Home Emergency Septic Service
Emergency septic service · Cleveland, TN
Emergency Septic Service in Cleveland, TN
Sewage coming up in the tub, an alarm that will not quit, or a yard that smells like the tank? Here is what to do right now, and how to get a truck headed your way.
Call for an arrival window
Price range before we roll
Bradley County and nearby
Do this first
What to do right now if your septic is backing up
- Stop sending water down the drains. No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher. Every gallon you use adds to the backup.
- Keep kids and pets away from any sewage. Do not touch it with bare hands.
- Do not open the septic tank or lean over it. Septic gases can overwhelm a person in seconds, and old lids can give way. Nobody should ever climb into a tank.
- If the septic alarm is sounding, press the silence button and check whether the breaker for the pump has tripped. Leave the rest to us.
- Note what you see: which drains are backing up, when it started, whether it rained hard, and when the tank was last pumped. That helps us bring the right equipment.
- Call us for an arrival window and a price range.
How urgent is it?
Is it a septic emergency, or can it wait until morning?
Not every septic problem needs a truck at midnight. Here is how we would sort it out if you called us.
| What you are seeing | How urgent | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sewage coming up into a tub, shower or toilet | Now | Stop all water use and call right away |
| Septic alarm sounding, drains still working | Today | Silence the alarm, use as little water as possible, call |
| Slow drains all over the house, gurgling | Within a day or two | Cut back on water and schedule service |
| Sewage smell outside, no backup inside | This week | Schedule a pump-out and inspection |
| Soggy spot over the drain field after a big storm | When it dries out | Go easy on water for a few days, then have it checked |
Common causes
What is usually causing a septic backup?
A full tank
The most common cause. If it has been more than 5 years since the last pump-out, start here.
A clogged line to the tank
If the tank level looks normal but nothing drains, the clog is in the pipe between the house and the tank. Wipes, grease and roots are the usual culprits. Pumping will not fix this; clearing the line will.
A blocked or broken baffle
The inlet baffle can clog or fall apart, especially in older concrete tanks. It is also the top reason a system backs up again right after pumping.
A failed pump or float
Systems with a pump tank rely on an effluent pump and float switch. When either fails, water rises and the alarm goes off.
A flooded drain field
After heavy rain, clay soil around here fills up and the drain field cannot take more water, so it backs up toward the house.
Tree roots
Roots find their way into older pipe joints and slowly choke off the line. They come back unless the pipe is replaced.
No surprises
What does an after-hours septic call cost?
Nights, weekends and holidays cost more than a weekday visit. That is true everywhere. What should not happen is finding out the price after the work is done. We have heard from homeowners who paid close to $1,000 for a late-night holiday call because nobody told them the price up front.
When you call us, you get a price range before the truck rolls. And if sewage is not coming into the house, we will tell you honestly if it can wait until regular hours, as long as you keep water use to a minimum. That alone can save you a lot.
See typical prices on our septic tank pumping page.
Local know-how
Why septic backups spike around Cleveland after heavy rain
Southeast Tennessee gets around 50 inches of rain in a typical year, and a lot of ground in Bradley County is slow-draining clay. When a spring storm system parks over the area for a few days, drain fields fill up and have nowhere to send water. Homes on low spots, near creeks, or at the bottom of a hill see it first.
If your system only acts up after heavy rain, write down the dates. That pattern tells us a lot about whether the fix is pumping, repairing the drain field, or redirecting gutter and surface water away from it.
Service area
Where we work around Cleveland
Cleveland and the rest of Bradley County, plus nearby Ooltewah, Harrison, Benton and Ocoee.
Cleveland
South Cleveland
Charleston
Calhoun
McDonald
Georgetown
Hopewell
Ooltewah
Benton
Ocoee
Harrison
Zip codes: 37311, 37312, 37320, 37323, 37364. Not sure if we cover your road? Call and ask.
FAQ
Emergency septic questions
Is a septic backup dangerous?
Yes. Raw sewage carries bacteria and viruses. Keep kids and pets away, wear gloves and boots if you have to walk through it, never use a household vacuum on it, and disinfect hard surfaces once the backup is cleared.
Should I call a plumber or a septic company?
If only one sink or toilet is clogged and everything else drains, start with a plumber. If several drains are backing up, the lowest tub or shower fills with sewage, or the septic alarm is going off, call a septic company.
Can I pour Drano or a drain opener down the drain?
Please do not. Harsh chemical drain openers rarely clear a main line clog, they can kill the bacteria your tank depends on, and they make the job more dangerous for whoever opens the line next.
What does it mean when my septic alarm goes off?
On systems with a pump tank, the alarm means the water level is higher than it should be. Usually the effluent pump or its float has failed, the breaker for the pump has tripped, or too much water is going in at once. Silence the alarm, stop using water, check the pump breaker, and call.
Does homeowners insurance cover a septic backup?
It depends on your policy. Many policies only cover sewage backup if you added a sewer or water backup endorsement. Take photos of any damage and call your agent to check.
How fast can someone get to my house?
It depends on the day, the time and how many calls are ahead of you. When you call, ask for an arrival window and a price range before the truck heads your way.
Can I shower or run the washer if my tank is full?
No. Every gallon you send down the drain has to go somewhere, and right now that is back up into your house or out into the yard. Hold off until the problem is fixed.
Why does my septic back up every time it rains hard?
Usually because the drain field is saturated and cannot take any more water, which is common in clay soil. Pumping helps short term, but repeated rain-related backups often point to a drain field that is failing or was undersized.
Related: Septic tank pumping · Septic repair · Drain field repair · Finding your septic tank
Last updated September 2026.
Septic backing up right now?
Stop using water and call. We will give you an arrival window and a price range.