There are a couple of ways you can determine the depth of your well. One method is to use a device called a well sounder. This tool has a long measuring tape containing a sensor to alert you once the end reaches the water.
Or you can DIY it by using a long tape measure with a half-filled bottle of water attached to it. Lower the tape measure into your well. Once you feel tension on the tape, you’ll know the bottle has reached your static water level. This will give you an approximate idea of your well’s depth.
The small lines on the tape measure either indicate inches, fractions of an inch, or centimeters and millimeters. On the imperial unit side (aka the inches side), the longest lines indicate inches, followed by the next shortest lines that indicate a half-inch, and then the quarter, eighth, and sixteenth-inch. On the metric side, the lines break down meters, centimeters, and millimeters.
A land survey defines and records the physical aspects of a property, including its boundaries, dimensions, easements, features, and sometimes topographical information. In contrast, a land appraisal determines the property's monetary value. While an appraiser will often consult a land survey to understand the property's physical specifications, the survey itself does not determine the land's value.
Land surveys are worth it in several scenarios including selling your home, building an addition, constructing a fence, or making major changes to your landscape. A professional land survey can help you avoid legal issues with your neighbors and confirm the value of your property. In many cases, you may be required to order a land survey to receive a construction permit or mortgage loan.
Land surveying can help give clear guidance on your property boundaries for numerous situations. And in some cases, having your land surveyed is a requirement. Some common reasons to have your land surveyed include:
Planning for construction projects, like building a fence
Locating utilities, such as plumbing fixtures
Settling property line disputes
Creating subdivisions
Meeting mortgage requirements
Selling your property
The Chiloquin, OR homeowners’ guide to land surveying services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Wondering whether you need a land survey or a plot plan? Learn about the differences between the two, when to do each, and what information they provide.