IS YOUR LEVEL ACCURATE? Here's How To Tell...(Broken Bubble Level / Spirit Level)

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Bubble Levels--or spirit levels--are essential tools for any DIYer. But, levels are susceptible to getting damaged and not reading accurately. This video from The Honest Carpenter will show you how to test your level to determine whether it is accurate or broken!

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IS YOUR LEVEL ACCURATE? HERE'S HOW TO TELL...

To determine if your bubble level or spirit level is accurate, you need to check each individual bubble gauge against itself.

HORIZONTAL BUBBLE LEVEL TEST:
1) Hold the tool up to the wall; make it read level
2) Place a mark above the bubble gauge; scribe lines along top of tool at each end
3) Rotate your bubble level or spirit level like a helicopter blade; line it up with your pencil marks
4) Check for level accuracy; if level bubble is not in exact same position between gauge lines, your level is most likely broken. Consider replacing it.

VERTICAL BUBBLE LEVEL TEST:
1) Hold level vertically on wall; make sure tool is reading level.
2) Scribe pencil lines along edge of tool at top and bottom.
3) Rotate tool; line up with pencil marks.
4) Check bubble level gauge for accuracy.

REMEMBER: older style mason's bubble levels used two vials for each area of the tool. Therefore, each vial needs to be tested against itself...NOT any of the other vials. Test each vial against itself with the above methods to determine accuracy!

Be sure to check us out at The Honest Carpenter website:

[Kainosktisis]

My first tip is never buy a level off the shelf at the big box store without stacking at least 5 levels on each other checking both vertical and horz, you will be amazed at the variations between levels, pick one from the group that reads the same as the others tossing out the ones that read out of sync, you have no idea how many times they have been dropped or banged around in a cart then thrown back on the shelf. Second is you should alway check both vertical bubbles on the same level against each other unless you always use the same end of the level which I'm guessing most don't know which end of the level they just used, if your really in need of fine tuning fix a plumb bob line just off the wall about the depth of the level and slide the level just behind the line and verify it's reading plumb, draw a long plumb (vert) line on the wall, then using a 2 foot square on the plumb line mark a 90 deg line to the plumb line and you can check that it reads perfectly level (hor)

[johnguinn]

Much easier way is to set it on a table and check the bubble, then spin it 180°, out it on the same spot on the table... the bubbles should be the same in relation to the lines. It doesn’t even matter if the table is level.

[deweysegler]

Great video warning people to check their levels because they do get off. The way I check my level is simply set it on something and take note of where the bubble is. It does not need to be level just remember where the bubble is, then turn it 180 degrees and see if the bubble is in the same place. If it is you are getting a good reading, if it isn't in the same place your level if off and needs to be fixed.

[thelopergizer]

James, that might have been the simplist yet most profoundly insightful "new" information I have heard in ensuring whether a level is still good. Thank you.

[LarryB-inFL]

Man, you have come a looong ways in the quality of your videos! Amazing to see the difference from just a few years back! As usual, of course, still good info.

[swbjackson]

When I'm using my level I regularly flip it and double-check the line I've just drawn or the item I've levelled. It means I'm making a constant check on the level and only ever get one line wrong if my bubble goes out. I'm astounded that this tip isn't taught at college as the number of trades that don't do this is amazing. I was taught to do it as a kid working with my father.

[Wakeywhodat]

Solid tip..

I got a laugh when you said electricians use a level. Many I’ve seen don’t even use a tape measure lol

[mattwaters]

Excellent info. I have a 2 footer that was never accurate. Thanks to adjustable bubbles I was able to correct the problem. Many thanks again!

[Oldtimecarpenter]

That is a fantastic idea! Equally important are your measuring tapes ( which get dropped often ) and framing squares. Who ever thinks of calibrating a mitre saw! All important items to constantly check out.

See you even taught this old dog a new trick! Keep up the great videos and thanks again for sharing!!

[johnkelley]

I never thought of that! What a great idea. Thanks for sharing this.

[drleo]

I've been in construction for 30 years. I've never considered my bubble being out of level. Thank you for that!

[andrewmcgillivray]

my high-end and very expensive stabila cast aluminum level had one dry vial. no idea how that happened, the vial was perfectly intact, no damage at all. the other 2 vials were ok. stabila told me that a repair was impossible. that motivated me to repair my $130 level myself. 1. i bought a cheap level vial on amazon, drilled a hole and saved the yellow liquid. 2. i bought a length of 3mm plaxiglas round rod. 3. i tapered one end of that rod with a file. 4. i drill a 3 mm hole on the top of the dried out vial and poured the liquid into it. 5, using instant glue i plugged the hole in the vial with the plexiglas rod. i waited 10 minutes and sawed off the rod flush. total cost: $6, total time: 12 min. i saved $124, 00 and felt great that i didn‘t let stabila make me buy an otherwise perfectly good level.

[freddyrassinger]

I'd have never worked this out in a million years. Thanks

[ronanfurey]

Sometimes you might need to change the bubble, if your level isn’t working take it to your local hardware store and ask if they have any spirit level bubbles.
Hope this helps

[valdius]

All of my tools for my short setting out "career" were Stanley Fat Max. I love them. Nothing fancy but I was happy with them.

[morganmeehan]

Always love learning new things from your channel, thank you for freely sharing your knowledge. You rock!

[monkeygraborange]

It's the little details like this that separate the men from the boys.

[morrisho]

Also make sure the level's surfaces are clean and do not have a glob of paint or sheetrock mud stuck on them.

[timhouse]

You demonstrated how see if the level is accurate, if it isn’t how do you recalibrate the Stanley level? I noticed that there was screws on some of the vials, when loosened there didn’t seem to be a way adjust them back to perfectly level again. Any Thoughts?

[davidr]

WOW - If anyone had told me I would just have spent 4min 26sec watching a video about bubble level accuracy, I would have said they were mad. What an eye opener, I have a couple of bubble levels (cheap) and have never thought to question the accuracy of a bubble level.