
What to do when your septic system backs up
Stop the water, keep people clear, skip drain cleaner, then call a contractor.

Stop the water, keep people clear, skip drain cleaner, then call a contractor.

Records to pull, bedrooms to match and wells to measure before you make an offer.

Six drain field mistakes, ranked from hardest to easiest to undo and fix.

Why soaked soil stalls a drain field, and why not to pump the tank then.

The tank, the drain field and the soil each do one job in your own yard.

SC DES: inspect every 1 to 2 years, pump every 3 to 5. Tank size shifts it.

What the inspector checks, from pump records to the drain field, before you buy.

Slow drains, gurgling, odors, soggy ground or a backup: what each one means.

Upstate red clay means bigger drain fields and tighter margins for owners.

Keep 75 feet between well and septic, and test your well water every year.

Wipes, grease, paint and drain openers: what stays out of your septic system.
From $499 · $699 with a pump or commercial
| Residential, no pump | $499 |
|---|---|
| Residential, with a pump | $699 |
| Commercial | $699 |