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

Emergency Septic Service in Bolingbrook, IL

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

First steps during a septic backup

Turn off anything that uses water, including the washer and irrigation. If a toilet or floor drain is overflowing, do not keep flushing to try to clear it. Keep people and pets away from any sewage and wash hands well if you come in contact with it. Check whether the problem is in one fixture or the whole house, since that helps the company tell a clogged line from a full tank.

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.

If your septic alarm is going off

An alarm on a pump chamber or aerobic unit usually means the water level is too high. Many alarms have a silence button; press it, then cut back on water use. Check that the pump's breaker has not tripped. If the alarm comes back on after a few hours, the pump, float switch or control panel may have failed and needs service. Do not open the pump chamber yourself, since it contains wastewater and electrical equipment.

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.

While you wait for help in Bolingbrook

If sewage is backing up in a Bolingbrook 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 Bolingbrook

Most mapped soils near Bolingbrook are rated very limited for septic absorption, so a drain field that is already working hard can back up quickly when something else goes wrong. May is usually the wettest month in Bolingbrook, and backups tend to rise when the ground stays soaked. About 3 months below freezing each year also bring the risk of frozen lines, especially in shallow pipes or homes left empty.

Local conditions in Bolingbrook that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Bolingbrook, the USDA soil survey rates 100% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 0% as somewhat limited and 0% as not limited. The most common drainage class is moderately well drained. Soils like these often call for careful system design, such as a larger drain field, a mound or another engineered system, and a site evaluation before any new installation or replacement.

Bolingbrook averages about 39 inches of precipitation a year, and May is usually the wettest month. Average temperatures stay below freezing for about 3 months a year, with January averaging 23°F, so tank lids and shallow lines benefit from a layer of snow or mulch rather than being cleared bare.

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 Bolingbrook means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Bolingbrook as 33% moderately well drained, 25% well drained, 19% somewhat poorly drained, 16% poorly drained, 4% very poorly drained, 1% somewhat excessively drained, 1% excessively drained. Backups and wet spots are most common after heavy rain, and with 39% of the soil poorly drained the ground here can stay saturated for days, 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 Bolingbrook

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

Carl's Septic, Lemont, IL, 4.5 mi
Balducci & Son, Lemont, IL, 6.2 mi
G & C Septic & Sewer, Darien, IL, 6.5 mi
Kimble Septic Service & Repair, Joliet, IL, 13.2 mi
American Septic Service, Carol Stream, IL, 14.1 mi
Excalibur Enterprises Inc, New Lenox, IL, 14.6 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

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

Romeoville, 4.2 mi
Woodridge, 4.5 mi
Naperville, 5.3 mi
Lemont, 6.3 mi
Lisle, 7.2 mi
Darien, 7.3 mi

About Bolingbrook, IL

Bolingbrook is in Will County, Illinois. About 74,088 people live there, across 24.9 square miles of land (about 2,976 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Bolingbrook

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