Emergency Septic Backup in Harwich, MA

If sewage is coming up through a tub, toilet or floor drain, stop using water, stay out of it, and call. Here is what to do first.

Request a free callback

Harwich Septic Help is a free referral service. We are not a septic company and do not pump, inspect, or repair systems. When you send a request, we work on matching you with an independent local septic provider, who must hold the required town permit and may pay us a referral fee. Prices, licensing, scheduling and work are between you and that provider.

What should you do if sewage backs up into your house?

Stay out of the sewage. It may contain harmful pathogens. Keep children and pets away.
Stop sending water into the system. Hold off on flushing, showers, laundry and the dishwasher until a professional looks at it.
Call a septic professional. A licensed provider can pump the tank and find out whether the problem is a blocked line, a full tank or a failing leach field.
Call your local health department for guidance (Harwich: 508-430-7509).
Clean up safely. Wear long rubber gloves and a face splash shield. Disinfect exposed areas with 90% water and 10% household bleach, and keep the area out of use until it has been completely dry for at least 24 hours.

Steps 1, 4 and 5 follow US EPA guidance (Resolving Septic System Malfunctions). Steps 2 and 3 are common-sense measures, not EPA quotes.

Sewage backing up now?

Send a request marked Emergency and we will work on matching you with an independent provider, who must hold the required town permit. We have not yet confirmed a provider and cannot promise a response.

Backup or septic alarm right now? Call a licensed septic hauler now from the Town of Harwich licensed septic hauler list.

Request a free callback

What causes a septic backup?

EPA explains that if a drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid it can flood, sending sewage to the ground surface or backing it up into toilets and sinks. Washington State's Department of Health, in its consumer guide, lists other common causes: a clogged pipe between the house and the tank (often fixed by snaking the line), a clogged outlet baffle or effluent filter, or a failed or saturated drainfield. Only an on-site look can tell which one you have.

If your system has a pump chamber or I/A unit with an alarm, tell the provider whether the alarm is sounding; it is useful information for diagnosing the problem. Having your septic plan from the town handy also helps a provider find the tank quickly.

Does anyone offer 24/7 service? Some Harwich-area companies advertise round-the-clock emergency lines. We cannot promise night or weekend availability; it depends on the provider we reach. If sewage is coming in now, keep water use off and follow the steps above while you wait.

Sources: US EPA; Washington State Department of Health, Signs of Septic System Failure.

Warning signs to watch for

Water and sewage from toilets, drains or sinks backing up into the house
Bathtubs, showers and sinks draining very slowly
Gurgling sounds in the plumbing
Standing water or damp spots near or over the septic tank or drainfield (leach field)
Sewage odors around the tank or drainfield
Bright green, spongy, lush grass over the tank or drainfield, even in dry weather

Source: US EPA, Resolving Septic System Malfunctions.

How Harwich Septic Help works

Tell us what is going on. Use the short form: your town, the problem, and how urgent it is. It takes about a minute.
We work on matching your request with one independent provider who serves your town and must hold that town's permit. In Harwich, septage haulers need a Board of Health permit and Title 5 inspectors must be on the town's approved list, so ask the provider to confirm they are on the current list.
The provider contacts you directly, quotes the job and does the work. Price, scheduling and the work are between you and the provider. The referral is free to you; the provider may pay us a fee.

We are not a septic company, inspector or installer, we do not have an office you can visit, and we do not publish reviews or prices we cannot verify.

Request a call back from a local septic provider

Tell us your town and what is going on. We work on matching your request with an independent septic provider serving your area, who must hold the required town permit and contacts you directly. There is no charge to you for the referral.

Sewage backing up or septic alarm sounding? We have not yet confirmed a provider, so call a licensed septic hauler now from the Town of Harwich licensed septic hauler list. You can still send a request marked Emergency — today.

Frequently asked questions

Is a sewage backup dangerous?

Sewage can contain harmful pathogens. EPA advises avoiding contact, contacting your local health department for guidance, and wearing protective clothing such as long rubber gloves and face splash shields for cleanup.

How do I clean up after a septic backup?

EPA says to thoroughly wash all equipment, tools and clothing used in cleanup and the flooded area, disinfect exposed items and areas with a mix of 90 percent water and 10 percent household bleach, and not use the area until it has been completely dry for at least 24 hours.

Is it the septic system or just a clogged drain?

One slow drain is often a local clog. EPA lists backups from toilets, drains and sinks, several slow fixtures, gurgling plumbing, and wet spots or odors over the tank or drainfield as common signs of a failing septic system.

Sources

Facts on this page come from these official and public sources. Rules change; confirm with your local Board of Health.