How To Make And Use A Water Level

The water level has been around for a long long time. This video will show you how to make a water level and gives a demonstration of how to use it.
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[@Astrovideo]

Probably the clearest, most straight-forward and well-demonstrated DIY video tip I've seen. Thank you, this was extremely helpful.

[@RustyCarnahan]

Quick Southeastern Ohio history lesson. In the 1940's, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts started helping farmers set up contour lines in their fields to help mitigate soil erosion in our considerably rolling hills. They used a hose pipe (as my great-grandfather called it), and two glass tubes (remember, clear plastic hose really wasn't a thing in the 1940's) on either end to make their water level to lay out contour plow lines. They used a setup very similar to this one shown here. The beauty of this over using a transit of any sort is that one man alone could lay out the contour lines by himself. With a transit, it always took two people. A soil technician could mark out the lines, generally with white painted tomato stakes, then leave. Afterwards, the farmer could come along, and all he'd have to do is line up the nose of his tractor, or the hames knob of his horse team's harness with the white painted stakes and be off to the races with his new soil conserving contour lines in his fields.

[@markiobook8639]

Amen to that. Same used by my grandad a master carpenter & bricklayer from Tyrol, Bavaria and my other grandad, as master wood turner from Belfast.

[@jonm3255]

8 years later and still adding value! Just shared this with my brother that is building a shed.

[@wizengy]

You do not need to bother with the fancy fitting at the bottom. Just stick the tube in the top, tape it and then siphon it out. The level will still be the same as the level in the bucket. Also, I tape the end tubing to the edge of a yardstick with high numbers on the bottom. That way higher numbers will mean a higher elevation. Actual numbers do not matter; only the difference from the reference matters. Use a few drops of dish detergent to kill the surface tension.

[@XKillerxMTxDEWX]

Amazingly useful information. I remember watching this video when it first came around and having this idea introduced to me for the first time. Well now 5 years later I needed to set some footings for a deck and needed them to be all the same height and I remembered this video and was able to apply this very concept 5 years later. I just felt the need to come back here leave my thoughts even if it’s very unlikely anyone will ever see this comment.

[@vusisibanyoni4677]

we saw your comment. thnks

[@gaylehiner9511]

Good coment

[@gaylehiner9511]

Your welcome

[@mattc6457]

Still seeing your comment Lol

[@SomeDude-in-a-van]

dawww, you guys makin me get all choked up

[@edwaggonersr.7446]

Back in 1967, I was an apprentice carpenter, Local 906 Glendale sold us carpenters water levels at a reduced cost. Most of us had one. The water reservoir has space in it to store the hose. The water part sealed up tight so that you didn't loose the water over time, it also allowed the micro air-bubbles to escape. I used that thing hundreds of times, they are more accurate than a transit-level.

[@fredla7353]

Old fart! I was in Colton then...

[@drnickriviera8270]

Pro tip: you can use a cheap 4 ft level that also has ruler measurements on it instead of the white stick. using one will give you an easy way to tell how “off” something is by reading the difference in measurements.

[@aaravzaid5566]

i realize Im kinda off topic but does anyone know of a good place to watch newly released tv shows online?

[@aaravzaid5566]

@Braylen Dylan Thank you, I went there and it seems like a nice service :D I appreciate it !!

[@braylendylan1775]

@Aarav Zaid you are welcome =)

[@markmaddison5312]

A water level is more accurate than a laser and will still be correct up to a kilometer after that your fighting the curve of the earth plus your spot on with squaring

[@63flight]

6' folding ruler works best.

[@faw3511]

Great video, great tool. I used a water level to grade the lot for my house and 240 feet of fence, level within within 1/32" . As you note, calibration is important, especially as a long hose warms and expands under the sun. Thank you.

[@porsche9144uify]

I agree. Very simple explanation. The reservoir sitting over on the fence is smarter. Ive only seen the fluid in the tube on both ends on other videos. I seen this in use 30 years ago. Thanks to KZbin i found how to do it again. Great video

[@defytyrantsofmississippi2198]

I built a water level similar to this one to level a 24’x 25’ metal building concrete foundation form! Instead of using a white sticks like he used in this video I used a sheet rock T square with the inch marks on it. I was able to set my baseline and then measure up and down an eighth of an inch at a time. Yes it works very well. So well that a friend of mine came out with a laser level and checked my work and it was just as accurate as the laser level. I also used it to level the shelves in my wife’s closet before I installed them.

