How to Start a Siphon

Whether you want to drain a fish tank, bail water out of your basement, put gas in your car or transfer any number of other liquids, follow these simple steps to siphon.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A water hose or a similar type of tubing

How to Start a Siphon

1. Take your tube, a portion of a water hose will do, and place one end in the liquid you want to move to another location.

2. Run the tube upwards, so it reaches a point higher than the original liquid level, and prime the water flow by briefly inhaling with your mouth on the dry end of the tube. This is not recommended for siphoning gasoline or any other toxic materials, as fumes or liquid can easily be ingested.

3. When the liquid starts moving through the hose, move the dry end to a location lower than the original liquid level-into a bucket, a drain, a bathtub, etc. Because of the natural vacuum within the tube, the liquid should move consistently from one place to the other until the water levels match or the vacuum is broken.

Tips & Warnings

• If siphoning water out of a cellar or crawl space, put one end of your hose into the water, prime the water flow with your lungs, then run the other end of the hose into a drain in the street. As long as the dry end of the hose is at a lower point than the wet end, the flow should remain constant.

[ChantelAlise]

on 3/17/2008 A lot of people really don't know this. Good topic.

[JMOrganizations]

on 3/12/2008 Thank you, I have a water bed to drain this spring.