Water Levels and Hookah Bases

A question I get once in a while is about how much water to put into the base of a hookah.  This is a hard question to answer without a specific hookah in mind but there are some general rules that will help you find out what level works for you and your specific rig.

Obviously the larger the base the more water you are going to need to get to the proper level.  A small pumpkin hookah is not going to need nearly as much water as a lareger hookah like a tall Magdy Zidan.  The most important factor is where the water line falls on the bottom of the down stem.  The best placement I have found is about a half inch from the bottom.  This allows for a good draw that is not too restricted but still makes sure that the hookah still bubbles.

If the water is too low then the smoke will not be as cooled and as smooth.  This is because the smoke won’t spend much time in the water and will just burst through the surface too quickly.  This kind of defeats the purpose of the hookah for the most part and won’t give an optimal session.

The opposite of this is if the water is too deep.  This poses a couple different problems.  First and most obvious is the very tight draw that will make it hard to smoke.  This is really unpleasant for most people and is a hassle to fix after the coals are on the bowl.  Secondly is the issue of the bubbling water getting into the hose.  If you are using a traditional hose this will ruin it.  Even if you are using a washable hose this means that you could end up tasting hookah water.  Trust me.  That is not a situation you want.  It’s nasty.

The last factor that can make this a problem as well is the length of the down stem.  I have seen some hookahs where the down stem almost reaches the bottom of the base and others where it barely reaches in half way.  The longer option is the better.  At a later date I will be going over how to extend and modify a down stem to solve this problem.  For now we will just work with what we have.

Two suggestions I have for anyone having trouble figuring out the proper water level for their hookah will help you get consistent results every time.  Set up the hookah without tobacco or coals.  Just the base, stem and hose.  The first thing to do is to start low.  Fill the base up right to the bottom of the down stem and test the draw.  It will be a very free draw but look at the smoke and see if there are actually bubbles or if it’s just pushing the water out of the way and not offering much for contact with the water.  Slowly add water until you get to the perfect level.  Once you reach the perfect level pour it into a measuring cup and remember how much to use each time.  Another option (if you don’t mind marking your vase) is to use a paint marker and mark the perfect water level on your base so that you can just judge by eye every time.

I hope this helps you guys get consistent and repeatable sessions that are smooth, flavorful and enjoyable.