DIY guideSeptic system
Septic backing up: stop using water, never open the tank
Stop every drain in the house, keep everyone away from the backup and the tank, and call for a pump-out.
- 5 to 10 min
- 4 steps
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4 steps
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No flushing, showers, laundry or dishwasher. Every drop you use comes back up the lowest drain.
Keep children and pets away from the drain that backed up, and wear gloves to touch anything it reached.
What backs up carries germs. Wash your hands well afterwards.Keep people and pets off the tank's lids outside, and leave them closed.
Don't lift a lid or lean in to look. Call a septic company for a pump-out, and ask Handyman if you need one.
The gases in a septic tank can make a person pass out in seconds. Never go in, even to help someone: call 911.
What you need
- Rubber gloves
- Old towels
Call a pro if
- A drain backs up with sewage
- The ground over the tank or the field is soggy or smells
- The septic alarm is sounding
Handyman says: Never open it. I'll find a pumper.
Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.
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