Septic installation work and crews

Septic installers build onsite wastewater systems to an engineer's design: tank, distribution, and the leach field or mound. Repairs and full replacements are a big share of the work, especially when homes change hands. The health department inspects before anything gets covered.

Also searched as: septic installer, septic contractor, septic system installer, onsite wastewater installer, perc test crew.

Who hires for this

Home builders, engineers who design systems, real estate buyers and sellers, and homeowners with failing systems post septic work. Excavation contractors sometimes sub out the system itself.

What they ask for

• Installer license or registration where your state or county requires it
• Excavator and the ability to handle tank delivery and setting
• Experience building the system type in the design
• Ability to work with the health department inspector
• Certificate of insurance
• Clean backfill and grading after the install

How to land more of it

• Licensing for septic installers varies by state and county. List where you are approved to install.
• Engineers refer installers they trust. Build those relationships.
• Mound and alternative systems take extra know-how. Say if you have built them.
• Real estate deals create rush repairs. Be clear about how fast you can schedule.

Do I need a license to install septic systems?

Many states and counties require installers to be licensed or registered, often with a training course and exam. The rules differ from place to place, so check with your state environmental agency and the local health department.

Who designs the system?

Usually a licensed engineer or designer does soil testing and draws the system, and the health department approves the design. The installer builds exactly what is approved. Changes in the field generally need the designer and inspector to sign off.

What equipment do septic installers need?

An excavator big enough to dig the tank hole and set the tank, or a crane truck arrangement with the tank supplier. You also need a way to move stone and fill, a laser for grades, and a plan for hauling spoils.

How do I get septic jobs through TrackOver?

Post a free installer profile on the TrackOver board with your license, the counties you cover and the system types you build. Builders and engineers can post jobs free and look you up.