A sewer backup is when wastewater can't get out of your house, so it comes back up through the lowest drains, toilets or tubs. If it's happening right now, stop using water, keep people and pets away from it, and call us at (270) 872-7947. We answer 24/7, emergency septic service starts from $199, and we're typically on site in 1-2 hours across Paducah, Murray and Mayfield.
Backups don't wait for Monday. They often hit on a weekend, when the house is full and every drain is in use. This post covers what to do in the first few minutes, what's usually behind a backup on a Western Kentucky property, and why you shouldn't sit on it until the work week starts.
What to do right now
Do these in order. None of them need tools.
- Stop all water. Don't flush, don't run the sink, the dishwasher or the washer. Every gallon you send down has nowhere to go but back up.
- Keep everyone away from it. Sewage carries germs. Keep kids and pets out of the room and don't walk through it in bare feet or socks.
- Watch the power. If water has reached outlets, cords or appliances, don't touch them. Shut that room off at the breaker if you can do it from a dry spot.
- Don't pour drain cleaner in. Chemicals won't clear a stopped main line or a full tank. They just sit in the water you or our crew then have to work in.
- Call us. Tell us which drains are backing up, whether you're on septic or city sewer, and if you know where your tank or cleanout is. That helps us bring the right gear the first time.
When you call (270) 872-7947, you talk to the owners, not a call center.
Which drains are backing up tells you a lot
Before anyone digs, the pattern of the backup points to where the problem is.
- One sink or one tub is slow. That's usually a clog in that branch drain. Our drain cleaning starts from $149.
- Every fixture is slow, or water comes up in the lowest tub or shower when you flush. The blockage is further down, in the main line leaving the house or at the septic tank.
- The yard is wet or smells over the tank or the field lines. The tank may be full, or the drain field (the buried pipes that soak treated water into the yard) may not be taking water.
On septic, a backup can come from the tank, the line between the house and the tank, or the field lines. On city sewer, it's usually the line from your house to the main.
What's usually behind it
These are the usual causes on properties around the Jackson Purchase:
- A full septic tank. If the tank hasn't been pumped in a long time, solids build up until water can't pass through. Septic tank pumping starts from $449.
- A blocked line. Wipes, grease and paper towels stack up in the pipe. So do roots, which find their way into older or cracked pipe looking for water.
- A broken or sagging pipe. A low spot holds waste until it stops the line. A crack lets in roots and dirt.
- A failing drain field. If the field lines can't take water, the tank fills and backs up into the house no matter how often it's pumped.
A pump-out doesn't always fix it. On one job this September, the tank for our customer Todd Jackson was pumped, but the line was still stopped up. So the team came back and hydro jetted the line to get it flowing clear. We wrote more about that kind of job in septic tank pumped but still backing up.
Why it shouldn't wait until Monday
A backup only gets worse with time. Every flush and every shower adds to what's sitting in the line or on the floor. Waiting for the work week means more cleanup, not less.
That's why we keep the phone on. Here's what customers have said about calling us on a weekend, word for word from their Google reviews:
"Called Lucas Sunday night, he was at the house Monday morning to fix our issue. Personable and prompt." (Misty Gwaltney)
"Called them on a Saturday for a full septic tank and they got me in that very same day. They were very professional and knowledgeable and they fixed my issue super quick!" (Sarah)
"We had a septic problem over the past weekend and called Lucas on Sunday. He responded very quickly and the problem was taken care of Monday. He even rearranged his schedule to get here quicker... so quick and thorough and explained everything." (Judy Capp)
We're a small, veteran- and family-owned company based in Hickory, started in 2020 by Lucas Landis. Lucas and Alex are the names you'll see in our reviews.
What we do when we get there
First, we find out where the water is stopping. On a septic system that means locating the tank and opening it to see the level. If the tank is high, it gets pumped. If the tank is normal and the house is still backing up, the problem is in the line between the house and the tank.
To clear a stopped line, we use hydro jetting (from $199). High-pressure water restores flow through the pipe and helps prevent the same blockage coming straight back. For a main sewer line, cleaning starts from $249.
If the pipe itself is broken, we tell you so and show you why. Sewer repair starts from $249, and repairs come with a warranty covering parts and labor. Terms vary by repair type, and we explain them before any work starts.
If the drain field has failed, we'll be honest about that too. Field line repairs come first where they'll work. Full drain field replacement depends on your soil and system, so it's priced by quote after we've seen it.
Common questions about sewer backups
What do you do if your sewer is backing up?
Stop using all water, keep people and pets away from the sewage, stay clear of any wet outlets or appliances, and call a septic or sewer crew. In Western Kentucky, you can reach us 24/7 at (270) 872-7947.
What is the most common cause of sewer backup?
A blockage in the main line is a common cause: wipes, grease and roots building up in the pipe. On septic, a full tank or a failing drain field can also send water back into the house.
How much does a sewer backup cost to fix?
With us, fixing a sewer backup starts from $199 for emergency septic service, and the final cost depends on the cause. Our published starting prices are: emergency septic service from $199, hydro jetting from $199, drain cleaning from $149, sewer line cleaning and sewer repair from $249, and septic tank pumping from $449. Drain field replacement is quote only. We're upfront about the price before we start.
Call us before it gets worse
If water is coming up where it shouldn't, call (270) 872-7947. You'll speak to the owners directly, day or night. We cover Paducah, Murray, Mayfield, Benton and the rest of the areas we serve in Western Kentucky.
Not an emergency yet? Get a free quote and we'll get back to you.
