Frequently asked questions
What is SepticFacts?
SepticFacts is a desk screening for one lot. It checks the USDA soil survey, FEMA flood maps, national wetland maps, measured slope and the local septic rules we have on file, then gives a screening result with the reasons and sources behind it.
Is a SepticFacts report a perc test or a soil evaluation?
No. It is a screening from public data that you can run before you pay for field work. The field evaluation your county requires is what shows how the soil on your lot performs, and the agency that issues septic permits where the lot is makes the final call.
What does the report include?
A screening result and the reasons behind it, the likely system type where the data points to one, a soils table with seven survey factors, flood, wetland and slope checks, the local septic rules we have on file with their sources and trust labels, permit contacts where we have them, next steps, and every source with its retrieval date.
What do Yellow and Red mean?
Yellow means septic may be possible, but something we found, or something we could not confirm, needs a closer look, such as a soil limit, a flood or wetland area, a local rule or missing data. Red means a local rule we have on file points to a serious constraint for septic on the lot, such as a moratorium, a sewer requirement or a minimum lot size. Neither is a final answer.
How precise is the soil data?
The soil data comes from the USDA NRCS soil survey (SSURGO), which is mapped at county scale. Each map unit describes typical soils over an area and can include small pockets of other soils that are not mapped, so conditions where a drainfield would go can differ from the map.
What if the lot is on public sewer?
Before checkout we ask whether the lot is connected to, or required to connect to, public sewer. If you answer yes, a septic report likely doesn't apply, so we don't sell one and you aren't charged. If you answer no or I don't know, the report says sewer availability was not verified.
Which areas do you cover?
The soil, flood and wetland data are national datasets, though some areas aren't mapped. Local septic rules depend on our records for each county. Before you pay, we show whether we have local septic rules on file for the lot's county; when we don't, the report says so.
How much does it cost, and how fast is it?
$29 per lot, paid once. If we can't complete your report, you get a full refund. Most refunds are automatic; if one needs a manual check, we complete it within 2 business days.
What happens if my report fails?
If a report can't be completed after you pay, you get a full refund. Most refunds are automatic, and we email you what happened; if one needs a manual check, we complete it within 2 business days. Refunds usually appear within 5 to 10 business days, depending on your bank.
Check a specific lot
SepticFacts screens one lot against public soil, flood, wetland and slope data and the local septic rules we have on file, with every source cited.
Check a lot