What the Heck is a "Perc Test" (and How Much Does it Really Matter)?

[@TheSepticGuy]

I do perc tests in Arkansas. We don’t put water in a hole, we do soil morphology. And usually the county doesn’t conduct the test, they just signed off on it. NEVER go based on neighbors. Soil changes extremely quick. If it doesn’t Perc and depending on the states rules and regulations you can use a residential wastewater treatment plant.

[@Retipster]

Those are great tips Tate - thanks for sharing!

[@thale1819]

I need a perc test Hot Springs Arkansas

[@tamaku2903]

I need a perc test in Combs AR

[@Anthony-cb9yv]

I need a perc test in bonnerdale!! If you fail is there anything you can do to the soil to pass?

[@JohnRayRN]

Thanks for that clear simple and yet very thorough explanation.

[@Retipster]

Thanks so much, John!

[@Queenalso]

Best explanation of a PERC test yet! Thank you!

[@Retipster]

Thanks so much!

[@kellyyork3898]

Dig a hole and check the draining of water (a rough test), on the land yourself before buying.

[@susanmcgowan9968]

Great explanation, thank you! Will definitely be consulting your other video tutorials! Thanks!

[@wstafco]

Great information and very concise delivery. Thanks!

[@Retipster]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@JP-lb5bm]

We live in the Pocono Mountains in Pa. Our property perked however some of our neighbors didn’t. They have humps added on their properties as their leach fields so the liquids can perc or filter.

[@Retipster]

Sounds like a modified septic system. These can work but are usually a bit more expensive.

[@kpbarbee]

Just the real estate perspective that I was looking for - thank you!

[@Retipster]

You're welcome!

[@latoyabrower936]

Thank you so much for this information! It was a great help.

[@keithcook4537]

Perc failed but I was able to use special septic tank and special pipes to get it working.

[@s.mathew3063]

Great explanation really a good teacher. Thank you...

[@Retipster]

Thanks so much! Appreciate that.

[@Positive-pat]

If a perc test fails, how likely is it you can get the county inspector to test several areas before the seam the property as a total fail for the test? Just curious. Wanting to starting getting into some local farming on a few acres!

[@BrianKrahmer]

he's kinda misrepresenting the perc test, actually. the perc test isn't a pass/fail. it's more like, how many gallons per hour can a square foot of land drain. that number will dictate if a conventional system can be used (and how big the leach field should be), or if one of the alternate sewage systems would need to be installed. you may not be able to get a county inspector to do a bunch of holes, but an excavation company would be happy to do that for you. in the two counties i've built where septic systems were in play, the perc test was done by an excavation company along with a septic engineer, not the county.

[@gottabsleeved]

Brian,so does it matter or go by bedrooms or how many people would be living there?meaning me and my girl wouldnt be use gallons of a family of 3-4

[@solvingchronicpaintogether4959]

Very well explained thank you

[@sieunlee9797]

Really helpful thank you!!

[@laknarasim]

how about alternative septic system though it is expensive?

[@elroyblackbean]

Great, easy explanation -- thank you. Is it safe to say there would be no perc test necessary if the property has sewer access?

[@Retipster]

That would be my understanding, yes. Best of luck!

[@Unplugged704]

So.. if the land ad says sewer/water available.. then perc tests are irrelevant I take it?

[@Etudekilla]

There really isn't a pass or fail of the perc test, its just a indirect measurement of the soils saturated hydraulic conductivity (if the test is done right). In cases where soil percolation is slow, a mounded septic system or wastewater treatment unit should be installed.

[@davidschloeder5344]

So am I right in thinking a hand operated post digger would be a good idea for checking out land before buying it. Dig down 3 ft. and pray for sand , not clay?

[@stevensmith3359]

Thats what i was thinking, until they get you for trespassing lol

[@richdobbs6595]

@@stevensmith3359 You do it as part of the under contract phase of inspecting the property prior to closing. I'm hiring a contractor and doing a site evaluation through the health district. Where I'm buying you have to dig multiple 8 foot deep trenches. For me, its not a make-or-break issue, but it could add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of the septic system, and I want to be positioned to start construction early in the spring - winter is always coming.

[@fatjaysgarage]

Did you say you bought property for less than 1,000$... I neeed to live there

[@finscreenname]

That's just what I was thinking.

[@bcsbcs1340]

Share that location man! ❤️

[@Sparc343]

Properties that cheap usually have some kind of fairly major downfall. One of the biggest, that it could be land locked! You may not think it's possible but I've seen it a lot of parcels of land that literally have NO "legal" access. That is, the ONLY way to 'traverse' to them would be to 'trespass' on a parcel owned by someone else!

[@Sparc343]

To me, those types of lots are completely worthless because it could mean years upon years of legal battles to get 'legal access', especially if/since it's not already established!

[@Robert-lo6uf]

Excellent information thank you!

[@Retipster]

Thanks for watching!

[@treejohnson89]

thanks, rookie on the scene))) i see that some ads say perc for 3-4 br, would it be possible to have it perc for more, or does that mean that perc is for one house

[@adrianchan1931]

How about using composite sewer system? U take out the tank and use it as fertilizer in a few yrs. then no need to pass septic test

[@mosbysmen]

composting toilets would be a work around

[@kataysmith9581]

Informative.....thanks

[@brennenbartlettphotography1576]

Where are you buying land to build a home for only $1000??

