Question about property in Brush Prairie, WA

[bigbearbear]

I am currently looking at buying a property in SW Washington and will move from California once I've closed on a new home.

One of the properties I'm looking at is located in Brush Prairie, WA. Is anyone familiar with this area? Is it generally speaking, a nice area to live it or will I am better off looking somewhere else?

Another couple of items I'm not familiar with are:

Heat Pump: The property is listed as using Heat Pump instead of Air Conditioner for cooling. I've never used a Heat Pump myself, but did noticed that some properties listed in more rural locations have them. Does anyone how do they compare with Air Conditioners? I work from home and I need the cooling system to keep up during summer.

Septic Tank: I've always lived in cities with public sewer service. What's it like to have septic tank instead? Will there be a lot of maintenance involved? I read that I'll need to have it pumped once a while, any other things I should be aware of?

Thanks!

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[albin25]

Don't move to Idaho, tell all your friends, NOT Idaho! No sirree Bob. Forget it exists!
That's definitely, for sure, NOT Idaho, Never, no way! An Overcrowded Hell on Earth!
( I should know, I moved here in '03 from San Diego and regretted it ever since, but I'm trapped here and can't escape...oh my gawd it's awful...)

 

[bigbearbear]

Don't move to Idaho, tell all your friends, NOT Idaho! No sirree Bob. Forget it exists!
That's definitely, for sure, NOT Idaho, Never, no way! An Overcrowded Hell on Earth!
( I should know, I moved here in '03 from San Diego and regretted it ever since, but I'm trapped here and can't escape...oh my gawd it's awful...)

LOL, no worries, I will not move to Idaho. No disrespect meant, it is just that I my work requires that I'm located on the west coast even though I work from home. The team I work with are all located in California so while I can live anywhere, unless I change team, I need to stick with west coast areas.

 

[thorborg]

Sepitcs in good condition work great if you show due diligence in keeping the bio action in top shape. I would rather have one as I've had before.
I'd also ask about the water, hard water can be the pits to deal with in my opine. That, and gofer / moles are a deal breaker for me.

 

[User 1234]

Another pro-2A, low tax voter, always welcome.

 

[User 1234]

Now have four kids and teach them to grow up with pro-liberty values!

 

[Cavedweller]

Couple of things you should check on: How old is the septic tank and what is it made of? Steel tanks will rust out eventually and septic systems are expensive to replace. If it's a concrete tank you're probably OK. There's really not much maintenance to do except having them pumped every 5 years or so. Be sure to ask when it was last pumped. If it's been a while you might want to stipulate that the tank be pumped and inspected as part of the contract.

 

[bikemutt]

A heat pump is just what it's name suggests: it pumps heat either into the home, or from the home. In always-warm climates there's no need to have the ability to pump heat into the home so an air conditioner is sufficient, and generally less expensive since the components which allow for reverse heat flow are not needed. Heat pumps are extremely efficient because they don't create heat; they move heat from one location to another.

Septic systems have a two-stage tank which is designed to collect solids while allowing fluids pass through to the drain field. The tank needs to be pumped free of it's solid collection every few years or so depending on capacity.

The drain field is where failures can occur because of poor planning, poor execution, or both. And bad luck. Generally, the drain field allows the fluids to be absorbed into the earth where they are filtered and returned to the natural world. The earth can only absorb and process so much in a period of time so drain fields must be designed to handle the load. This is well-understood technology, it plain works.

All the rural counties I've lived in required them to be approved and permitted. Never had a problem with a septic system, ever.

 

[clearconscience]

The brush prairie area is really nice, and if you can ever get in Clark rifles is up there and is a great range.

 

[ron]

Brush Prairie is a real nice rural area. A lot of large mostly upscale homes on an acre or 2. Two lane roads with no
shoulder generally. Heat pump provides AC in summer and heat for moderate cold winter. I second asking when the septic tank was
pumped and if there is any problems with the drain field. Also important to know the size of the septic tanks. Very important
to know the exact location of the septic tank(s) lid for pumping. Locating the septic lid when unknown can be expensive.

 

[Belial]

View your Septic System Information Online

They have to be inspected regularly per the county. There is a pump requirement in sales outside a certain time frame. We had to pump, update inspection, and provide all documents to make the sale through a title company as a requirement.

