How we check facts

Septic problems can involve sewage exposure, costly repairs and local rules, so we try to make every claim easy to check.

Sources come first

We start with government agencies and university extension services. Each guide lists the sources it relies on at the bottom of the page.

Expert review

A guide shows "Expert review pending" until a qualified reviewer has checked it. When it has been reviewed, the page names the reviewer, their credentials and the date. We never list a reviewer who hasn't checked the page.

Guides waiting for review are kept out of search engines.

Safety advice

Health and safety advice must come from an official source. When there is a risk of contact with sewage, or of entering a tank, we say so plainly and point you to your local health department or a trained professional.

State and local rules

Septic rules vary by state and county. We only describe a state rule when we can link to that state's official source, and we show when we last checked it.

Cost figures

We explain where every cost figure comes from and how old it is. We won't present a single national number as what your system will cost.

Corrections

If you find an error, tell us. We fix confirmed errors and update the date on the page.

Advertising

Advertisers and affiliate partners have no say in what we write. Read our disclosure.