Who to Call to Do a Perc Test

This article was created using automation technology and thoroughly fact-checked and edited by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

If you’re wondering who to hire for perc tests, most municipalities require a licensed, approved professional for results to count toward permits. A local soil tester focuses on these evaluations and understands local rules, which helps you avoid invalid DIY results and delays.

This guide explains who to hire, how the process works, and what factors affect the final price, so you can plan with confidence.

Benefits of Hiring a Soil Tester for a Perc Test

Hiring a soil tester ensures your perc test meets local regulations and is accepted by permitting authorities. These pros handle soil testing daily, understand the best time to test, and reduce the chance you will pay for a repeat due to errors. If your soil fails, they often know specialists who can help you prepare for a retest.

Here are some of the top benefits of hiring a pro:

• Familiar with local regulations

• Often approved by municipalities

• Lower overall testing cost risk

• Knows the best testing timing

• Reduces the chance of repeat tests

• Provides referrals after failures

If you want to be sure your results are accepted and avoid costly mistakes, consider a soil tester near you for professional, municipality-approved perc testing.

Can I Hire a Septic System Installer to Do a Perc Test?

In some areas, septic system installers or designers are approved to conduct perc tests, especially when the test supports new systems or repairs. Other municipalities exclude them over conflict-of-interest concerns and do not list them as approved vendors. 

When not approved, these pros can complete soil testing, but not official perc testing. Approval varies by municipality, so confirm your local list before you hire.

How Do Soil Testers Do a Perc Test?

Pros follow a regulated, step-by-step process designed to meet local requirements and document official results:

1. Determine the depth: Review local rules and soil layers to set the testing depth.

2. Dig test holes: Create holes or trenches to spec, then a small hole at the bottom for testing.

3. Saturate the soil: Pre-wet the smaller hole to fully saturate the soil.

4. Fill and record: Fill to a marked level, then record the water level and time.

5. Time the drainage: Measure how long it takes for the water to drain; local rules set the acceptable rate.

How Much Does a Perc Test Cost?

A perc test costs an average of $1,300, with a typical range of $750 to $1,900. Pricing changes based on the number of test holes, the size of those holes, and how easy your property is to access. 

Larger or more numerous holes increase labor and time. Hiring an approved professional helps you avoid paying for a second test if your initial results are not accepted.