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.

How fast can someone come out in Herndon?

Response time depends on the company's schedule and where you are. Tell them it is an emergency and describe what you see so they can prioritize and bring the right equipment.

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

Emergency Septic Service in Herndon, VA

Septic emergencies usually show up as a backup in the lowest drain, a sewage smell that will not go away or a high water alarm. Each of these means wastewater has nowhere to go, and it will only get worse with more water use.

Use the form or call to reach a local septic company working in Herndon. Tell them what you are seeing so they can bring the right equipment on the first trip.

First steps during a septic backup

Turn off anything that uses water, including the washer and irrigation. If a toilet or floor drain is overflowing, do not keep flushing to try to clear it. Keep people and pets away from any sewage and wash hands well if you come in contact with it. Check whether the problem is in one fixture or the whole house, since that helps the company tell a clogged line from a full tank.

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.

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 Fairfax County

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

Local conditions behind septic emergencies in Herndon

Most mapped soils near Herndon 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 Herndon, and backups tend to rise when the ground stays soaked. About 1 months below freezing each year also bring the risk of frozen lines, especially in shallow pipes or homes left empty.

Local conditions in Herndon that affect emergency septic service

Among the mapped soils within about two miles of central Herndon, the USDA soil survey rates 94% as very limited for septic absorption fields, 6% 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.

Herndon averages about 44 inches of precipitation a year, and May is usually the wettest month. Average temperatures stay below freezing for about 1 month a year, with January averaging 31°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 Herndon means for emergency septic service

By drainage class, the USDA soil survey maps the land around Herndon as 65% well drained, 20% somewhat poorly drained, 9% moderately well drained, 7% 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 Herndon

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

Five Star Septic Inc, Sterling, VA, 1.3 mi
Leigh & Sons, North Potomac, MD, 11.8 mi
Action Tank & Drain Service Inc, Burke, VA, 12.4 mi
Triple R Construction Co Inc, Manassas, VA, 16.7 mi
Septiclean, Manassas, VA, 16.7 mi
Action Tank & Drain Service Inc, Manassas, VA, 16.8 mi

Emergency Septic Service in nearby towns

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

Vienna, 8.5 mi
Fairfax, 9.4 mi
Poolesville, 11.9 mi
Falls Church, 12.8 mi
Leesburg, 13.2 mi
Manassas Park, 14.2 mi

About Herndon, VA

Herndon is in Fairfax County, Virginia. About 24,935 people live there, across 4.3 square miles of land (about 5,818 per square mile).

Emergency Septic Service questions in Herndon

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.
How fast can someone come out in Herndon?: Response time depends on the company's schedule and where you are. Tell them it is an emergency and describe what you see so they can prioritize and bring the right equipment.
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 Fairfax County health department, or ask the septic company to handle permits for you.