Emergency Septic Service in Clover & York County, SC
Sewage backing up? Call Keith now at (803) 902-1290. He answers his own phone.Keith Morehead takes emergency calls 24 hours a day, six days a week. Sundays and holidays are sometimes available, so call to ask. You talk to Keith directly, tell him what you’re seeing, and he tells you when he can be there. Call (803) 902-1290.
What to Do in the Next Ten Minutes
- Stop sending water down the drains. No flushing, showers, laundry, or dishwasher. Every gallon you use has to go somewhere, and right now it is coming back.
- Keep people and pets away from the sewage, indoors and in the yard.
- Leave the tank lid alone. Don’t open it or dig for it yourself.
- Call Keith at (803) 902-1290. Tell him what you’re seeing, where it is, and when the tank was last pumped if you know.
When a Septic Problem Can’t Wait
Some septic problems can wait a day or two. These can’t. If you see one of them, pick up the phone.
Sewage Backing Up Indoors
It is coming up in a tub, a toilet, or a floor drain.
Sewage in the Yard
Standing sewage or foul water is surfacing over the tank or drain field.
Gurgling All Over the House
Toilets gurgle and drains bubble in more than one room.
A Sewer Smell Getting Worse
The odor is inside the house and stronger by the hour.
Company Coming
A full house is on the way and the system is already acting up.
Not Every Emergency Is a Full Tank
One recent emergency began as a call from someone Keith had never worked for. The trouble turned out to be the effluent lift pump, the pump that moves wastewater out of the tank and up to the drain field on systems that have one. Keith worked on it for about five hours that day.
That is why he looks past the pump-out on an emergency call. He checks the baffles, and on a pump system he checks the floats and the pump. He can snake a line or run a camera if something is blocking it. If all your system needed was pumping, he tells you. If it needs a repair, he tells you that too, and what it will cost, before he starts.
Keith works on the system from the tank to the drain field. The pipe from the house to the tank belongs to a plumber, and if that is where your problem is, he will say so. Read more on the septic system repairs page and the septic tank inspections page.
“You’re the First Person to Show Up”
In an emergency, the first problem is getting anyone to pick up. One caller reached Keith at 8:23 in the morning after three other septic companies didn’t answer, and told him, “You answered the phone on the first ring.”
“I’ve been trying to get somebody out here for weeks. You’re the first person to show up.”
A customer, to Keith
There is no dispatcher and no answering service. Keith picks up starting at 6 in the morning, and the person who answers is the person who arrives with the truck.
Emergency Septic Service Questions
What counts as a septic emergency?
Sewage backing up into the house, sewage pooling in the yard, or a sewer smell indoors that keeps getting worse. If the plumbing has stopped working altogether, call.
What should I do while I wait for Keith?
Stop using water in the house, keep people and pets away from any sewage, and leave the tank lid closed. If you know where the tank is, clear a path to it from the driveway so Keith can run hose.
Can Keith come today?
Call and he will tell you. If he isn’t already on a scheduled job, often yes. He does his best to get to active backups first.
When does Keith take emergency calls?
24 hours a day, six days a week. Sundays and holidays are sometimes available, so call to ask.
Is there an extra charge for emergency service?
It depends on the situation, so call and ask. Keith tells you the price before he does any work. He charges by the job, not by the hour, and his quotes never include hidden costs.
What does Keith do on an emergency visit?
He stops the immediate problem first. Depending on what he finds, that can mean:
- Finding and opening the tank. About 15 minutes of probing is included.
- Pumping the tank so the house can drain again.
- Checking the baffles and the condition of the tank.
- Checking the floats and the effluent pump on a pump system.
- Snaking a line or running a camera to find a blockage.
Then he tells you what happened and what caused it.
Will Keith pump the tank all the way in an emergency?
Yes. An emergency pump-out is the same as a scheduled one. He pumps the solids, scrapes the floor to the concrete, and shows you the bottom. The septic tank pumping page explains how.
Will Keith find out what caused it?
He looks the system over on every emergency visit. If the cause isn’t visible from the tank, he can snake the line or scope it with a camera.
What if it can’t be fixed on the spot?
Keith gets the system usable again and schedules the repair. If the problem is in the pipe between the house and the tank, that is a plumber’s job, and he will tell you so.
Why Call Keith in an Emergency
He Answers His Own Phone
You reach Keith, not a call center, and he tells you when he can be there.
The Price Comes First
He tells you the price before he starts. It is one price for the job, with no hidden costs.
He Explains What He Finds
You hear what failed and why, in plain terms, before he leaves.
He Says When It’s Not His Job
If you need a plumber and not a pump-out, he tells you. He is state-licensed (OSWWP0079) and insured.
Sewage Backing Up? Call Keith.
Stop using water and call. Keith answers his own phone 24 hours a day, six days a week, in Clover, York, Lake Wylie, Rock Hill, and the rest of York County. Sundays and holidays are sometimes available, so call to ask.