 

[ATCclears]

Septic. Determine if a pump is used to pump the gray water from the tank to the drain field. This is typically needed when the drain field is higher than the septic tank, such that a simple gravity feed is impossible.

If there is a sump pump, how will you power it during an extended power outage?

 

[jbett98]

A heat pump stops working under 40 degrees, so a backup heat sourse is generally a bank of electric elements that's built into the indoor unit.
Mine is natural gas since it was available, but propane can be used in remote locations.
Does the existing septic system have an alternative drain field in case the old one becomes unusable.
New construction homes are required to provide an alternative area set aside.

 

[RicInOR]

For your environment embracing kin/co-workers/neighbors, a heat pump is the way you want to go. It pumps heat out of the planet and into your home - offsetting global warming.

Drive a Tesla or other electric vehicle, a heat pump is how you keep warm / cool. No engine heat to be re-purposed to keep the humans warm.



Don't tell them it also pumps heat out of your home and to the planet tho.


Most times in the area, a heat pump will keep your house comfortable, for the cost of a light bulb. Under freezing, you'll need a back up heat source, triple digit heat, an alternate cooling plan. Not many of those days each year.


FWIW, you can get a heat pump on your hot water tank. Not sure it is worth the $$, but it is available, you know, to save the planet.

 

[Martini_Up]

To better answer your questions may I ask why you're leaving CA?

 

[STEELE]

When you buy any property with a septic system, it's normal for the system to be pumped and inspected as part of the sale. Be sure to do that. Also, require the well water to be tested as part of the sale. Well systems can be different depending on the aquifer which supplies them. If either don't "pass" or meet your needs, look elsewhere. Glad to have you move to WA!

 

[bbbass]

A heat pump is an air conditioner with added components: a reversing valve to reverse the flow, and a backup heat source. No worries.

Septic systems need to be sized for the expected use. Ie, a 3 bedroom home is expected to have a family living in it. If it had 3 families living in it, it can be overwhelmed and back up. Sizing, and type, of the system is required as part of the Permit process when it was built. As well as most jurisdictions require a location available for a replacement drain field. Septic needs a regular supply of biomass, do not attempt to save it by starving it... it will stop working because it needs material for the bacteria that make it work to digest. Also, undigestible solids are a no-no, like celery and onion peels. Excess fat is also not good, it can flow thru the tank and wind up clogging the drain field. Dumping bacon grease down the sink is not a good idea.

How to Keep Your Septic System Healthy

1. How the Septic System Works. ...
2. Don't Overload the Septic Tank and Drain field. ...
3. Use an Efficient Toilet. ...
4. Don't Treat the Toilet as a Garbage Disposal. ...
5. Don't Pour Grease Down the Drain. ...
6. Divert Rain Water From the Septic Drain field. ...
7. Keep Trees Away from the Septic System. ...
8. Use Garbage Disposals Wisely.

Some additional good info: How To Keep Your Septic System Healthy & Septic System Tips

A heat pump is an electrical device that extracts heat from one place and transfers it to another. ... A compressor pumps the refrigerant between two heat exchanger coils. In one coil, the refrigerant is evaporated at low pressure and absorbs heat from its surroundings.

Some additional good info: What Is a Heat Pump and How Does It Work? | Natural Resources Canada

 

[AMT]

I lived in Brush Prairie during my High School years. I'd love to be able to move back out there! Still rural enough, yet fairly close to drive to anything (except a major hospital).

Loved it out there!!!

 

[Devenk89]

Grew up in Brush Prairie (Hockinson) Fantastic area, great schools, quiet, now crime. Recently moved to Idaho but I do miss how green it is there.

 

[bikemutt]

A heat pump stops working under 40 degrees, so a backup heat sourse is generally a bank of electric elements that's built into the indoor unit.
Mine is natural gas since it was available, but propane can be used in remote locations.

A heat pump really doesn't really work at 41 degrees and stop working at 40 degrees. They will work at much colder temperatures, they just start to lose efficiency as it gets harder to scavenge heat when it gets colder. Most modern t-stats allow you control the temperature ate which the auxiliary heat kicks in to help out the heat pump. That temperature should be set according to the relative cost of the alternative fuel; it may be cheaper to run a heat pump when it's only 200% efficient than to burn gas.