[@kramidanalub]

Thanks to this i leveled my ground to put my above ground pool in. Also used this to level my parking lot that i poured concrete. super effective!

[@condor5635]

Just siphon water instead of ruining bucket does exact same thing but bucket is spared for all the other uses. Great video. Love these things. Simple and dead on. Thanks, great video.

[@margieholm2385]

So I am building garden boxes, a green house, gazebo and a chicken coop. This morning I inventoried my materials and then stood with my saws, and work tables all set up wondering how in the heck I could get everything level. I can build furniture on a flat floor, no problem. Tried leveling the first tier of the garden box that is 25 feet long with my 3 foot level. The headache and frustration for trying to connect each short level to the last short leveled section! The garden box is not so critical, but the other fixtures need to be square and level. I knew there had to be a better way! Researching on KZbin I found laser level instructions. $300? Ok amazon has some for less...$60. Now I start reviewing how well they work and how long they last. How long will it take to have one delivered, etc. Then I found your video! What a money time saver! I’ll have everything laid out in just a couple of hours and be confident to start my projects! I cannot thank you enough!

[@HackaweekTV]

Ancient and simple device. :)

[@detroit313vlogs7]

Putting in a pool. Thanks a lot. I've never seen how a water level works. How cool. Thanks a lot.

[@thestalkinghead]

awesome. i love this kind of practical knowledge that you could still use in an apocalypse (or no electricity) situation

[@MrJoeAllert]

Hello - Currently writing from 2020 (aka the apocalypse) and yes indeed this video was useful!

[@deanhenthorn1890]

Use four hoses that way it shows all four elevations at the same time. Water always seeks its own level. No matter how many lines are coming out of the source bucket.

[@leonlowenstadter9223]

That's quite a smart idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@cabji]

great video. this is one of the better water level howtos i've seen on youtube. i think i'll try making one with extendable hose lengths for work. i think some people could confuse "square" with "a square" (whice you probably accidentally said in the video). a 10x12 foot shape with equal diagonals is a rectangle. if your outer edges are not equal you will find a discrepency in the diagonals and you will have a parallelogram or quadrilateral - where adjacent sides are not square. the video makes sense to me but i do it all the time for work. great video anyway!

[@LadyTSurvival]

One way to get it pseudo square before you measured diagonally each direction is to measure down One direction 3-foot the ninety-degree angle measure down 4 ft and then in between the two measurements it should be 5 ft. It's called the three, four, five rule. That way you won't have to do a lot of adjusting once you start measuring diagonally. It's a helper

[@larryslemp9698]

Lol.....no, it's the six, eight, ten rule!!

[@LadyTSurvival]

@@larryslemp9698 LOL it's both

[@larryslemp9698]

@@LadyTSurvival Gee Whiz.....Really?!

[@margieholm2385]

I just looked at your playlist and cannot wait to get started a marathon watch. I’m very impressed. New subscriber!

[@johnswimcat]

Water tube levels are brilliant, I have one, just a long length of polythene tube. A couple of things I would mention. If part of the tube has been lying in the sun the water in that part can heat up a bit and will then have a lower density to the water in the colder part of the tube. This will put the readings out, however it may be possible to allow for this. The other thing is I always check the level before AND after using it by bringing the two ends of the tube next to each other. Then if there are bubbles or different densities it will show. Good video

[@DarrenLandrum]

This is one of those videos where I go, "yeah, I've always wondered how those work" and then facepalm when I find out.

[@mkwriath]

thank you so much for this video, I was puzzling out how to use this across a 10m or 33' garden and using a reservoir as you have with the stick marker makes all the difference. so simple and obvious, I feel a little thick now but, thank you again, this really was helpful. As they say, the simplest solutions are.......

[@fredtjack23]

Thank you, I've watched a few videos so far... still learning. You showed me how to get it done. God bless.

[@woodchuck1800]

Thanks for that years ago i helped my brother-in-law set up a huge double wide mobile home and he used this method to get it all level but i could not remember how he did it.I am building a new floor for my gazebo and thought about using the water level happy to find you tutorial very easy to understand thanks

[@aimankhoury]

Great video. Instead of putting a mark on the white stick, you can attach a measuring tape to it and read the measurements and the differences in the water level.

[@nevillenewman2785]

When I built my 10x16 shed 25 years ago,, I used a rifle scope taped to a 4-foot bubble level for one end, and a vertical yardstick at the other end.. It was what I had handy :-) Now, I need to replace support posts on a 50-foot porch and want something more accurate than the bubble level (carpenters' level), so I'm planning to put together a water level to be sure the porch roof beam is kept level as I go.

