EMERGENCY SEPTIC SERVICE IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA

COMMON SEPTIC EMERGENCIES

A septic emergency can happen any time. Here are the ones we see most, and what to do while you wait for us.

Sewage Backing Up Into the House

This is the most common call we get. It can mean the tank is full, a pipe is clogged or the drain field has failed. Stop using water right away. Do not flush, run the washer or take showers. Keep kids and pets away from any sewage and call us.

Toilets and Drains Will Not Go Down

If one drain is slow, it may be a plumbing clog. If every drain in the house is slow, the problem is usually in the main line, the tank or the drain field. We can find out which one with a quick check and, if needed, a camera.

Sewage Coming Up in the Yard

Wet, smelly ground over the tank or drain field means waste is not going where it should. Keep people and pets off the area. This often means the tank needs pumping right away or the drain field is failing.

Alarm Going Off on a Pump System

Some systems have a pump and an alarm. If the alarm sounds, the water level in the pump tank is too high. Cut back on water use and call us. The pump, the float or the power to the pump may need attention.

Strong Sewage Smells Inside

A strong smell inside can mean a dry drain trap, a broken vent or a backup starting. Open windows and call us if the smell does not go away.

Why Call Septic Plus in an Emergency

• A local person answers, day or night

• Our shop is on S Elm St in Commerce, close to I-85, US 441 and Hwy 98

• We find the real problem before we fix anything

• We do pumping, repairs, camera diagnostics and drain field work, so one call covers it

• Our family has more than 50 years of septic experience

Emergency Septic Service Near You

We answer emergency calls in Commerce, Jefferson, Maysville, Nicholson, Hoschton, Braselton, Athens, Winder and all of Jackson County. In Commerce? See our Commerce emergency septic page.

Emergency Septic Questions

Do you really answer at night and on weekends? Yes. Septic emergencies do not wait for business hours, and neither do we.

Should I try to open the tank myself? No. Septic tanks hold gases that are not safe to breathe, and lids can be heavy or broken. Let us handle it.

Can I use the bathroom while I wait? Use as little water as you can. Every flush adds to the problem until the tank is pumped or the clog is cleared.

How do I stop this from happening again? Pump the tank every three to five years, keep wipes and grease out of the drains, and fix leaks. We will also tell you what caused the problem so you can avoid it.

Call 770-472-7587 now. Our family is ready to help.

Emergencies After Heavy Rain

Long rains are hard on septic systems in our red clay. The ground around the drain field fills with water, so the field cannot soak up what comes from the tank. You may notice slow drains or backups after a storm. Cut back on water use for a day or two to give the field time to dry. If drains still will not go down, or sewage comes up, call us.

Emergencies at Rental and Vacation Homes

Extra guests mean extra water and extra waste. Holidays, family visits and full rental homes can push a septic system past what it can handle. If you are expecting a full house, it may be smart to have the tank pumped before the crowd arrives.

How to Prevent Septic Emergencies

• Pump the tank every three to five years

• Keep wipes, grease and paper towels out of the drains

• Fix leaks right away

• Spread out laundry

• Keep heavy vehicles off the tank and field

• Call at the first sign of trouble

What Happens When You Call

A local person answers. We ask what is going on, where the home is and if sewage is inside the house. Then we tell you what to do while you wait and get a truck headed your way. When we arrive, we find the tank, check the level and look for the cause. Most backups come from a full tank, a clogged line or a failing drain field. We fix what we can right then and tell you plainly if more work is needed.

After the Emergency

Once things are flowing again, we will tell you what caused the problem and how to keep it from happening again. That may be a pumping schedule, a baffle repair, a camera check of the lines or a look at the drain field. Our goal is to make sure you do not have to call us at midnight again.

Save our number in your phone today: 770-472-7587.

Do Not Wait on Warning Signs

Many septic emergencies start as small signs that get ignored, like a slow drain, a gurgle after flushing or a faint smell in the yard. If you notice these, call us before they turn into a backup. A quick visit and a pump out now is much easier than cleaning up sewage later. We would rather help you early than meet you in the middle of the night.