Septic Backup or Alarm in Ames? Get Help Fast
When a septic system fails suddenly, homeowners in Ames need two things: to keep the problem from spreading and to get a qualified crew on site. Most emergencies trace back to a full tank, a clogged line or a failed pump.
A local company that works across Story County can find the cause, pump the tank if needed and get your plumbing working again.
First steps in a septic emergency
Turn off or stop using every source of water you can: no showers, laundry, dishwasher or flushing. Keep children and pets away from any sewage, indoors or out, and do not try to open the tank yourself. If an alarm is sounding, silence it and leave the breaker on unless it keeps tripping.
What usually sets off an emergency
Most septic emergencies start quietly. A tank goes years without pumping, wipes and grease collect in the outlet, or roots slowly fill a line. Then a holiday with guests, a week of laundry or a storm pushes the system past its limit and the water has nowhere to go but back into the house.
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.
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.
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.
Common septic emergencies near Ames
Most urgent septic calls near Ames come from a full tank, a failed pump or alarm, or a blocked line between the house and the tank. Heavy rain can make any of these worse. A crew can usually tell which one it is within minutes of opening the tank.
Local conditions behind septic emergencies in Ames
Most mapped soils near Ames 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 Ames, 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 Ames that affect emergency septic service
Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Ames, the USDA soil survey rates 80% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 20% 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.
Ames averages about 34 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 20°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 Ames means for emergency septic service
By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Ames as 50% well drained, 17% poorly drained, 9% moderately well drained, 7% excessively drained, 7% somewhat excessively drained, 6% somewhat poorly drained, 4% very poorly drained. Backups and wet spots are most common after heavy rain, and with 27% 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 Ames
These are the septic companies in our directory closest to Ames, with straight-line distance. Call any of them directly, or send one request and we will pass it to the best match.
- Johnson Excavating, Ankeny, IA, 23.7 mi
- Best Portable Toilets, Des Moines, IA, 25.0 mi
- Rogers Septic Maintenance & Repair, Des Moines, IA, 25.7 mi
- Thompson & Son Septic Tank Service, Des Moines, IA, 31.4 mi
- A1 Complete Septic Tank Service, Pleasant Hill, IA, 31.4 mi
- A J Plumbing, Des Moines, IA, 31.9 mi
Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns
We also cover emergency septic service in these towns near Ames:
About Ames, IA
Ames is in Story County, Iowa. About 65,686 people live there, across 28.2 square miles of land (about 2,329 per square mile).
Emergency Septic Service questions in Ames
- 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.
- 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 Ames. That company provides the service and sets its own prices and availability.