[@HackaweekTV]

Water levels are great for all kinds of projects.

[@danielmule9414]

I was going to buy a builders level with hard to come by money... until I seen this.... thank you you just saved me several hundred dollars

[@johnny30806]

True "the environment changing'' from day to day will effect the calibration. AKA temperature and barometric pressure. The key to circumventing this natural occurrence, Is why a "station point'' was designated. Station point is the height you wish to maintain of the finished product. If the reservoir is placed at the same station point every day, and allowed to acclimate to the environment, then it will self calibrate. If the station point is higher than the finished product height, you would measure down from the water level to determine how far your finish product height is below your water level height. Using boards with yards sticks and tubing attached to, makes this process much easier. Using wind shield washer fluid, allows this system to be used below freezing temperatures, because it will not freeze

[@AdventureIndiana]

A water level is no joke and what this guy showed you is no joke. I used this method once on putting in drain tile. I wanted to be sure the drain tile was going at a certain slope away from house. A water level made it a million times easier. A farmer showed me this. Farmers are generally really smart and know this stuff

[@abelhernandez2099]

If you use a 3/8 tubing,you get an accurate reading on your level..note:if you look at the video you'll notice the water fluctuating a lot.By using a 3/8 tubing will keep that fluctuating to a bare minimum,therefore giving you a fast and accurate reading

[@flowreader6755]

Best demo I've seen yet; thanks!

[@ever9440]

That was some great info. Will check out your other hacks see if they are just as good. This type of knowledge and simple steps has been lost on many. So many hacks learned over time and passed down need to be logged for the next gen.

[@HackaweekTV]

Glad it was helpful! Enjoy the ride and thanks for watching.

[@joek2924]

Have first create a perfect 90 on two sides before the x corner to corner measurement works because trapazoids will measure out the same but not in an exact square, love your channel, thank you

[@donaldburton6869]

This is a good practical demonstration!

[@Suburbanstoneage]

This is so perfect! I'm doing a similar project and needed to know how to do this. Thank you for the tip, I really enjoy your Channel!

[@heted1]

great video. I plan on making a water level just like this to do various outdoor projects. Thanks for posting.

[@BestSpatula]

There are some limitations to this method: it won't work over huge distances because of differences in barometric pressure. It also isn't completely precise because the earth's gravity changes slightly depending on geology. However, the way it's demonstrated in this video shows a perfectly valid way to use this technique.

[@DarthPeachy]

Great tip Dean, it's amazing how the old ways are still the best.

[@wingnutbren]

Thanks! We'll use that to layout our septic lines with that strategy!

[@HackaweekTV]

Perfect!

[@Godshole]

Just made one of these to check for view blocking and base level for the HUGE shed I am about to have built. Using hose pipe, the hozelock cone shaped sprayer works as a valve and I have it poked in the 3/4 inch internal diameter clear hose I am using for seeing through, attached to 20 metres of garden hose with a jubilee clip. Fixed join at the other end is the nozzle from a caulking gun, cut down and pressed by hand into the hose pipe to give a rigid core. Then built up with electricians tape, then shoved in the 3/4 inch clear tube and secured with a jubilee clip. I should be able to close the sprayer nozzle, those yellow long cone things, to move around, then open it slowly to get to let water move to get level. In case I judge wrong I don't want to be over topping out the tube all the time. Measuring over 100 meters in stages with 20 meters of garden hose. Should be fun...

[@bullboss7698]

Fill with windshield washer fluid, its colored & will not freeze.

[@brain7267]

Kool-Aid

[@MichiganPeatMoss]

You can trap da wasps with da Kool-Aid. :)

[@disarm2k10]

Wow Nice one, I'm stealing it

[@snatchface8277]

MINDBLOWN

[@marcelofuentes4101]

Great video, You have no idea how great this had helped me, thanks!!

[@benniegant]

I thinking of making one of these now. Mine will be forked with for tributaries for each corner! Thank You!!!

[@manueliii4721]

Excellent video thank for making it so easy to understand I seen some that over explained it . Thank you for taking your time to help others. Have a old mobile home that was cut in to a small work/ storage 45 foot long 12 foot wide going on to try and save it cheaper to fix than replace thanks again

[@thomasgronek6469]

GREAT VIDEO, thank you. I wish I had seen your video before I did my patio.

[@sunnysacto]

tire valve, pop in thick container for fast seal outlet. Long neck valve is best and clamp on hose.