[@Retipster]

Properties like that are all over the place if you know where to look. Here are a couple of blog posts that explain more details: retipster.com/findingmotivatedsellers1 and retipster.com/delinquent-tax-list

[@cici-mama]

Gosh I had to start over. I was staring at you 😍 rather than listening to the info, but I got now. Great explanation and info I needed to know.....thanks.

[@escapefromny2012]

Good information, but I was distracted. Did anyone else want to reach into the screen and fix his sleeve?

[@Retipster]

HAHA! I did... I always wondered if anyone else noticed that.

[@Retipster]

@@Rick-S-6063 Lol - note to self, never put background music in videos again. :)

[@jasonmorgan4448]

@@Retipster I didn't notice the sleeve or the music until reading comments. :)

[@achyutakrishna]

Thanks 🙏🏽

[@Retipster]

Thanks for watching!

[@tulw2728]

Aerobic systems?

[@Retipster]

Huh?

[@tulw2728]

@@Retipster An aerobic treatment system or ATS, often called (incorrectly) an aerobic septic system, is a small scale sewage treatment systemsimilar to a septic tank system, but which uses an aerobic process for digestion rather than just the anaerobic process used inseptic systems. [Wiki]

[@Retipster]

@@tulw2728 Cool, that's good to know! I'll have to do some research on those.

[@williamgibb5557]

My property passed a perc test but when the septic contractor dug down 8' , he found clay. The inspector okayed digging to remove the clay which was down to 10' . I have standing water on property which does affect it but my system works even after 40 years.

[@defygravityXD]

Could you build a home with composting toilets on land that doesn’t pass a perc test?

[@Retipster]

Yeah, probably.

[@jamesw7072]

Depends on the state and county but in most jurisdictions that isn't allowed.

[@tomlampros7122]

That was our plan, and use graywater from the sinks and tub, but the county insisted we have some method of treatment for the kitchen sink. Ultimately, we've decided to design an install a full size septic system, in the event we sell the house later.

[@bryanbergen874]

If you have very low perc rates and a large enough property this could be a place for a lagoon system.

[@lorduvaltv274]

youve complety explained perc test, thank you.

[@Retipster]

Hooray! Glad to hear it helped you. Thanks for letting me know.

[@Blu-Man]

@@Retipster greetings new here could u do a beginner presentation on showing beginners how to buy acres of land want to know how to get best price in covid 19 pandemic

[@2wwwilly]

Doesn't the law firm you hire does the checks etc etc..

[@Retipster]

Do you mean the closing agent? Nope, this isn't something they check. You have to do this testing on your own.

[@josephatnip2398]

All of Missouri is nothing but clay and Rock and Clay does not exorb water and everybody in rural Missouri has a septic

[@mattius459]

Thanks!

[@allencolvin4320]

Where I am, it is all clay! Everyone around me has a mound system!

[@Retipster]

Yeah, we've got a lot of clay where I am too. It's a huge pain... but at least there's _some_ way to work around it (even if it is a lot more expensive).

[@Guerrero1187]

how much property are you getting for $1000 ?🧐

[@Retipster]

Depends on the market and the uses of the property. Usually, this would be a smaller lot, maybe 0.25 acres or so.

[@Jfresh55]

So you didn't even show us a perc test

[@Retipster]

Sorry to let you down, Josh. If you want to see one, dig a hole in the dirt and pour some water in it. ;)

[@keithcook4537]

Perc failed but was able to use special tank, pipes and fresh soil to get it going…

[@Retipster]

That's great! I'm glad to hear you found another way.

[@teresaborowy5796]

Great information. Thank you!

[@murphmurph2124]

No perc get an incinerator toilet and a pump out tank to be pumped out for grey water

[@mhepdavidvanREI1]

I got burned once on not doing a perc test in California.

[@Retipster]

Oh yeah? How so?

[@mhepdavidvanREI1]

REtipster not doing enough due dil. There were nice houses sprinkled in the sub d. The prop was cheap, $2500, so I made the assumption it should be ok. I sold it for 15k on terms. 3 months later the buyer checked county recorder. There was a recorded failed perc test. All we needed to do was ask the recorder, but simply missed it. That was an easy one and we flubbed it. So I had to refund the money. Luckily we were able to fully disclose and sell it as a camping lot for 3k and get our $ back out. Lesson: #1 check for recorded docs related to perc. #2. Do what Seth teaches in this segment.

[@Retipster]

@@mhepdavidvanREI1 yeah man, it's a tough lesson to learn, but it usually just takes one experience like that to change up the due diligence on all future deals. Glad you found a way to work it out!

[@GeoRover]

I am the 420th LIKE, just saying...

[@tooshay7396]

Or go with composting toilets

[@Retipster]

Not a bad idea! I gotta look into how those work.

[@winterfar2814]

Where the hell are you buying property for $1k?

[@justicebruno5249]

Be like a bear....

[@argus7662]

Anyone else just click on this bc y’all though he was talking about Percocets?

[@latoyabrower936]

Now that is funny!