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

Emergency Septic Service in White Haven, PA

When a septic system fails suddenly, homeowners in White Haven 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 Luzerne County can find the cause, pump the tank if needed and get your plumbing working again.

What to do right now

Stop using water. That means no laundry, dishwasher, showers or flushing until the problem is found, because every gallon has to go somewhere. If sewage has come up into the house, keep children and pets away, avoid touching it without gloves and open windows for ventilation. If your system has a pump and an alarm, do not keep silencing and ignoring it. Note what you see, when it started and anything that changed recently, 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.

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.

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.

A septic backup in Luzerne County

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

Local conditions behind septic emergencies in White Haven

Most mapped soils near White Haven 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. About 48 inches of precipitation a year means saturated ground is common, and backups often follow long stretches of rain. 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 White Haven that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central White Haven, the USDA soil survey rates 96% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 4% 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.

White Haven averages about 48 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 24°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 White Haven means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around White Haven as 50% well drained, 19% moderately well drained, 8% poorly drained, 7% somewhat poorly drained, 7% very poorly drained, 7% somewhat excessively drained, 1% excessively drained. Backups and wet spots are most common after heavy rain, and with 22% 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 White Haven

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

George's Sewer-Drain Cleaning, Lehighton, PA, 15.5 mi
Avalanche Septic Co, Stroudsburg, PA, 21.2 mi
May's Sewer & Drain, Hunlock Creek, PA, 22.1 mi
Delong Septic Service, Slatington, PA, 22.6 mi
Rural Septic, Hunlock Creek, PA, 23.4 mi
Lloyd Singer Septic Service, Stroudsburg, PA, 25.9 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

We also cover emergency septic service in these towns near White Haven:

Freeland, 6.3 mi
Weatherly, 8.3 mi
Ashley, 12.1 mi
Hazleton, 12.3 mi
Nesquehoning, 12.7 mi
Wilkes-Barre, 13.7 mi

About White Haven, PA

White Haven is in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. About 1,178 people live there, across 1.2 square miles of land (about 982 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in White Haven

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