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 O'Fallon. That company provides the service and sets its own prices and availability.

Septic Backup or Alarm in O'Fallon? Get Help Fast

When a septic system fails suddenly, homeowners in O'Fallon 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 St. Charles County can find the cause, pump the tank if needed and get your plumbing working again.

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.

Why septic systems back up

Wastewater backs up when it cannot move forward. That can happen at the pipe leaving the house, inside the tank, at the outlet filter or out in the drain field. A single slow drain usually points to a clog near that fixture. Every drain slowing at once points to the tank or beyond. The technician's job is to find which part stopped flowing and fix that, not just empty the tank.

High water alarms explained

A high water alarm tells you wastewater is rising above where it should be in a pump or treatment tank. The cause might be a stuck float, a failed pump, a tripped breaker or more water coming in than the system can handle. Silencing the alarm is fine, but the underlying problem still needs attention. Tell the septic company what type of system you have and the brand on the control panel if you can see it.

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.

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.

Emergency septic help around O'Fallon

Septic emergencies in O'Fallon and nearby towns such as Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, Cottleville 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 O'Fallon

Most mapped soils near O'Fallon 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 O'Fallon, 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 O'Fallon that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central O'Fallon, 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.

O'Fallon averages about 42 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 29°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 O'Fallon means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around O'Fallon as 39% moderately well drained, 36% somewhat poorly drained, 24% well drained. Backups and wet spots are most common after heavy rain, and with 36% 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 O'Fallon

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

Sweenco LLC, Wentzville, MO, 3.6 mi
Veterans Environmental Service, Bridgeton, MO, 16.3 mi
All American Pumping & Drain, Troy, MO, 19.3 mi
Masterson & Associates, Truesdale, MO, 21.9 mi
Hardin Ready Mix Inc, Hardin, IL, 23.0 mi
A1 Sewage Disposal, Fieldon, IL, 23.0 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

We also cover emergency septic service in these towns near O'Fallon:

Dardenne Prairie, 3 mi
Lake St. Louis, 3.5 mi
Cottleville, 4.1 mi
St. Paul, 4.6 mi
St. Peters, 6.3 mi
Weldon Spring, 6.4 mi

About O'Fallon, MO

O'Fallon is in St. Charles County, Missouri. About 94,074 people live there, across 30.5 square miles of land (about 3,082 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in O'Fallon

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 O'Fallon. That company provides the service and sets its own prices and availability.