Emergency Septic Service in Des Moines, IA

When You Need Emergency Septic Service

Stop reading and call us if any of these are happening right now: sewage backing up into a tub, shower, sink, toilet, or floor drain; sewage pooling in the yard; sewage smell inside the house that won't go away; multiple drains in the house running slow or backing up at the same time; or a septic alarm going off (if you have an aerobic or pump-based system). These are signs the system is at or past capacity. Continuing to use water makes the problem worse. Call our 24/7 line at (515) 303-4896 and we'll dispatch the nearest available truck.

What Counts as a Septic Emergency

Not every septic issue is an emergency. A slow drain, a faint smell outside, or a soft spot in the yard can usually wait for the next business day. What turns it into an emergency: sewage entering the living space, sewage actively pooling outdoors where kids or pets can access it, total system backup with no working drains, or a failed effluent pump on an aerobic system. If you're not sure, call. We won't dispatch emergency service unnecessarily, but we'd rather you call and find out it can wait than wait and find out it shouldn't have.

Emergency Pricing and Response Time

Emergency dispatch in the Des Moines metro typically arrives within 90 to 120 minutes of your call. Emergency rates carry a $125 fee on top of standard pumping ($375 to $650 depending on tank size). After-hours, weekend, and holiday calls all use the same flat emergency surcharge. No mystery 'emergency assessment' charges. No bidding up the price once we arrive. The number we quote on the phone is the number you pay, assuming we don't find additional damage requiring authorized repair.

What to Do While You Wait

Stop using water immediately. No flushing, no laundry, no dishwasher, no showers. Move kids and pets away from any pooling sewage. If sewage is inside the home, ventilate the area and keep people out. Do not try to open the septic tank lid yourself: septic gases (especially hydrogen sulfide and methane) can be deadly in confined spaces. Wait for our truck and crew with proper safety equipment. We'll handle it from there.

Septic Service Questions, Answered