A common problem with a hookah hose is not getting any air, or smoke when you suck on it. This is obviously pretty serious! But don’t worry it’s not to tricky to solve.

There are two possible reasons why you are getting no air from your hookah hose

Either your hose itself is blocked, or you have a problem with the auto seal on your hose adapter. Anything else would be pretty unusual unless you’ve left your hookah to get in a really bad condition.

So lets first find out which it is. Un-attach the hose and suck it. No air? You’ve found your problem. Its a blocked hose.

If you’re getting air then you’ll have to move onto the pipe itself. Have the hookah set up as normal but keep the hose removed and take of the bowl. Try sucking through the hose outlet and you will almost certainly find you can’t get any air. You’ve located your problem. You have a problem with the auto seal, and almost certainly, more specifically the ball bearing.

How To Unblock A Blocked Hookah Hose

If it’s a washable hose then run some warm water down it, that should clean it up nicely. And shame on you for not keeping it clean in the first place.

Failing that or with a unwashable hose, try extra long pipe cleaners to dislodge the blockage.

If it is a cheap hose then there’s always the possibility that the interior of the hose has simply collapsed and you may need to get a new one.

Click Here To View A Selection Of Good Quality Washable Hoses

How To Repair A Blocked Auto Seal On Your Hookah

The auto seal attaches the hookah hose to the pipe and is there so that you don’t need to keep your finger over your hose when someone else smokes from a different hose. Most probably the ball bearing has become stuck. A wash in warm water should solve the problem.

If it doesn’t, then as long as the ball bearing is accessible you can attack it with a tooth pick or the like to try and detach it. If you can’t access the ball bearing you will need a new hookah hose adapter, or if it is attached to the stem, a new stem.

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How to clean a hookah hose is a source of much disagreement. It is  a contentious issue. Some swear by warm water while others claim this will ruin your hose! Still others say that simply blowing through the hose will clean it while opponents of this method state that this is ineffective. So, what to do?

Well lets have a look at the problem and then the solution.

photo credit: puppinurss

Over time your hookah hose is going to build up a residue of ash and tar. It’s simply unavoidable. The result will be a hose that tastes of the previous bowls tobacco, ash or tar and just plain nasty. Extremely dirty pipes will result in chunks of detritus hitting the back of you throat when you inhale. In short, it’s not a situation you want.

So what’s the best way to clean your hookah hose?

Well first of all find out about what kind of material your hookah hose is made from. Most likely the interior will be made of cardboard or rubber, rubber being superior.

With a cardboard hose you have to accept that its life is finite. Unless you use your hookah hose very infrequently it’s not going to last you a lifetime. That said you can still clean it. First simply try blowing down it.

If that solves the problem, fantastic. Unfortunately it may not. Next try a vacuum cleaner at one end on high power. Again, if its problem solved, you’re welcome.

If your pipe is still not clean then you’ll have to step it up a notch. And unfortunately this notch may well be damaging to a cardboard hose. But what are the alternatives? Unfortunately there are none I am aware of and you need that hose clean.

What you’ll have to do is take your hookah hose to the bathroom and run luke-warm water through it until the water runs clean. Now, swing it and shake it around to get rid of excess water and hang it up to dry as quickly as possible. When it’s perfectly dry you will be able to enjoy a good smoke once more. But do note that you can’t do this too many times before the interior of your hose starts to collapse.

A rubber interior obviously won’t dissolve so this is much easier to clean. However if it is attached to the exterior of the hose with metal, you may well encourage rust. This is why it’s important to hang it to dry as quickly as possible. Running a hair dryer over it may also help depending on the design of your hookah hose.

So, is there an easier, safer way to clean a hookah hose?

Not really, no. I think you have to accept that most hookah hose have a shelf life, or you can invest  a good quality washable hookah hose, like the one here,  available for under 8 dollars and in a variety of colors.

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Should You Buy 4 Hose Hookahs?

Well, maybe.  4 hose hookahs do offer several advantages over its smaller cousins. We’ll have a look at these to see if a 4 hose is right for you. If you are familiar with the advantages and just want to look at the best available, Click Here.

