician will check both. About 51 inches of precipitation a year means saturated ground is common, and backups often follow long stretches of rain.

Local conditions in Cumming that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Cumming, the USDA soil survey rates 54% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 46% 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.

Cumming averages about 51 inches of precipitation a year, and December is usually the wettest month. January is the coldest month at about 40°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 Cumming means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Cumming as 83% well drained, 8% moderately well drained, 6% poorly drained, 2% somewhat poorly drained, 1% 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 Cumming

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

Septic Service Pro, Buford, GA, 6.8 mi
Hardin Septic Tank Sewer Lines, Alpharetta, GA, 7.6 mi
Banks Septic Tank Service, Cumming, GA, 8.1 mi
Hawkins Septic Tank Co, Alpharetta, GA, 9.0 mi
Amigos Septic Tank Service, Gainesville, GA, 10.8 mi
CW Septic Tank Service, Suwanee, GA, 12.0 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

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

Sugar Hill, 10.1 mi
Buford, 10.3 mi
Milton, 11.2 mi
Suwanee, 11.4 mi
Alpharetta, 12.3 mi
Flowery Branch, 12.5 mi

About Cumming, GA

Cumming is in Forsyth County, Georgia. About 9,471 people live there, across 7.5 square miles of land (about 1,256 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Cumming

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.
Will pumping the tank fix a backup?: Often it gets the house draining again, but it may not fix the cause. If the drain field or a pump has failed, the tank will refill and the problem will return, so ask for a diagnosis along with the pumping.
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 Cumming. That company provides the service and sets its own prices and availability.