A source of error that people don't often explicitly mention -- always mark the level when it is at the same point of the tubing. If more or less of the tube is full of fluid, the reservoir will have less or more fluid (respectively) and its level will be lower or higher (respectively).

@Siouxperman

6 ай бұрын

And also watch for air in the tubing

@checkavilatility

Ай бұрын

That's why people like to use a reservoir with a much larger surface area than the surface area of the tube. It makes the variance negligible.

Best water level video I've seen on youtube, also the least complicated .

Perfect how to. Thanks Mij Orchard for the tip on marking the hose.👍

@GeneLonergan

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment.

Thanks for the video. Used it last weekend on my deck build 35 x 20 ft. My buddies were well impressed. Job turned out great!!! Don't listen to the negativity .... that says more about those guys than it does about you. I like your video man and thanks for taking the time to teach those of us who appreciate it.

When you search “Dad” on a dictionary a picture of this guy comes up. He is so wholesome!

a little tip, use food coloring. and zip tie the hose to the top of the handle on the jug ! it'll hold the hose and on top of the handle won't be smashed by your hand.

@Siouxperman

6 ай бұрын

Rubber plugs work great but if in a hurry just heat the tip where it melts a bit and mush it together. That will surely create a good seal. Then once the projects done you could just snip off the tip.

Thanks for the video. It's guys like you that make KZread great.

@GeneLonergan

6 жыл бұрын

Vincente, Appreciate that.

A clear and concise explanation of how to build and use a water level. Thanks!

I have had one for 15 years. one thing i do is tape the end of the hose to a 4 ft plastic level all along the narrow edge. then i mark the plastic level at my desired height. this way i dont have to bother with the water level in my bucket. just set the bucket so that its water level is within a ft or two of my desired height. I also use antifreeze instead of koolaid cuz im in Minnesota. green shows through quite nicely. Good video Sir.

My dad introduced me to the water level when I entered the Carpenters Apprenticeship back in 1967, that's all we used to set forms, level beams, wainscot, fences and such for the next twenty years. Then my son joined us and we got a fancy $500 laser level, that was a lot of money setting on the shelf, and it wasn't as accurate, and you have to reset it up to go around corners. When the laser level went kaput we never replaced it. If I set house foundations every day, I'd get a laser. Nothing beats the old water level for cost and accuracy.

@waltflansburg5608

4 жыл бұрын

Ed Waggoner Sr. I agree. I move and set mobile homes, re-level homes that have settled. I use a water level all the time for them. I also use a laser when I do excavation work. Both have their purposes. A water level is more precise over a laser.

Does the amount of hose matter as you move from point to point? You're not going to hold the end of the tube at the same height every time, and the amount of hose below the line seems to matter. I can see that the container and the end of the hose will always be the same level, but if the level changes because more hose is being filled, sometimes, then it's all for naught.

@TommyPope-lg7wr

4 ай бұрын

I have that same question?

good vid, like the tip on just siphon through the top of the jug or bucket, also kool aid is great idea. Thanks.

again - super handy & thanks for sharing. When I was about 5 years old my dad dug new drains in our back yard for the storm water. He used a similar method to ensure that there was a gradual slope on in the ditch before laying the pipe. I will use your method when I build our deck. Thanks :) !!!!

@GeneLonergan

9 жыл бұрын

Phill Hart Hi Phill and thanks for the comment. Good luck on your deck. Gene

I prefer using windshield washer fluid. Works in the winter & doesn’t freeze or get slushy like RV antifreeze.

I like to put jet dry in the water to make it settle down quicker and add cheap store brand vodka in the winter time so it doesn't freeze. Nice trick with the kool-aid. Never thought of that. I always used some blue chalk or food coloring. I also liked to jam a wire nut into the end of the tube when I wasn't using it so I didn't leak colored water everywhere.

Cool! I had a store supplied one years ago, used it when building a house. YUesterday I made one, and the only thing I did differently was I attached the hose to a brass fitting drilled into the lower edge of the bucket. a bit of extra work and expense, but apparently little if any benefit. I have heard that these have been around for millennia!

@GeneLonergan

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment.

A small shut off valve at the end of the tube will allow you to let go of the tube all together. If you're leveling something metallic, you can attach a magnet to the end of the tube as well.

great video. simple, Straight forward. like the cool aid trick!