[@james-jq8sk]

Thank you, the four corners are level, but how about the rest of the area? How you levelled that would have been a useful addition to the video...

[@IdahoEagle77]

This is brilliant!!!!

[@jrb6434]

Nicely done. Thanks for the demo. Love the outtakes!

[@DivineLBest]

"what has happened is my stick raised up from the zero point".. that is indeed what he said my friends.

[@HackaweekTV]

That's what HE said. lol

[@immers2410]

Said the architect to the actress

[@NathanStanley]

great video. this is one of the better water level howtos i've seen on youtube. i think i'll try making one with extendable hose lengths for work.

[@jimnesbitt8581]

A really simple easy to understand explanation. of how to make a water level.... perfect for my very similar shed building project... thanks

[@williamfox9523]

Wonderful. Clearly communicated w/o being too technical. Perfect. I can do this!

[@RCPLANET1962]

Ty you just saved me a bunch of grief. Laser not necessary! Pool pad will be level!

[@andrewbainbridge5573]

They also work around corners where line of sight is not possible.

[@dennisrandall8040]

I’ve been struggling with leveling my home. I thought I had the water level down. WRONG. I do now thanks.

[@daibhiseaghdha153]

well done, you know what you are doing, without any mystery, lucky that in is on sandy base, which will not shrink in a hurry, good to get the correct instructions, the simplest solutions, are the best. thanks very much. I now drain the water out, when I have finished, or I find that Algae, grows and produces a " gas bubbles " which is a problem, I avoid now.

[@HackaweekTV]

Thanks for watching.

[@user-mj3jd4dg7v]

My suggestion is to add a tape measure to your stick

[@richardwood8896]

Best and easiest to understand video on water level. Even I understand it now. Thanks

[@haroon5931]

explained in a very easy way :)

[@herenow2895]

Great ! Thanks for sharing.

[@beaunegrete727]

It's not necessary to top off the reservoir if you spill some water. Simply go back to your ground zero brick, make a new mark on the board and you're good to go.

[@nicolasg6861]

Many Thanks for the explanation and the set up of the reference point!

[@martinschulz9381]

A guy I worked with once talked about a "water level" clear hose set up and we all laughed at him. He knew better than all of us. He did get me interested in it though.

[@JeffMon2323]

Great video and you did an amazing job explaining the how to's of water leveling

[@cristymcgowan5690]

Thank you! That's awesome learned everything I need. Your a great teacher.

[@beaudanner]

I'd say that's pretty useful. Thanks

[@benniedonald]

Love it guy. You explain this very clearly.

[@Hiepnguyen-gm9sx]

Thank you for sharing the old wisdom. It's great.

[@dmeads5663]

So you mean to tell me that the Romans and Egyptians didn’t have an $800 laser leveling kit? Well golly gee.

[@henrybooth5212]

That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen thank a million for showing us this simply amazing

[@joanofarc708]

So simple ye so precise

[@jjay4585]

Pro Tip: I put vodka in my water level. It keeps the job interesting.

[@Hedgehodge-]

this was really helpful, i found another video speaking of a water level and was like wow, thats brilliant for longer spans. I know its instructional but i would take avg of each area you want bricks and then find which ones id have the least amount of digging to do, however would i tamp the ground everywhere first before doing this? Very, cool, thanks again!

[@ZacharyKentVT]

How have I never heard of these! Off to the hardware store I go!

[@robinrochan9301]

Thenks sir very nice video I learnt so much from you

[@jimkurk5575]

i am wondering if the ancient Egyptians had these, i always thought they did not have hose type things cause everything was built using gravity flow and not any siphon because they did not know about it and sealed tunnels, maybe they just used a canal type thing and measure the water level, i was not there so i will never know, thanks excellent video

[@nicholasr82]

That was brilliant.

[@user-pg1uc8gs8u]

God bless you Sir

[@mlnfish]

thank you very clear and helpfull... wish me luck

[@cliffvaughn7378]

Was electrician and saw two guys do this on big lay in ceiling using a 100 foot water hose and it was right on the mark and level ,thanks,about forgot how it works they just held one end of hose on their 8 foot mark And the other guy had a funnel taped to other end the other guy would go to other wall and get close by guess and had gallon of water and would pour water in funnel till came out other end that was on the start mark , he would fill funnel and let it down or raise it till he saw water then he would fill slowly till funnel was exactly full to top holding against the wal till it was even and then put mark on wall and go to other three and do same, the ceiling was perfect just using water hose you could see three, I don’t know what Egypt used because had no rubber hose or vinyl tubing

[@HackaweekTV]

Papyrus reeds and pitch.

