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

Emergency Septic Service in Carrollton, IL

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

Keep the problem from getting worse

The fastest way to limit damage is to stop sending water into the system. Ask everyone in the house to hold off on showers, flushing and laundry. If wastewater is surfacing outdoors, keep the area clear. If the power went out and you have a pump system, the chamber may simply have filled while the pump was off. Limit water use until power returns and the pump catches up, and call if the alarm keeps sounding.

Why septic systems back up

Backups usually happen because the tank is full, the pipe from the house is blocked, or the drain field has stopped accepting water. A failed pump in a pump chamber, a broken baffle that let solids into the outlet, and heavy rain that saturates the yard are other common triggers for an emergency call.

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 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.

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 Greene County health department can confirm whether a permit is needed for repairs in Carrollton.

A septic backup in Greene County

If a backup happens in Greene 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 Greene County health department may need to be involved in the repair.

Local conditions behind septic emergencies in Carrollton

Soil conditions vary around Carrollton, so the cause of a backup can be anything from a clogged line to a saturated drain field. A technician will check both. May is usually the wettest month in Carrollton, and backups tend to rise when the ground stays soaked. About 2 months below freezing each year also bring the risk of frozen lines, especially in shallow pipes or homes left empty.

Local conditions in Carrollton that affect emergency septic service

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

Carrollton averages about 40 inches of precipitation a year, and May is usually the wettest month. Average temperatures stay below freezing for about 2 months a year, with January averaging 27°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 Carrollton means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Carrollton as 63% well drained, 25% somewhat poorly drained, 12% poorly drained. Backups and wet spots are most common after heavy rain, and with 37% 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 Carrollton

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

Simpson Excavating, Fieldon, IL, 13.7 mi
J L Nash's Sanitation & Sewer, Jerseyville, IL, 13.9 mi
A1 Sewage Disposal, Fieldon, IL, 16.1 mi
Hardin Ready Mix Inc, Hardin, IL, 17.1 mi
Ron Spickerman Excavating, Bunker Hill, IL, 32.7 mi
Butch Wood & Son Septic Tanks, Jacksonville, IL, 34.2 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

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

White Hall, 10 mi
Greenfield, 11.2 mi
Jerseyville, 13 mi
Roodhouse, 13.2 mi

About Carrollton, IL

Carrollton is in Greene County, Illinois. About 2,394 people live there, across 1.9 square miles of land (about 1,259 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Carrollton

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