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 DeKalb County health department, or ask the septic company to handle permits for you.

Septic Backup or Alarm in Stone Mountain? Get Help Fast

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 Stone Mountain. Tell them what you are seeing so they can bring the right equipment on the first trip.

Limit the damage while you wait

The fastest way to limit damage is to stop adding water. If sewage has reached a floor, keep people out of the area, open windows for air and avoid using fans that spread odors through the house. Take photos for your insurance company before cleanup starts, then call a septic company.

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.

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.

How an emergency visit usually goes

The first priority is to get wastewater moving so you can use your plumbing again, which often means pumping the tank or clearing a line. Next the technician looks for the underlying cause. Some fixes happen on the spot, like replacing a float or cleaning a filter. Others, like replacing a drain field, need a follow-up visit, permits and a written estimate.

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.

Questions to ask when you call

Ask how soon a crew can arrive and whether there is an extra charge for after-hours service. Ask whether they can pump and diagnose on the same trip. Confirm they work on your type of system, especially if you have a pump, aerobic unit or mound. After the visit, ask for a written summary of what failed, what was done and what still needs attention.

Common septic emergencies near Stone Mountain

Most urgent septic calls near Stone Mountain come from a full tank, a failed pump or alarm, or a blocked line between the house and the tank. Heavy rain can make any of these worse. A crew can usually tell which one it is within minutes of opening the tank.

Local conditions behind septic emergencies in Stone Mountain

Soil conditions vary around Stone Mountain, 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 Stone Mountain that affect emergency septic service

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

Stone Mountain 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 Stone Mountain means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Stone Mountain as 86% well drained, 8% moderately well drained, 2% somewhat excessively drained, 2% poorly drained, 2% 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 Stone Mountain

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

Amerisep, Stone Mountain, GA, 3.6 mi
Doug Clack Septic Tank Service, Lithonia, GA, 7.4 mi
Tri R Service Septic & Sewer, Snellville, GA, 8.5 mi
Action Septic Pro LLC, Lawrenceville, GA, 13.6 mi
Paul Kizer Septic Tank Pumping, Conyers, GA, 14.9 mi
B JS Septic Tank Inc, Loganville, GA, 15.2 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

We also cover emergency septic service in these towns near Stone Mountain:

Tucker, 3.3 mi
Clarkston, 4.1 mi
Avondale Estates, 5.9 mi
Lilburn, 6.3 mi
Lithonia, 7.3 mi
Decatur, 7.5 mi

About Stone Mountain, GA

Stone Mountain is in DeKalb County, Georgia. About 6,553 people live there, across 1.7 square miles of land (about 3,969 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Stone Mountain

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 DeKalb County health department, or ask the septic company to handle permits for you.