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.

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.

How fast can someone come out in Mattoon?

Response time depends on the company's schedule and where you are. Tell them it is an emergency and describe what you see so they can prioritize and bring the right equipment.

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

Septic Backup or Alarm in Mattoon? Get Help Fast

A septic backup does not wait for a convenient time. Maybe sewage is coming up through a drain in your Mattoon 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 Mattoon and Charleston, Neoga, Windsor will call you back to find out what is happening and when a crew can get there.

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.

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.

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.

Finding the real problem

A careful technician works from the house outward: the line to the tank, the tank itself, the outlet and filter, any pump chamber, then the distribution box and drain field. A camera may be used to look inside pipes. Knowing exactly where the failure is keeps you from paying for work that does not solve the problem.

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.

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.

After an urgent septic call in Mattoon

Once the emergency is handled, ask the Mattoon crew what caused it and what would prevent a repeat. The answer might be a pumping schedule, a new pump or float, or a repair to a line. Clean any affected area inside the home with disinfectant and keep the invoice with your records.

Local conditions behind septic emergencies in Mattoon

Most mapped soils near Mattoon 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. June is usually the wettest month in Mattoon, 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 Mattoon that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Mattoon, 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 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.

Mattoon averages about 43 inches of precipitation a year, and June 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 Mattoon means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Mattoon as 35% well drained, 24% moderately well drained, 17% poorly drained, 17% somewhat poorly drained, 6% very poorly drained. Backups and wet spots are most common after heavy rain, and with 40% 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 Mattoon

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

Bruder Tank, Sullivan, IL, 15.9 mi
Martin Excavating, Hammond, IL, 23.0 mi
Wasson Septic Service, Shumway, IL, 26.6 mi
Snearley & Co, Martinsville, IL, 27.5 mi
Septic Solutions Inc, Dieterich, IL, 28.7 mi
Riley's Sewer Service, Decatur, IL, 40.8 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

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

Charleston, 9.8 mi
Neoga, 11.8 mi
Windsor, 12.7 mi
Arcola, 14.6 mi
Sullivan, 15.4 mi
Toledo, 15.6 mi

About Mattoon, IL

Mattoon is in Coles County, Illinois. About 16,560 people live there, across 10.3 square miles of land (about 1,606 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Mattoon

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.
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.
How fast can someone come out in Mattoon?: Response time depends on the company's schedule and where you are. Tell them it is an emergency and describe what you see so they can prioritize and bring the right equipment.
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 Coles County health department, or ask the septic company to handle permits for you.