Septic emergencies
What should I do if my septic tank is overflowing?
Straight answers from a family owned septic company serving Denver and the Colorado Front Range for over 20 years.
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- Family Owned & Operated
- 20+ Years of Septic Experience
- Serving Denver & the Front Range
- Licensed & Insured
Overflowing septic tank An overflowing septic tank is a tank filled past its outlet that is spilling at the lid, the risers, or the ground above it. The tank is receiving more than it can pass on or hold.
An overflow puts raw sewage at ground level and usually means the outlet, line, or field is blocked, not just that the tank is full.
Stop all water use and call for emergency pumping. An overflowing septic tank means inflow has nowhere to go, either because the tank is full of solids, the outlet is blocked, or the drain field has stopped accepting effluent. Overflow at the lid or riser is a contamination hazard. Do not open the tank yourself. Keep people and pets away from any pooled water and wash anything that contacts it.
What you are seeing
- Water or sewage escaping around the lid or riser
- Pooled water directly over the tank
- Backups inside the house at the same time
- Heavy odor near the tank
What it usually means
Ranked by how often we find each one on Front Range properties.
- 1
Tank long overdue for pumping
Most likelySludge fills the working volume until there is no capacity left for incoming flow.
- 2
Blocked outlet or plugged effluent filter
CommonNothing leaves the tank, so it fills to the top and pushes out at the weakest point.
- 3
Drain field failure
CommonThe field will not accept effluent, so the tank stays full between pump-outs.
- 4
Groundwater flooding the tank
PossibleAfter heavy rain or spring runoff, a leaking tank can take on more water than the house sends it.
- 5
Pump failure in a pumped system
Less commonNo pump means no discharge, and the chamber fills until it spills.
What to do right now
- Shut off water use in the house completely.
- Keep children, pets, and foot traffic away from the tank area.
- Do not lift or stand on the tank lid.
- Do not add bleach or additives.
- Call 720-427-7557 for emergency pumping.
When it is an emergency
Call 720-427-7557 right away if any of these are true.
- Sewage is spreading across the yard or toward a neighbor
- The house is also backing up
- Runoff can reach a well, ditch, or storm drain
What the fix typically involves
Emergency pump-out
We remove the volume immediately so the overflow stops while we look for the cause.
Clear the outlet path
Filter, baffle, and outlet line are checked and cleared so the tank can discharge again.
Verify with a recovery check
If the tank refills fast, the field is the problem and we build a plan from there.
What drives the cost
We do not post flat prices, because the same symptom can be a filter cleaning or a drain field replacement. These are the factors that set the number on your property. You get the price before we start the work.
- Emergency response timing and travel distance
- Volume removed and tank size
- Repairs found at the outlet, filter, lid, or pump
- Whether drain field work follows
Tell us what your system is doing
Send the details and we will tell you what we think is going on and what it takes to fix it. We serve Denver, Westminster, and the Colorado Front Range.
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Septic trouble? We answer the phone.
Family owned and operated, serving the Front Range for over 20 years.