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

Septic Backup or Alarm in Tower Lakes? Get Help Fast

A septic backup does not wait for a convenient time. Maybe sewage is coming up through a drain in your Tower Lakes 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 Tower Lakes and Lake Barrington, North Barrington, Port Barrington will call you back to find out what is happening and when a crew can get there.

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.

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.

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.

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 Lake County health department can confirm whether a permit is needed for repairs in Tower Lakes.

Emergency septic help around Tower Lakes

Septic emergencies in Tower Lakes and nearby towns such as Lake Barrington, North Barrington, Port Barrington are often handled by the same local companies that do routine pumping, and many keep a truck available after hours. When you call, give the address, describe what is backing up and mention any alarm so they bring the right equipment.

Local conditions behind septic emergencies in Tower Lakes

Most mapped soils near Tower Lakes 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 Tower Lakes, 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 Tower Lakes that affect emergency septic service

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

Tower Lakes 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 22°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 Tower Lakes means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Tower Lakes as 40% moderately well drained, 24% somewhat poorly drained, 12% well drained, 11% poorly drained, 9% very poorly drained, 4% somewhat excessively drained, 1% excessively drained. Backups and wet spots are most common after heavy rain, and with 44% 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 Tower Lakes

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

BMC Enterprises Inc, Oakwood Hills, IL, 4.5 mi
Helmer Septic, Cary, IL, 4.6 mi
Weidner's Septic Service Inc, Lake Zurich, IL, 5.0 mi
Community Sewer & Septic, Mchenry, IL, 10.0 mi
Rieke Septic Service, West Dundee, IL, 11.3 mi
Rechel Septic Systems, Johnsburg, IL, 11.8 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

We also cover emergency septic service in these towns near Tower Lakes:

About Tower Lakes, IL

Tower Lakes is in Lake County, Illinois. About 1,200 people live there, across 0.9 square miles of land (about 1,306 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Tower Lakes

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