im about to buy land to build a house. I see some land perc'd and some not. what the hell is a perc test and who does it?
2007-08-27 10:41:54 · 5 answers · asked by skid 4 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
A perc test (also spelled perk - both are correct) is short for percolation test. It is a test which measures the absorption rate of the soil where a proposed septic system will be installed.
A hole, 5-7 feet deep is dug in an area to be tested for future use as a drain field, or near the drain-field area in representative soils. Water is poured into the hole and and the soils or septic engineer or contractor observes the rate at which soil absorbes the water by noting the time that it takes for the level of water in the hole to drop one inch (for example). More precise "perc tests" may involve using a specific quantity of water or a perc test hole of specific dimensions to make these observations.
2007-08-27 11:00:21 · answer #1 · answered by just4a2nd 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Perc Test
2016-10-02 05:12:17 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A perc test is exactly what it sounds like the underground utilities contractor digs a hole about six feet deep and installs a piece of 4" PVC pipe in the vertical position then fills the PVC pipe with water to see how long, are you ready for this, the water takes to perc into the ground. It's an issue for drainage and septic systems, if the ground does not perc then you will be spending a lot of money on a fancy septic system mainly a system known as a mound system, lots of stone and lots of drainage sand.
Good luck
2007-08-27 11:14:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've had several perc tests done. I've always gone to the local Health Department. They do it. Most land will perc fairly well but if you get one that's slow you may have to have more septic tank lines installed than you would normally.
2007-08-28 11:02:11 · answer #4 · answered by Tim E 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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Go to the county and ask to get a copy of the septic tank permit. Usually the permit and septic system is only for the number of bedrooms of the house, so you may not be allowed to put on a larger home without also expanding the septic system. They are sized by number of bedrooms, as that generally indicates the number of occupants - fewer people will live in a 2 br than in a 3 br, for example. I am doing something similar, but the mobile home I am removing is a 3 br, and the new house that will replace it is also a 3 br., so the county is OK with the same septic system.
2016-04-02 04:00:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've had some good answers.
What nobody has said straight out is that the
perk test is important because it affects the
'buildability` of the lot.
You can't build without a septic system, and
the work to provide one where you've got a
bad perk is expensive.
2007-08-27 15:51:28 · answer #6 · answered by Irv S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a test to see how well the soil drains for a septic system. Ask your realtor about having the soil tested, who will do the testing. It varies from state to state, usually an engineer licensed in the state for septic systems does this. If you have a contractor in mind, they will tell you who they use.
Here's some info:
http://www.inspect-ny.com/septic/perctests.htm#moreinfo
2007-08-27 10:52:37 · answer #7 · answered by fluffernut 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What Is A Perk Test
2016-12-16 03:30:30 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they dig a hole and pour water in it and then let it soak in and then pour more water in it and time how long a give amount of water take to soak in this is for you septic and leach field
2007-08-27 14:00:50 · answer #9 · answered by hill bill y 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