Why Do Bongs Need Water?
You're not alone if you've ever wondered why bongs need water. It's a common question among cannabis users. While it may seem like a simple design feature, the water in a bong serves several vital functions that enhance the smoking experience.
In this article, we'll explore why bongs need water and how it contributes to a smoother, more enjoyable hit.
Key Takeaways
- The primary function of water in a bong is to cool the smoke produced from burning cannabis. Water absorbs the heat, ensuring the smoke that reaches your lungs is cooler and less harsh.
- The water filters out ash, tar, and other unwanted particles, resulting in a cleaner hit, minimal respiratory irritation and coughing fits often caused by inhaling these impurities.
- Water also aerates the smoke by breaking it into tiny bubbles as it passes through. This increases the smoke's surface area, allowing for better interaction with the water.
- The ideal water level usually submerges the downstem by about half an inch, but this may vary depending on the bong's design.
Why Do Bongs Need Water?
Water Cools the Smoke
When you light cannabis and inhale, the smoke produced can be hot and harsh on your throat and lungs. This heat can cause irritation and discomfort, making it difficult for an enjoyable smoking session.
Water acts as a natural coolant, absorbing heat from the smoke as it passes through the bong so that the smoke reaches your mouth and lungs when it's significantly cooler and more comfortable to inhale.
Water Filters Out Impurities
As cannabis burns, it produces smoke, ash, tar, and other unwanted particles. Inhaling these impurities can lead to coughing fits and respiratory irritation. As the smoke bubbles through the water, ash, and tar get caught in the liquid, resulting in a cleaner, smoother hit.
Water Aerates the Smoke
Another key function of water in a bong is aeration. As smoke passes through the water, it's broken up into countless tiny bubbles.
This process increases the smoke's surface area, allowing for greater interaction with the water. The smaller the bubbles, the more surface area is exposed to the water, leading to even better cooling and filtration. This is why many bongs feature percolators or diffusers, which help break the smoke into even finer bubbles.
How Does a Bong Work?
To know why bongs need water, it's helpful to understand how they work.
When you light the bowl and inhale, the smoke is drawn down the downstem and into the water at the bong's base. As the smoke passes through the water, it's cooled and filtered. The water removes harsh impurities like ash and tar, resulting in a smoother, cleaner hit.
From there, the filtered smoke travels up the main chamber of the bong toward the mouthpiece. As you continue to inhale, you draw the smoke into your lungs. Thanks to the cooling and filtering effects of the water, the smoke is much gentler on your throat and lungs compared to dry pipes or joints.
Some bongs may have additional features like percolators or ice catchers to enhance cooling and filtration. However, the basic principle remains the same: water is the key to a smoother, cleaner hit.
What Happens if You Smoke a Bong Without Water?
Smoking a bong without water will likely be an unpleasant experience. Without the cooling and filtering, the smoke will be hot, harsh, and irritating to the throat and lungs. You'll not filter out the ash and tar particles, which means inhaling more impurities with each hit. This can lead to coughing fits.
Moreover, dry hits defeat the purpose of using a bong in the first place. Bongs are designed to provide smooth, cool hits that are gentle on the lungs. Without water, you might as well smoke from a dry pipe or joint. The water is what sets bongs apart and makes them popular among cannabis enthusiasts.
So, if you want to enjoy the full benefits of using a bong, don't forget to fill it with water before each smoking session. Also, check out these best bong for smooth hits. Your lungs will thank you for it.
How Much Water Should You Put in a Bong?
Now that you know why bongs need water, how much water you should use is the next logical question. The amount of water in your bong can make a big difference to your smoking experience.
The rule of thumb is to fill your bong with just enough water to submerge the downstem by about half an inch. The downstem is the narrow tube that connects the bowl to the bong's base, where the smoke first enters the water.
If you use too much water, it can be difficult to draw smoke through the bong. You'll have to inhale harder to pull the smoke through the excess water, which can be uncomfortable and lead to a less enjoyable experience.
On the other hand, if you use too little water, you won't get the full benefits of filtration and cooling. The smoke will have less contact with the water, resulting in a harsher, hotter hit.
Finding the perfect water level may take a bit of experimentation, but a good starting point is to fill your bong until the water just covers the bottom of the downstem. From there, you can adjust the water level slightly to find your preferred balance of filtration and ease of draw.
Keep in mind that different types of bongs may require different ideal water levels. For example, a percolator bong may require more water to function properly, while a straight tube bong may work best with less water. You can learn more about straight tube vs beaker bongs here.
If you're unsure how much water to use in your specific bong, consult the manufacturer's instructions or experiment with different levels until you find what works best.
Do Bongs Filter Out More Tar Than Joints?
It’s easy to assume that the water filtration in bongs makes them a healthier choice compared to joints. However, studies suggest otherwise.
While bongs do filter out some tar and other particulates, they also filter out more of the psychoactive THC than tar. This means the tar-to-cannabinoid ratio is actually worse in bongs compared to unfiltered joints.
To compensate for the reduced THC, bong users often inhale more deeply and hold the smoke longer, which can lead to greater exposure to harmful substances. The increased inhalation required to achieve the same high may negate the benefits of water filtration.
In fact, joints may have a slight advantage when it comes to lung health. A survey found that casual joint smokers had better lung function than non-smokers, while bong and pipe users showed decreased lung function. Does this mean joints get you higher than bongs? Click and find out!
Nonetheless, smoking can have negative impacts on one’s respiratory health. However, if you're choosing between joints and bongs, the evidence suggests that joints may be the lesser of two evils in terms of tar exposure and lung function.
This doesn't mean you should switch to joints exclusively. Bongs still offer a smoother, cooler hit that many people find more enjoyable. The secret is to be mindful of your inhalation technique and frequency, regardless of your preferred smoking method.
If you're concerned about the potential health risks of smoking, you may want to explore other consumption methods like vaporizers (check out our vaporizer collection) or edibles. These options can provide the benefits of cannabis without the harmful effects of combustion.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the choice between bongs and joints comes down to personal preference. While bongs may not filter out as much tar as you'd hope, they can still provide a pleasant smoking experience when used responsibly.
Water in bongs cools and filters the smoke, providing a smoother, more enjoyable experience. If you're seeking a superior smoking experience, Stoked CT offers a range of high-quality bongs designed to meet your needs.
Find the perfect bong and elevate your smoking game with us today!
