Septic Backup or Alarm in Evanston? Get Help Fast
A septic backup does not wait for a convenient time. Maybe sewage is coming up through a drain in your Evanston home, an alarm is sounding on your pump tank, or wastewater is pooling in the yard. The first goal is to stop adding water and get a septic company on the way.
Request a call and a company that serves Evanston and Skokie, Wilmette, Kenilworth will call you back to find out what is happening and when a crew can get there.
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.
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.
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.
What to expect when the truck arrives
Expect the technician to start at the tank, not inside the house. Pumping usually relieves the backup right away, and the crew will then look for the cause: a clog, a broken part or a field that is no longer draining. Ask them to explain what they found before any larger repair is scheduled.
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.
What to ask an emergency septic company
Ask when they can be there and what the trip will cost, including any after-hours or weekend fee. Ask if they will pump the tank and look for the cause on the same visit, and whether they can handle a repair if one is needed. Confirm they serve your address before they head out.
While you wait for help in Evanston
If sewage is backing up in a Evanston 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 Evanston
Most mapped soils near Evanston 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 Evanston, 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 Evanston that affect emergency septic service
Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Evanston, 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.
Evanston averages about 39 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 Evanston means for emergency septic service
By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Evanston as 26% moderately well drained, 24% well drained, 19% somewhat poorly drained, 18% poorly drained, 12% excessively 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 Evanston
These are the septic companies in our directory closest to Evanston, with straight-line distance. Call any of them directly, or send one request and we will pass it to the best match.
- North Shore Sewerage-Drainage Co, Chicago, IL, 6.3 mi
- Folan Sewer & Water Inc, Park Ridge, IL, 6.6 mi
- Busse Green Technologies Inc, Oak Park, IL, 13.3 mi
- Mayrose Sanitary Service, Melrose Park, IL, 13.5 mi
- Tri-County Trenching & Septic, Bensenville, IL, 13.7 mi
- Gerardi Sewer & Water Co, Addison, IL, 19.6 mi
Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns
We also cover emergency septic service in these towns near Evanston:
- Skokie, 2.5 mi
- Wilmette, 2.8 mi
- Kenilworth, 3.1 mi
- Lincolnwood, 3.5 mi
- Winnetka, 4.8 mi
- Morton Grove, 4.9 mi
About Evanston, IL
Evanston is in Cook County, Illinois. About 75,070 people live there, across 7.8 square miles of land (about 9,650 per square mile).
Emergency Septic Service questions in Evanston
- 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.
- Is SepticTank.com the company that comes out?
- No. SepticTank.com connects you with an independent local septic company that serves Evanston. That company provides the service and sets its own prices and availability.