Tank Monitoring

Reading your water tank level from the house

Last reviewed: 21 July 2026

Climbing the tank to eyeball the level, or finding out it is empty when the tap runs dry, is a job nobody needs. Remote monitoring reads the water tank level from the house for you, on a small display inside or on your phone, so you never walk out to the tank to check. This page covers the two ways to measure the level, how to get that reading back to the house without trenching a cable or paying a monthly fee, and what to check before you buy. Where you want the deeper detail, we link the full guides as we go.

Two ways to measure the level

There are two sensor types that do the job, and they mount in different places.

Ultrasonic, from the top. A small sensor sits in the top of the tank and times an echo off the water surface to work out the gap down to the water. Nothing touches the water, and it suits most poly and metal tanks. It needs clear space above the water, and a stirred or foamy surface can throw it off.

Pressure, at the bottom. A sensor at the base, or plumbed into the outlet, measures the weight of water sitting above it. It suits tanks where the top is awkward to reach and very tall tanks. It needs a sound fitting, and because it sits in the water, check it is rated for drinking water if that is your supply.

Both answer the same question, how full the tank is, so the choice usually comes down to which is easier to mount on your tank. Our water tank level monitoring guide goes deeper on choosing a sensor, and on why range and battery life matter more than features.

Getting the reading to the house

The sensor is at the tank; you want the number at the house. A low power radio carries it across without trenching a cable.

House in sight of the tank, short distance. A basic wireless sender and receiver pair does the job.

Longer distance, no clear path, or a big block. A long range radio (LoRa or sub GHz) talks to a small base unit at the house. These reach hundreds of metres to kilometres and sip power, so the tank end runs happily on a small battery or a solar panel.

The important bit for rural blocks. None of this needs mobile signal. The tank talks straight to your base at the house on its own radio, with no SIM, no reception and no monthly fee. If you also want the level on your phone when you are away from the property, that is a separate mobile or satellite link, covered in satellite tank monitoring where there is no signal.

Reading it: a display or your phone

A small display or indicator inside the house. Glance at it and you are done. It is the simplest option, with nothing to log into.

Your phone. Handy if you are often away from the house, though the base needs to be connected to your home internet for this. Plenty of setups do both: a display on the wall plus an app that also sends an alert when the level drops.

Watching more than one tank, or a pump and troughs as well? The same base at the house can collect the lot, which is the idea behind monitoring the whole farm water system.

What to check before you buy

  1. Tank height. Make sure the sensor range covers your tallest tank; both types have limits.
  2. Distance to the house, and whether there is a clear path. This decides a basic radio against a long range LoRa link.
  3. Mobile signal. If you have none, choose a system that works house to tank on its own radio, not one that leans on a SIM.
  4. Power at the tank. Mains, battery or solar; long range low power gear runs fine off a small panel.
  5. Water type. Pressure sensors sit in the water, so check they are rated for drinking water if that is your supply.
  6. How you want to read it. A display, your phone, or both.

The short version

Measure the level with an ultrasonic sensor from the top or a pressure sensor at the bottom, then send it to the house on a low power radio, long range LoRa if the tank is a fair way off or you have no mobile signal. Check tank height, distance, signal, power and water type before you buy, and decide whether you want a display, your phone, or both.

General guidance only. Confirm sensor range, fittings and water contact ratings for your specific tank before purchasing.

Want the level on a screen in the house without walking out to the tank? Tell us how many tanks you have, how far they sit from the house, and whether you have mobile signal. We will lay out the simplest sensor and radio setup for your place, no upsell to gear you do not need. Tell us about your setup.