One of the quintessential experiences for any cannabis enthusiast is enjoying a smooth, cool, and filtered hit from a bong. While many factors contribute to the quality of your bong hits - such as the quality of your bud, the type of bong, and the cleanliness of your piece - the most critical element is often overlooked: how much water to put in a bong.
It’s important to know how to fill a bong to the right level, as it can considerably affect the level of filtration it provides. If too much water is added, the user will find it difficult to draw in the smoke. The smoke will not be filtered enough if there is not enough water.
It can take some experimentation to find the perfect amount, or you can skip the frustration and learn how in this guide, as we'll walk you through the steps to fill a bong with the perfect amount of water, ensuring an efficient and enjoyable smoking experience.
Table of Contents
Why is Learning How to Fill a Bong Important?
If you’ve never owned a bong, you may wonder why it's so important to learn how to fill it with water. Bongs provide a filtration system that is unique to them that other smoking instruments, such as pipes, don’t. Bongs cool and filter the smoke through water, reducing the amount of some of the toxins in cannabis smoke before you inhale it.
If there isn't enough water in the bong, the smoke won't be filtered and will be harsher on the throat, increasing the chances of coughing. On the other hand, if there's too much water, the hit becomes harder to pull, resulting in wasting weed trying to get a big hit out of the bong. Therefore, it's important to find the right bong water level.
You can’t just add water and hope you’ve done it right. There are steps to follow to get the best bong rips possible.
How Much Water to Put in a Bong: Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Choose the Right Bong
Before filling your bong with water, choosing the bong, that’s best for you is crucial. Bongs come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, with some having multiple chambers and percolators to provide additional filtration and cooling.
The type of bong you choose will determine the water level needed for the best hits.
Step 2: Clean Your Bong
For the best smoking experience, you should clean your bong regularly. Dirty bongs not only have a foul taste and smell and can harbor harmful bacteria. Before filling your bong with water, ensure it is clean and residue-free.
Even if your bong is brand new, it's best to give it a quick clean before hitting it for the first time. This is because sometimes there may be a lingering “new bong” smell out of the box that could affect the taste of your herb.
You can use a mixture of warm water and isopropyl alcohol to clean the bong, followed by a thorough rinse with warm water to remove any traces of alcohol.
Step 3: Fill the Base with Water
Now that your bong is clean and ready for use, it is time to fill it with water. Depending on your bong’s design, pour water into the mouthpiece or downstem joint. As you pour, watch the water level rise in the base chamber.
The ideal water level will depend on the type of bong you are using, but a general rule of thumb is to fill the base until the downstem is submerged about 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) in water.
You want all the slits in your downstem to be covered in water. This is the most important part of how to fill a bong.
If you’re unfamiliar with downstems, they are one of the most important bong accessories you should buy with your bong if it doesn’t already come with one.
Step 4: Adjust the Water Level for Percolators (if applicable)
If your bong has additional chambers or percolators, you must also fill these with water. The optimal water level for percolators varies depending on the design, but generally, you should fill them until the water covers all the slits or holes in the percolator. Make sure water gets all the way up into the percs.
To do this, pour water through the mouthpiece while observing the percolator's water level. You may need to tilt the bong slightly to ensure all the slits are covered.
Step 5: Test the Water Level
Once you have filled your bong with water, you must test the water level to ensure you get the best possible hits. Place your mouth on the mouthpiece and draw air through the bong without lighting it. You should hear a bubbling sound as the air passes through the water.
If the bubbling is too intense or you’re finding it difficult to draw, there might be too much water in the bong. On the other hand, if there is little to no bubbling, you may need to add more water.
By taking a pretend hit, you can also see if all the slits in the downstem are fully submerged when the bong is angled.
How Often Should I Refill My Bong With Water?
Customers often ask how often they should change the water in their bong. You should use new water every time you sit down to enjoy a bong session. The more often you change the water, the better your experience.
However, the best part about changing your bong water often is it reduces the frequency you need to clean your bong and the effort needed to get a good clean.
The Bottom Line
Filling a bong might seem like a simple task, but getting it right can make all the difference in the quality of your smoking experience.
Let’s quickly recap what we’ve covered:
- Choose the right bong for you
- Clean your bong
- Fill the base until the downstem is submerged
- Adjust bong water level if needed
- Test the water level
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to achieving the perfect bong hit every time. Happy smoking!
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