[@wildwillie6132]

COOL. Thanks for the tip!

[@ToddFun]

Long time fan! That is a cool water level example, I do have some constructive feedback I think... Your diagonal measurement to determine square is not quite complete. You should state that 2 opposite sides are 10' and the other two opposite sides are 12'. You let the viewer assume this but it should be stated for completeness. Without validating the opposing side lengths are equal your diagonals could be the same value yet you wouldn't have square corners. Nitpicking I know, but for completeness I thought I should let you know. I have setup square foundations many times but never used a water level. I would think a water level would be a ton of extra fussy work. We always put the 4 corner stakes down and validated square. The stakes would be tall and outside the boundary of the final foundation. We would then run a very tight string line between all the stakes using a "line level" to validate the line was level between all stakes. This gives a level starting point for your foundation. You then simply measure down the same amount at each stake and along the tight line to excavate down to a level foundation grade. If you want to check in the middle of you structure you can pull a level tight line between any two side lines and measure down from the new level line, real easy. I have only seen water levels used where you can't pull a level line because of obstructions like existing buildings, rocks, hills or such. Thanks for sharing your water level example, it was nicely done.

[@HackaweekTV]

***** The diagonals have to be the same value to be square. If they are different it won't have 90 degree corners. At 4:12 I mention that the layout is 10' x 12'. I agree that a line level technique is best for a large excavation that needs to be level. A water level is a good tool to quickly check a site at may points. Thanks for watching. :)

[@DANLK]

I think the requirement for square corners is: diagonals both the same length that intersect at their half way points. Alternatively; diagonals the same length and opposite sides the same length. HackaweekTV I think you conveyed that perfectly (first established opposite side lengths equal then established diagonal lengths equal) and Todd is nitpicking.

[@johnd942]

HackaweekTV: Great job! Thanks! Try not to reply to 'nit-pickers'; it only encourages them to keep trolling.

[@trouts4444]

Once done the strings are in the way. If you want to recheck you have to set them up again. A water level can be put aside and quickly brought back to points that need to be checked.

[@billymaul8139]

very helpful thank you.

[@HackaweekTV]

You're welcome!

[@johnjacobjinglehimerschmid3555]

That's how you know you're square. Measure diagonals .... Totally agree ... But if one's out do you move the stake Left/right or in/out?

[@HackaweekTV]

Too long, in. Too short, out.

[@lazarsjojic]

Great video.advice on how not to have air bubles. You just lift up tube and dont allow water to goes into tube until you have bucket filled with water.then you start filling the tube with water. In this way you dont have any air comming from bucket, because there's no air in bucket :).You might however have some air bubles cause there is air in the tube but maybe not.anyway you let the water in tube a comming with controlled speed and a moment you see buble being created stop and return water in tube and colapse that buble.

[@davidsphone8449]

Thank you for your time and insight.

[@robertduncan6525]

Thanks for making this video it helped me with 12'x 12' wooden Gazebo

[@danhorvat1481]

Cool. But is the brick level or higher at one end and lower at the other? Should have used sticks that are stuck in the ground instead, and then you mark your zero level on them. Regardless of this obvious potential error in measurement, excellent video.

[@elohims1750]

very concise video! thank you. if you mark the water level when you calibrate, then lose some as you said happened to you, couldn't you just refill to the mark?

[@gibsondeepaquibulan9897]

Very helpful. Thank you so much!

[@jaybird836]

Thank you sir very educationional

[@joellinn8350]

Thank you much... That's as sharp as a Laser Level, even better when obstructed... Brilliant!! cheap n effective!! Love it

[@ricardogutierrez1840]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge sir!

[@HackaweekTV]

My pleasure!

[@l00se8]

The further your hose gets away from the bucket, the lower the level of the fluid in the buclet will be. You can see it happening as he gets the air bubbles out

[@edwaggonersr.7446]

The level stays the same regardless of the distance. Yes, of course, the level will change as the air bubbles escape.

[@NathanStanley]

great video. this is one of the better water level howtos i've seen on youtube. i think i'll try making one with extendable hose lengths for work. i think some people could confuse "square" with "a square" (whice you probably accidentally said in the video).

[@alexrodriguez8767]

Thank you!!!

[@JasonEdge]

Excellent explanation!

[@horizontarn]

What’s the longest distance a water level works up to?

[@Chain21SAW]

Great water level instruction though 👍🏽