How to Get My Hookah to Work at Home

Smoke your hookah at home with ease.

Unfortunately most hookahs do not come with detailed instructions, so setting up your hookah for the first time can be frustrating. It helps to have a basic understanding of the hookah and the parts that make it work effectively as a water pipe. The bowl holds tobacco, and a coal is placed on aluminum foil over the tobacco. A vented stem bridges the bowl and base and a pipe inserts into the bottom of the stem. A hose goes into the top of the stem and grommets seal and join the connected parts.

Things You'll Need

• Hookah stem, tray and base
• Airtight hookah hose
• Hookah tobacco
• Aluminum foil
• Toothpick
• Ruler
• Bowl and hose grommets
• Hookah charcoal
• Pen
• Electrical tape
• Tongs

Instructions

1. Remove the grommet that secures the base to the stem and detach the pieces from the grommet. If the grommet is attached too tightly, apply water around the top and bottom rims of the grommet.

2. Pour enough cold water in the stem to fill it to 1 1/2 inches up from the base.

3. Secure the stem and base with the grommet. Connect your hose to a grommet and then to the top of the stem.

4. Secure the tray to the top of the stem and fill the bowl with hookah tobacco, leaving a 1/4 empty gap at the top. Poke a hole with the pen in the center of the pile of tobacco that is contained in your bowl.

5. Cover the surface of the tobacco-filled bowl with aluminum foil. Poke holes all over the aluminum foil covering using a toothpick. Secure the bowl to the stem with a grommet.

6. Make sure all of your connections via grommets are secure and airtight. Position your hand over the bowl and put your mouth over the end of the hose and inhale through your mouth. If you do not feel a tug on the bowl and see bubbles coming up through the water as you inhale, you have an air leak and one of your seals is either loose or your equipment may have a hole somewhere.

7. Seal any holes by covering them with electrical tape. Inspect the vent in the stem and make sure it isn't stuck. Blow through the hose. If you cant successfully do this, look for obstructions in the hose.

8. Purchase charcoal that is designated for hookah use. Heat the coals py placing on an oven burner and wait until they turn red. Use the tongs to position the hot coals around the outer rim of the bowl. Add fresh coals to the center of the bowl as the outer coals cool and begin to turn to ash.

References

• Fumari: Hookah How To