Percolation Testing (Perc Test)
Professional perc test services that determine your soil’s drainage capacity before septic system design and installation
5 Highlights on Percolation Testing
- Certified soil evaluation — Our licensed professionals excavate perc holes and test pits to measure your site’s percolation rate in minutes per inch, giving you accurate data for septic system design and health department permit approval.
- Full site and soil analysis — We assess soil profiles, soil horizons, and the seasonal high water table to identify any restrictive layer or limiting zone that could affect your drain field placement and long-term absorption field performance.
- Health department coordination — Action Septic Service works directly with your local sanitarian and environmental health officer to schedule witnessed perc tests, file results, and secure the permits you need to move forward with construction.
- Residential and commercial testing — We perform percolation tests on single family lots, multi bedroom residential properties, and commercial parcels, calculating design flow based on bedroom count, gallons per day, and hydraulic loading rate.
- Reserve area documentation — Every perc test we conduct includes evaluation of a designated repair area and replacement area so your property meets compliance standards for future septic system needs.
Why Choose Our Percolation Testing Service
Percolation testing is the foundation of every properly designed on site wastewater treatment system. Action Septic Service has performed thousands of perc tests across residential and commercial properties, and we bring that field experience to every job.
Our team includes qualified soil scientists and licensed installers who understand the relationship between soil absorption, groundwater protection, and septic system longevity. We don’t just dig a hole and time the water drop. We read the soil. We evaluate texture — loamy, sandy, clayey, silty, gravelly — and we identify compacted or friable layers that affect how effluent will infiltrate and disperse over time.
We own our own backhoe and auger equipment, which means we control the schedule. No waiting on subcontractors. No delays. You get your perc test results and can move forward with your site evaluation, system design, or real estate transfer inspection without losing weeks.
Action Septic Service stands behind every test with thorough documentation. You’ll receive a detailed report showing percolation rates, soil profile descriptions, deep hole test findings, setback measurements, and well setback distances. We also provide as built drawings when required. Our reputation as a trusted, top rated septic service provider means your engineer, builder, and health department all get the accurate data they need.
Signs You Need Percolation Testing
You’re building on undeveloped land: Any new construction that requires an on site wastewater treatment system starts with a perc test. Before you can design a septic tank, drain field, or mound system, you need to know your soil’s percolation rate. Without this data, no health department will issue a permit. The perc test tells your engineer whether a conventional gravity fed system will work or whether you’ll need an alternative system like a pressure distribution system, chamber system, or sand mound.
You’re buying or selling property: A real estate transfer inspection often requires a current perc test or soil evaluation. Buyers want to know the land can support a functioning septic system. Sellers need documentation proving the site is compliant. Action Septic Service performs these evaluations and provides a compliance letter or inspection report that satisfies lenders and closing attorneys.
Your existing septic system has failed: A failing drain field — one that’s ponded, surcharged, or producing odorous surface breakout — may need a complete replacement. Before installing a new leach field or absorption field, a fresh perc test determines whether the original soil treatment area is still viable or whether a new location on the property is necessary.
Your health department requires updated testing: Permits expire. Regulations change. Some jurisdictions require new percolation testing if the original test is more than a few years old or if site conditions have changed due to grading, excavation, or stormwater alterations. A curtain drain installation, diversion swale construction, or changes to downspout routing can all affect subsurface drainage patterns.
You’re expanding your property’s use: Adding bedrooms, converting a garage to living space, or building an accessory dwelling unit increases your design flow in gallons per day. The existing septic system may not handle the added hydraulic loading rate. A new perc test confirms whether your soil absorption system can accommodate the higher demand or whether you need to retrofit or replace the current setup.
Our Percolation Testing Process
Percolation testing follows a precise, regulated procedure. Action Septic Service completes every step in sequence to deliver accurate, permit ready results.
Step 1 — Site visit and survey. We walk the property, identify potential soil treatment areas, and measure setbacks from the property line, well, structures, and surface water. We note slope, vegetation, and any signs of a high water table.
Step 2 — Excavation of test pits and perc holes. Using a backhoe or auger, we dig deep hole tests to expose the soil profile. We examine each soil horizon for color, texture, mottling, and evidence of seasonal saturation. We also excavate perc holes to the depth specified by local code.
Step 3 — Pre soaking. We fill each perc hole with water and allow it to pre soak for the required period — typically 24 hours. This saturates the surrounding soil and simulates wet season conditions so the test reflects real world drainage.
Step 4 — Timed percolation measurement. With a stopwatch and measuring tape, we record how many minutes per inch the water level drops in each hole. We take multiple readings and calculate the average percolation rate. Sandy soils drain fast. Clayey soils drain slow. Both extremes affect system design.
Step 5 — Documentation and reporting. We compile all field data into a detailed report that includes percolation rates, soil descriptions, limiting zone depth, seasonal high water table observations, and site sketches with setback distances. We submit this report to the health department and provide copies to your engineer and builder.
Brands We Use
Action Septic Service relies on professional grade equipment and trusted products to perform accurate percolation testing and site evaluations.
- John Deere
- Caterpillar
- Bobcat
- Little Beaver
- Keson
- Milwaukee Tool
- Seiko
- Infiltrator Water Technologies
- TUF-TITE
- Polylok
All equipment is calibrated and maintained to manufacturer specifications.
Other Services
| Percolation testing | Perc test service | Soil drainage rate measurement |
| Perc test near me | Percolation test for septic | Minutes per inch soil absorption |
| Septic perc test | Soil percolation evaluation | Drain field site assessment |
| Percolation test cost | Professional perc testing | Hydraulic loading rate calculation |
| Perc test for building permit | Residential perc test | Seasonal high water table soil test |
FAQs About Percolation Testing
What is a percolation test?
A percolation test measures how quickly water drains through soil at a specific depth. Technicians excavate perc holes, fill them with water, and time the rate at which the water level drops. The result — expressed in minutes per inch — tells engineers and health departments whether the soil can absorb septic effluent safely. This data directly determines what type of septic system your property can support.
When do I need a perc test?
You need a perc test before installing a new septic system, replacing a failing drain field, or obtaining a building permit on land without municipal sewer. Many jurisdictions also require a current perc test during real estate transfer inspections. If your original test has expired or site conditions have changed, the health department will request a new one.
Why does soil type matter for percolation testing?
Soil type controls how effluent infiltrates, filters, and disperses below the surface. Sandy and gravelly soils percolate quickly but may not filter pathogens effectively. Clayey and compacted soils percolate too slowly and can cause ponding or system failure. Loamy and friable soils typically provide the best balance of drainage and treatment. A thorough soil profile evaluation during the perc test identifies these conditions.
How long does a perc test take?
The full process spans two days. Day one involves excavating perc holes and filling them with water for the pre soak period. Day two is the timed measurement. The on site testing portion on day two usually takes two to four hours depending on the number of holes and the percolation rate. Action Septic Service handles all scheduling and coordination with the health department.
Can a property fail a perc test?
Yes. If the percolation rate is too fast or too slow, or if the seasonal high water table or bedrock sits too close to the surface, the site may not support a conventional septic system. A failed perc test doesn’t always mean you can’t build. Alternative systems — mound systems, pressure distribution systems, or advanced treatment units — can sometimes overcome limiting soil conditions. We’ll walk you through every option.
Does Action Septic Service handle the permit process?
We do. Our team files all required paperwork with the health department, coordinates witnessed tests with the sanitarian, and delivers completed reports to your engineer, builder, or real estate attorney. You get a single point of contact from the first phone call through final permit approval.