Emergency Septic Backup Service in Dothan, AL

When sewage is coming up through a shower drain, a toilet will not go down, or the septic alarm is going off, you need help quickly. Call (334) 697-4929 and we will try to connect you with an independent, licensed local septic provider who can respond. Dothan Septic Pros is a referral service; we do not pump tanks or make repairs. Availability depends on the providers in your area, especially at night, on weekends and after big storms.

What to do right now

1. Stop using water. No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher. Every gallon you send down the drain has nowhere to go.
2. Keep people and pets away from sewage, inside and out. Raw sewage carries germs.
3. If there is an alarm, it is usually telling you the pump tank level is high. Silence the alarm if it has a button, but do not ignore it. Check whether the breaker for the pump has tripped.
4. Do not open the tank yourself or climb into it. Septic tanks contain dangerous gases.
5. Note what happened. When did it start, which drains are affected, has it rained heavily, and when was the tank last pumped? This helps the provider diagnose the problem fast.
6. Call (334) 697-4929.

Common causes of a septic backup

• A full tank. The most common cause. If it has been more than three to five years since pumping, this is the first suspect.
• A clog between the house and tank. Wipes, grease or roots in the sewer line can stop flow even with a healthy tank.
• A clogged effluent filter or outlet baffle. Water cannot leave the tank, so it backs up.
• A failed pump or float. On systems with a pump tank, a dead pump means nothing moves to the field.
• A saturated drain field. After days of heavy rain, the soil may not take any more water. Dothan's wettest months are usually July and August, and tropical systems can bring several inches at once.
• A failing drain field. If backups keep coming back after pumping, the field itself may be clogged.

Septic emergencies in Dothan: local things to know

• City sewer or septic? If your home is on Dothan Utilities sewer, a backup is a plumbing or city-line problem, not a septic one. Dothan Utilities lists 334-615-3302 for water, wastewater and power emergencies. If you have no sewer charge on your bill, you are on septic and need a pumper.
• Power outages. Pump tanks, mound systems and aerobic units stop working without electricity. When Hurricane Michael's eye passed near Gordon in October 2018, Alabama Power alone had about 10,000 customers out in Houston County the first morning, and outside crews were brought into Dothan for what were described as widespread and long-term outages. During an outage, cut water use to a minimum; once the power returns, check whether the alarm is sounding and whether the breaker tripped.
• Cloudbursts. On March 18, 2022, Dothan gauges recorded roughly 4 to nearly 7 inches in about four hours. A storm like that can saturate a drain field in an afternoon. If drains slow during heavy rain, stop laundry and long showers until the ground drains.
• Repairs after the emergency. Pumping needs no homeowner permit, but repairs do. In Houston County the permit comes from the health department's environmental office on East Cottonwood Road; see our permit guide.

What the provider will do

Most emergency calls start with finding and opening the tank. If the tank is full, pumping relieves the backup right away. The provider then checks why it filled: whether the inlet line is clear, the baffles and filter are working, and water is not flowing back from the field. On pump systems they check the breaker, floats and pump. If the line from the house is clogged, they may jet or snake it, or refer you to a plumber if the clog is inside the home.

What emergency service costs

Prices below are typical national-guide ranges, not quotes. Emergency service often costs more than a scheduled visit.

Ask for the price, or at least the trip charge and hourly or flat rate, before the provider heads out. If the backup can safely wait until the next business day, you may save money.

How long it takes

Response times depend on the provider's schedule and the weather. After a major storm, many homes may call at once. The pumping itself usually takes about an hour once the tank is open. Repairs may need a follow-up visit, and some, such as drain field work, need a county health department permit before they can be done.

Cleaning up after a backup

• Wear gloves and boots. Keep children and pets out until the area is cleaned and disinfected.
• Throw away porous items soaked with sewage, such as rugs and some padding.
• Clean hard surfaces with detergent and then a disinfectant.
• For a large backup into living space, consider a professional water damage and cleanup company, and call your homeowner's insurance to ask about coverage.

Preventing the next one

• Pump on schedule, usually every three to five years for a typical home.
• Do not flush wipes, even ones labeled flushable, or pour grease down drains.
• Fix running toilets and leaky faucets that add water to the system.
• Spread out laundry instead of doing many loads in one day, especially during wet spells.
• Keep vehicles off the drain field and plant only grass over it.

Our maintenance schedule page has more.

Licensing and permits in Alabama

In Alabama, septic work is regulated at two levels. The Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board (AOWB) licenses the people who do the work: pumpers, installers (at basic and advanced levels) and tank manufacturers. Anyone working as a septic pumper or installer is required to hold an AOWB license, or for a company, the person in responsible charge must. The board has an online roster search, so ask for the license number and look it up yourself. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), through each county health department, issues the permits. Under Alabama rules, a permit from the local health department is required before a new onsite system is installed or an existing one is repaired. Routine pumping does not usually need a permit, but repairs and replacements do. Rules can change, so confirm the current requirements with the provider and your county health department.

Questions to ask on an emergency call

• What is your trip charge and rate for this time of day?
• When can you realistically be here?
• What is your AOWB license number?
• If it is not the tank, can you clear the line, or will I need a plumber?

Call (334) 697-4929 now.

Frequently asked questions

Areas we serve

We connect callers across Dothan, Enterprise, Ozark, Headland and the Wiregrass of southeast Alabama, including:

• Dothan
• Enterprise
• Ozark
• Headland
• Taylor
• Kinsey
• Cowarts
• Ashford
• Webb
• Rehobeth
• Newton
• Daleville
• Abbeville
• Slocomb
• Houston County
• Dale County

Local pages: Enterprise, Ozark, Headland.

Related services

• Septic Tank Pumping
• Septic Inspection
• Septic and Drain Field Repair
• Septic Installation and Replacement
• Grease Trap Pumping