Filling your Bong

Filling your water bong becomes much easier when you know how much water to use. Start by placing your bong on a flat surface close by where it won’t break. To see how much water you’ll use, you’ll want to leave your downstem in the bong. Pour a small amount of clean water into the mouthpiece chamber of the bong and allow it to fill the bong until the bottom holes of the downstem are covered. We don’t recommend using the water by your bed, typically filtered or at the very least fresh water is best. 

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Too Much or Too Little Water

If too much or too little water is poured into a bong before use it can negatively impact the smoking experience. Too little water will result in a harsh and unpleasant hit and the bong won’t bubble as it should. Too much water will not only make the bong harder to pull when you hit it, but it could mean that your mouth may get splashed with bong water. While it’s up to each individual to determine the perfect water level for their bong, a general rule of thumb is to cover the bottom of the downstem so that the bong bubbles but so that no water splashes your mouth.

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The Temperature of the Water

The temperature of the water in your bong shouldn’t be extremely hot or cold as to harm you but other than that it is up to the smoker. Hot water should only be as hot as a beverage you’d drink so you don’t burn yourself. Warm smoke can be easier on the throat in the same sense that a steam room’s warm air helps clear the nasal passages. Those looking to take deep inhales may prefer warm water. Filling your bong with cold water cools hot smoke easily and will feel like a fresh breath of air. It will result in what many smokers refer to as milky hits, although these ice-cold hits can sometimes be much harsher. For many, room-temperature water is the perfect middle ground.

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Filling a Bong with a Percolator 

Filling a bong with a percolator is approached similarly to filling bongs without them. A percolator on a bong helps to cool the smoke which often results in a hit that’s easier on the lungs and throat. Start by pouring clean water of your desired temperature into the mouthpiece until water passes through all percolators. If the bong has multiple percolators, you’ll want to wait until the bottom percolator fills with water before blowing water into the bottom chamber using the mouthpiece. Once your percolators are filled, remove your downstem, set it somewhere safe, and fill the main chamber with water through the stem opening in the lower chamber until the bottom of your downstem is covered when you put it back in the bong. With bongs with multiple percolators especially, it’s important to test that you have the correct amount of water by test pulling the bong without the bowl piece in the bong. This step is to ensure that the bong bubbles but doesn’t splash your mouth.

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