Septic Tank Backing Up in Amarillo? Here's What to Do — And Who to Call.
First: stop running water. Second: don't flush. Third: keep reading — the next 5 minutes might save you thousands.
Call (806) 615-3390Get Your Free Quote
First 5 things to do right now
- Stop all running water in the house. No showers, no laundry, no dishwasher, no filling the pet's bowl. Every gallon makes it worse.
- Don't flush any toilet. A single flush on a backed-up system can push sewage up through the lowest fixture in the house.
- If sewage is already in a tub/shower, close the drain to slow the rise. Don't step in it.
- Keep kids and pets out of any yard where you smell sewage or see standing water. It's a health hazard until cleaned up.
- Take a photo if it's safe (do not open the septic tank lid yourself — the atmosphere inside can be dangerous). Then call the line.
What's actually happening
A septic backup is what happens when the tank can't take any more water and effluent pushes back up the drain pipes. Three main causes, in rough order of frequency in the Amarillo area:
Cause 1: Full tank (60–70% of backups). The tank hasn't been pumped in a long time — often 6+ years. Sludge and scum fill the tank to the point where liquid can't enter or leave. The fix is a pump-out. Once pumped, most backups clear within an hour and normal use can resume.
Cause 2: Blockage between house and tank (15–20%). Tree roots, a collapsed pipe, or a clog in the main line. The tank might be fine, but nothing can get to it. The fix is a snake or hydro-jet on the line, sometimes an excavation to repair.
Cause 3: Failed drainfield (10–15%). Effluent can leave the tank but can't leave the drainfield because the soil is saturated or the drainfield has finally clogged. This is the expensive one — usually a $6,000–$18,000 repair. In the Amarillo Panhandle, caliche layers under drainfields are a major contributor.
The pro who calls you back will diagnose which of the three you're facing before the pump truck touches anything.
Amarillo-area cost you might be looking at
Best case, if it's just a full tank: standard pump-out ($320–$450 in Amarillo daytime, $420–$650 after hours) resolves it in one visit, one afternoon.
Middle case, if it's a line blockage: pump-out plus line snaking, typically $500–$900. Sometimes needs a jet cleaning at $200–$400 more. Half-day of work.
Worst case, if it's a drainfield failure: pump-out gives you 3–7 days of buying time, but the real repair — new drainfield lines, sometimes a full replacement — is $6,000–$18,000 depending on system size, soil, and access.
The pro will tell you honestly which situation you're in before the invoice grows.
What NOT to do
- Don't dump enzyme or bacteria "septic tank cleaners" into a backup. They don't work in an emergency; they take weeks to affect anything.
- Don't try to pump the tank yourself with a shop vac or trash pump. Sewage handling requires TCEQ-licensed sludge haulers by law.
- Don't open the septic tank lid yourself. Confined-space hazards are real.
- Don't ignore a smell that "goes away" after you stopped using water. The backup is still there — you just stopped feeding it.
- Don't Google "how to unclog a septic tank myself." Almost every result is either wrong or trying to sell you a product that won't help.
- Don't shame yourself for how long it's been. Every pumper in the Panhandle has seen 15-year-neglect tanks. Nobody's judging — they just want to fix it.
Preventing the next backup
Pump on schedule. Every 3–5 years for conventional tanks, every 2–3 for aerobic. This one habit prevents 60% of backups. Learn more →
Know where your tank and drainfield are. Half the calls to this line start with "we don't know where the tank is."
Watch what goes down the drain. "Flushable" wipes are not septic-safe. Neither is grease, coffee grounds, feminine products, or paper towels.
Backing Up Right Now? Call Amarillo's Line.
(806) 615-3390Real person answers 24/7. Or fill the form and we'll call back — usually inside the hour.
Backup FAQs
How fast can someone get to me?
Same-day is standard during business hours, often within 2–4 hours. After hours it's an hour or two to callback and then drive time (Amarillo city: usually within 60 min after callback; Canyon or Bushland: add 20 min; Panhandle or Claude: add 30–45 min).
What if it's Sunday night?
Same call, same line. Weekend response times are a little slower but the dispatch is the same. Most weekend backups are pumping-solvable, so it's usually one visit not two.
Should I call my plumber or a septic pro?
Septic pro first, always, when there's a chance the tank is involved. A plumber can clear a household drain clog, but plumbers are not licensed to open or pump septic tanks in Texas.
My insurance policy says it covers "sudden and accidental" damage — is a backup covered?
Depends on the policy. Sudden backups from a discrete cause (tree root break, mechanical failure) are sometimes covered; chronic slow buildup is almost never covered. Get the pro's written invoice and diagnosis — that's what your adjuster will want.