Guides
Plain-English background to the numbers behind the calculators — from what a septic system costs and how to size a tank and drain field, to what a perc test means, how much it costs to drill a well, how to size a well pump and pressure tank, and how the well-vs-city math works.
How much does a septic system cost?What actually drives the price of a septic system, how to build a real estimate from your own quotes, and when the job needs a licensed designer and a permit.How to size a septic tank by bedroomsWhy septic tanks are sized by bedroom count, the typical minimum-gallon bands, and how bedrooms and occupants set the design flow behind a system.What is a perc test and how do you read it?What a percolation test measures, how minutes-per-inch maps to a soil loading rate, and why the perc result sets your drain field size and cost.How to size a drain field (absorption area)The two-step math that sizes a septic drain field: absorption area from design flow and soil loading, then trench length and laterals from the area.Septic tank pumping frequency explainedHow often a septic tank needs pumping, the simple volume-versus-accumulation math behind the interval, and how tank size and household size change the schedule.Conventional vs aerobic vs mound septic systemsHow the three common septic system types differ, why soil and water table usually decide which one you can install, and how to compare their cost.Signs of septic failure (and why to call a pro)The common warning signs of a failing septic system, what usually causes them, and why diagnosis and repair belong to a pro and the health department.How much does it cost to drill a well?The line items that make up a private well cost, why depth and the price per foot dominate, and how to build a full estimate from a driller quote you can trust.How deep should a water well be? (conventions)Why well depth is set by geology not a rule of thumb, how depth interacts with casing and pump sizing, and how to budget when final depth is unknown.How to size a well pump and pressure tankThe three numbers that size a well pump and pressure tank: peak demand in GPM, total dynamic head, and the drawdown that sets tank size from the switch.How to do a well flow-rate (yield) testA simple bucket method to estimate your well flow rate in GPM, what the number means, and why a rough snapshot differs from a full draw-down test.Water softener sizing explainedHow to size a water softener from your hardness and daily water use: grains per day, regeneration interval, and the ppm-to-gpg conversion, with an example.Well water testing basicsWhy private well water needs regular lab testing, what a basic panel covers, how test cost scales with panels, and why only a lab can judge safety.Well vs city water costHow to compare the real cost of a private well against a city water bill by amortizing the well over its life: illustrative math, not financial advice.