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

Emergency Septic Service in Leesburg, GA

When a septic system fails suddenly, homeowners in Leesburg 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 Lee County can find the cause, pump the tank if needed and get your plumbing working again.

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.

What usually sets off an emergency

Most septic emergencies start quietly. A tank goes years without pumping, wipes and grease collect in the outlet, or roots slowly fill a line. Then a holiday with guests, a week of laundry or a storm pushes the system past its limit and the water has nowhere to go but back into the house.

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 Lee County health department can confirm whether a permit is needed for repairs in Leesburg.

A septic backup in Lee County

If a backup happens in Lee County, the first priority is keeping sewage out of living space and away from people. After that, a pumper can relieve the tank and find the cause. If the drain field turns out to be failing, the Lee County health department may need to be involved in the repair.

Local conditions behind septic emergencies in Leesburg

Soil conditions vary around Leesburg, so the cause of a backup can be anything from a clogged line to a saturated drain field. A technician will check both. About 50 inches of precipitation a year means saturated ground is common, and backups often follow long stretches of rain.

Local conditions in Leesburg that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Leesburg, the USDA soil survey rates 41% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 59% 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.

Leesburg averages about 50 inches of precipitation a year, and August 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 Leesburg means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Leesburg as 71% well drained, 10% somewhat excessively drained, 10% poorly drained, 6% somewhat poorly drained, 3% moderately well 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 Leesburg

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

Page & Sons Service Inc, Albany, GA, 12.3 mi
Diamond Septic Tank Service, Sylvester, GA, 15.5 mi
Warwick Septic Tank Service Inc, Cordele, GA, 17.4 mi
Crimes Septic Tank Service, Preston, GA, 30.0 mi
Milner Septic Tank Service, Cuthbert, GA, 34.6 mi
Tillery Septic Tank Service, Moultrie, GA, 41.8 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

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

Albany, 10.6 mi
Dawson, 16.4 mi

About Leesburg, GA

Leesburg is in Lee County, Georgia. About 3,553 people live there, across 4.9 square miles of land (about 723 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Leesburg

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