@GeneLonergan

8 жыл бұрын

+Bob K. Appreciate your positive comment. Gene

Great video, many thanks. I'm filling mine with a nice Californian Red, and when the days work is done, well I'll need to empty it won't I.

@GeneLonergan

3 жыл бұрын

Great comment!

Water levels are just the best!

Good video. Will use when levelling my 52 foot trailer home! Thumbs up!

One thing I would add to this to tape the tubing to the edge of a yardstick with the 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. It is then easy to measure say 10" above the reference.

@jandelahoussaye9834

10 ай бұрын

Why not just mark the hose if you don’t have a yard stick?

@wizengy

10 ай бұрын

If you are using it just as a level then you only need one mark on the reference and then put one mark on the hose. I usually look for differences in various points on a floor. It really depends on what you are measuring and what is the expected differences. The yardstick allows your to measure the ground easier. Just put the yardstick on the ground and read a number. If the water reference is at eye level then you might need to tape the yardstick to a longer stick. This is accurate to an eighth of an inch so marking a tube needs lots of marks. I use 1/4" vinyl tube which is cheap and has a small cross section. For reference I use a translucent or clear gallon jug of water half filled to maximize the cross section. I can measure a whole house with a 50 foot hose and the reference near the house center. Try to minimize the number of bends in the hose in order the keep the reference from changing.

Thankyou sooooooo much Gene. Greetings from DownUnder!!!

Great video. So easy method and the best method :-) Cheaper than a rotary laser.

@GeneLonergan

9 жыл бұрын

Eerik Sweden Hello Eerik and thanks for the comment. Gene

use windshield washer fluid. it comes with a jug, it's colored and, it doesn't freeze

@reedrobb

6 жыл бұрын

Dan Vize, I’ve sucked pol water, saltwater aquarium water and gasoline into my mouth trying to draw a siphon. I’ve never tasted windshield washer fluid but grape cool aid is yummy! 😀

@w8what575

4 жыл бұрын

Barry Barry well...I live in Nebraska where 9 months of the year are cold and about 6 of those months can fall below freezing. So in all actuality, windshield wiper fluid isn’t a bad idea since it won’t freeze and it’s not gasoline or bleach...it’s rubbing alcohol mainly with a few other ingredients that aren’t deadly...plus, to siphon the fluid doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone uses their mouths lol..I made a siphon adaptor for a hose before with a boat pump...it’s the bubble part of the blood pressure cuff nurses and doctors use...best way to describe the parts I used...and hose on either end...iv or medical tubing come with these click adaptors to make them interchangeable with little effort...click it on the end of ur hose and siphon...it boggles my mind that people would continue to put their mouths on the end of a make shift siphoning hose lol...and never bother coming up with a tool to fix that problem lol

@Hugh_Manitee

2 жыл бұрын

@@reedrobb $3.50 for a gallon of windshield fluid. Cool aid cheaper.

Can't argue with the level of water. I guess some contractors still use this system when building shelving in large rooms..like pole building shops.

if you raise up the open end of the tube, water will flow back into the jug changing the level slightly....I always keep the top of the hose at a consistent height if i can.

@johnbowen2963

5 жыл бұрын

yes your 100 percent right, lots of guys who use a water level do not understand this, that the displacement changes as the length of hose is changed .

@Dan-oz4qb

5 жыл бұрын

As soon as you lower it, it settles back again. Doesn't matter as long as you don't spill any.

@checkavilatility

Ай бұрын

The larger surface area of the reservoir versus the hose, minimizes the problem to where it's negligible.

I use this method and I don't need the bucket, just mark any were you masure and go from there

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing, about to level my mobile home 👍🏻💥👏🏻

@GeneLonergan

Жыл бұрын

Happy to help!

Can i go into the top of any container? Because I've seen some made with a hole in the side near the bottom which seems sort of difficult to do without it leaking.

Maybe im missing something but im not understanding how to do it. If i dont have it level wont that much water just go back into the jug to level it out from whereever im holding it?

Tried and true and very old way ! Great vid!

@GeneLonergan

9 жыл бұрын

pete oconnor Thank you Pete. Gene

Hi, iv noticed that most if not all water level videos out there dont use a bucket but rather two people holding each end of the hose. Your method of using the bucket seems much less complicated. Am i right in saying that (using your picture frame explain) that the bucket could be set at any convenient height and you put a mark on the wall when the tube end settles and you can measure up or down for your actual height required? Also i assured you sucked the water through the hose and not blow?

