Septic Emergencies

In business for 50 years, Herring knows how to handle your septic emergencies!

If you think money problems can stress out your marriage, try having a septic problem. It's something you'll never forget for sure...especially if it ends up all over your finished basement.


Not covered by insurance, is lack of maintenance problems. Sometimes though, you can have a broken pipe due a lawnmower being driven over the pipe.



Herring Sanitation can guide you in the process of submitting insurance claims, including providing the details of the problem and repair.


Here are some common calls we get for Emergency Service:



  • Water is flowing back into the home from the toilet or shower and won't stop
  • Water softener just discharged after all the kids took their showers
  • Days after electrical storms, people who have pump stations will find out their pump has been hit by electricity and burned out, causing pump station to fill up and back up which causes the septic tank to back into the house
  • After a large party, kids have flushed things down the toilet they shouldn't have - GI Joe, Matchbox Car, Barbie Doll
  • Water is dripping from the ceiling or coming out of my light fixtures
  • The toilets are gurgling
  • Water is standing in my shower and won't go down
  • The sink won't go down
  • I have a fountain downstairs, my washing machine won't go down
  • I have water on my lawn
  • I have a stream in my lawn that wasn't there yesterday
  • My realtor didn't tell me I had to pump my tank when I moved in but I saw my neighbor getting theirs pumped - I've lived here 15 years, do I need to get it pumped soon?
  • I have a deer head in my yard that wasn't there yesterday! (Deer had fallen into the septic tank)
  • I have a big hole in my yard
  • My relative just died and I'm going to have a lot of company, please come today
  • We're having a party this weekend and I think I better get my septic pumped before everyone arrives

When to Call Herring Instead of a Plumber

If you have a septic that hasn't been pumped in the last 18 months and you're having a septic problem, call your septic professional first. Otherwise, you will end up paying twice for the work. This has happened many times to Herring's customers. They don't know who to call and their first thought is to go to a plumber. Your plumber may have snaking equipment, but generally the place to start is at your septic tank...checking the baffle for a clog. Most plumbers don't want to follow the problem to the septic tank.

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