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.

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

Emergency Septic Service in Tuscola, IL

A septic backup does not wait for a convenient time. Maybe sewage is coming up through a drain in your Tuscola 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 Tuscola and Villa Grove, Arcola, Atwood 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.

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.

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.

Avoiding another septic emergency

Regular pumping, an effluent filter cleaned at each visit, and care about what goes down the drains prevent most emergencies. Fix leaking toilets and faucets, keep roof water away from the tank and field, and know where your tank lid is so a crew can reach it quickly if something does go wrong.

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 Douglas County health department can confirm whether a permit is needed for repairs in Tuscola.

A septic backup in Douglas County

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

Local conditions behind septic emergencies in Tuscola

Most mapped soils near Tuscola 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 Tuscola, 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 Tuscola that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Tuscola, the USDA soil survey rates 95% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 5% as somewhat limited and 0% as not limited. The most common drainage class is poorly 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.

Tuscola averages about 41 inches of precipitation a year, and June is usually the wettest month. Average temperatures stay below freezing for about 3 months a year, with January averaging 26°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 Tuscola means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Tuscola as 32% poorly drained, 31% somewhat poorly drained, 27% moderately well drained, 5% very poorly drained, 5% well drained. Backups and wet spots are most common after heavy rain, and with 68% 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 Tuscola

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

Martin Excavating, Hammond, IL, 15.6 mi
Bruder Tank, Sullivan, IL, 22.7 mi
Gulliford Septic & Sewer Service, Urbana, IL, 22.9 mi
J & S Waste Water Systems Inc, Urbana, IL, 23.2 mi
Ray's Plumbing & Heating, Homer, IL, 23.6 mi
Riley's Sewer Service, Decatur, IL, 37.8 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

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

Villa Grove, 7.8 mi
Arcola, 7.9 mi
Atwood, 9.9 mi
Arthur, 11.7 mi
Tolono, 13.5 mi
Philo, 15.7 mi

About Tuscola, IL

Tuscola is in Douglas County, Illinois. About 4,614 people live there, across 2.9 square miles of land (about 1,565 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Tuscola

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