I have a question if you are active on this channel that is. So you put the jug where you want it to be level at. I've always been told to do it at the highest point the tallest Pier. My double wide unfortunately is on land with a grade to it so one side of the trailer is close to the ground the other one is 4 and 1/2 ft off the ground. Can you put the jug at the lowest point the corner of the mobile home that is closest to the ground and then check all your piers as you go

Gud lesson

very very well explained sir... thank you boss.

Great tip👍

Good explanation

@GeneLonergan

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for liking

Love the video Gene Lonergan! Water is such an interesting topic. #FLATEARTH

Before filling the bucket with kool-Aid put in half a bag of ice and a some sugar. " Stay thirsty my friends"

My dad had a 100' setup for construction.

Extra !

Super

Good video. You remind me of x president George Bush. Thank you

RIP Koolaid

@GeneLonergan

3 жыл бұрын

It would have helped.

@ihelpzu6770

3 жыл бұрын

@@GeneLonergan years ago they stopped selling those koolaid packets here in Canada

you just saved me the $600 a guy wanted to level my home

Nice video but you need to get to the point much quicker. Can begin to get boring otherwise...

@eaterofclams

7 жыл бұрын

..the video is just over six minutes long. If you are THAT stressed for time...wtf are you doing surfing KZread? I thought it was a very; good bit of instruction, but then I am not of the ADD/twitch gamer generation.

@russellmoore5711

5 жыл бұрын

You need to go screw yourself. If it's too long, then don't watch it douchebag. Also, your dweeb looking hair is atrocious. You're a girly looking guy that wouldn't even know what to do with this water level.

Sigh...Another video using the same method as the guy on HackaweekTV and again, not a very good technical explanation which could be misinterpreted by someone wanting to check elevation difference. It's not "bullet proof" if improperly applied. A water level does one thing and one thing only....find an accurate relative level line. Without going into the same detail I did in my response to the HackaweekTV vid, just know that a water level used in this manner merely provides a level line, but does not provide any information on difference in elevation. If you're trying to set or measure any difference in elevation, you must somehow measure from the reference level line set by the water level to the desired point of elevation change. Or, you can use a two stick water level setup and measure elevation differences by comparing the change in position of the water level relative to each end. Like others have commented, more talk on correct, accurate application of this method and less jibber jabber would be fantastic.

@jaugernautkp

8 жыл бұрын

I forgot to mention the flaw in this method which could lead to inaccurate results even when just finding the level at two different points. Using his example of going around a room to set picture frames, let's say he positions the end of the hose 1 ft higher between point A and B. Then, in theory the water line at each point is not perfectly level. The reason is the position of the water in the tube and reservoir changes in order to accommodate the constant water volume due to the vertical shift in position of the end of the hose. Now this guy has such a large reservoir that, a difference of 1 ft in the height of the end of the hose will probably not amount too a noticeable error, because the volume of water in the reservoir is so much greater than that in the hose, that the shift in water position would be negligible. However, a much simpler, completely accurate and equally effective application is to just fill a single tube with water and have one person hold one end fixed, while the other person goes to point B and adjusts the height of the tube until the water level at the fixed end meets some predetermined reference line. Again, the only thing that gives this guys method any credibility is the much larger reservoir volume compared to the volume of the hose. Test this out and you'll see the proof in the pudding.

@mikesousa5298

7 жыл бұрын

Awesome! good to know, Thank you for that explanation! I did some calculations and came up with this... your typical 1.5'' ID clear tubing you can purchase at home depot is going to hold a gallon of water for every 11' of tubing. Wow if you didn't take that into consideration I could see that becoming a major prob. 20 30 ft. This method is totally accurate though when done correctly though regardless of reservoir size as long as you set it up correctly. With that said I'm loosing my water level virginity this weekend leveling a trailer. Glad I ran across this got me thinking.

@AfricanFlightStar

Жыл бұрын

@@jaugernautkp Sounds like a lotta jibber jabber to me 🤪🤣

Another video explaining the same thing, lasted 12 minutes of which 6 minutes was spent talking about crap.

@mikesousa5298

7 жыл бұрын

Totally!

You need to improve your script plus explanation plus the shots. In parts you rushed or did not show clearly. For example, the orange bucket segment...what was that about, you didn’t make any sense at all.

@AfricanFlightStar

Жыл бұрын

It made perfect sense if you paid attention 😄