Laser Level Vs. Water Level

Keeping the Horizontal Line

• In construction, the foundation must be level, or the building is unstable and may eventually collapse. Builders strove to keep constructions level since ancient times. A level is a tool that provides a common measurement of the horizontal plane.

Water Levels

• A water level is a flexible tube filled with water. The water in the tube's ends stays at the same level regardless of the distance between the ends. When used, one end of the water level is fixed at the desired level. The other end is moved. Since the water level is always the same at the movable end as the fixed end, this marks a horizontal plane.

Laser Level

• A laser level has a diode emitting a laser beam. The laser beam is visible for long distances, some levels being read from a mile or more distant. Laser beams can harm eyes, so protective goggles are necessary. Lasers do require energy to work.

Water Level versus Laser Level

• A water level marks a horizontal plane, but only one point at a time. Because of the difficulty of moving the tubing, only for about a fifth of a mile can be measured. However, water levels do not work in cold weather, as the water may freeze. The laser level has no physical contact between the point of origin and the point where the level is to be marked. All points are measured at the same time, using a rotating laser.

  The laser level does not have any physical contact between the point of origin and the point where the level is to be marked. All points can be measured at the same time, using a rotating laser.