A 4 hose hookah is both beautiful and functional

A good quality 4 hose hookah is a work of art, large and obviously designed to accommodate several smokers at once. It will give a smooth regular smoke and do away with the sometimes irritating need to constantly pass the hose around.

4 hose hookahs make things a lot easier and safer when smoking with friends

A standard one-hose hookah is fine if it’s just you with, at most, one friend smoking then. But any more and it can get a bit fiddly and less than perfect for a relaxing smoke.

It’s very easy for things, at worst your hookah!, to get knocked over if you have to pass the hose to someone sitting some distance away. And with red hot charcoal perched precariously on the top, it’s not something you want to be worrying about when you’re trying to relax and enjoy your smoke.

The extra size of a 4-hose is also going to make it more stable generally.

4 hose hookahs make for a relaxing smoke

When I smoke a hookah I want to take a nice long pull whenever I feel like it, at lay it down when I feel like it. I really don’t want to have to give up the hose too often, or continually ask my friends to pass it back. Maybe I’m a little selfish but I feel that when smoking a hookah it’s about total relaxation, what you want when you want.

A 4 hose hookah can often end up cheaper

There’s also the question of cost. If you live with several other hookah aficionados then clubbing together for a big 4 hose hookah will end up a lot cheaper than each buying a single hose pipe.

And obviously you’re not limited to just four people smoking. Eight can comfortably smoke a 4 hose hooker. More if you want, but then obviously we’re back to the dangers of knocking things over if you have to pass a long distance or people are having to get up and move all the time. I feel that eight is a good number.

So Should I Get A 4 Hose Hookah Or A Standard One Hose?

Well, it depends. If you envisage a lot of you smoking at once, then it’s definitely the way to go for a truly relaxing smoke. If you are more likely to be smoking alone or with just one other person, then there’s really no need.

Click Here Now To See A List Of  The Top 5 Best 4 Hose Hookah

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photo credit: WomEOS

The true aim of every hookah smoker should be to get the smoothest, tastiest smoke possible. The following hookah tips should help you achieve this.

Hookah Tips – Tobacco

• Rip and shred your tobacco thoroughly before packing. This will ensure a smooth, even burn and taste.

• Invest in some kind of air tight container to store your tobacco. Once it’s been opened it can dry out very quickly. Moist tobacco means a smooth, flavorsome smoke.

• Experiment with different flavors and brands of tobacco to find the one perfect for you. You can even experiment with your own blends.  Look here for some of our recommendations for both tobaccos and blends.

Hookah Tips – The Water Vase and Hose

• Try adding ice to the water vase or chamber to give a smoother smoke.

• You can also experiment with adding different flavors to the water. We particularly favor lemon juice but other popular flavors are orange juice, cranberry juice and wine.

• Always use fresh water in the water vase. Stale, used water will give an unpleasant flavor to the smoke.

• If the hose has sat unused for several minutes, blow down it gently to rid it of old smoke.

• Try placing your hose in the freezer for 15 minutes before you smoke. This gives a somewhat smoother smoke.

• You can do the same with the water vase until you get a thin layer of ice on the surface of the water. But just be careful not to leave it too long and damage it.

Hookah Tips – Charcoal

• Try different brands and kinds of charcoals. You’re looking for the best possible combination of hookah, tobacco and coals for that perfect smoke. It may take you a little while to find exactly what you are after but the journey will be worth it!

• Always use charcoal that is specifically for hookah smoking. Regular charcoal can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, not fun. These charcoals here are excellent quality but remember not to over do them. A little goes a long way when you’re smoking a hookah

• When you are starting your hookah place the charcoal piece or pieces at the edge of the bowl. Move inwards in ever decreasing circles as you continue to smoke. Consequently, their final resting place should be in the middle of the tobacco.

Hookah Tips After You Finish Your Session

One of the most important of these hookah tips. Always clean your hookah after each session. This will ensure a pleasant smoke each and every time you use it.  These hookah cleaning sets make the job very simple.

photo credit: Lars Plougmann

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