So you have a bong or dab rig, and it’s time to water it up for a banging smoke sesh.

Before you do so, it’s important to get the water level right. There are incorrect water levels for dab rigs and bongs, which can lead to a not-so-smooth smoke sesh.

We’re here to help you get your dab rig water level right. Read on for how to fill a dab rig with water, and how much water you should be using for various rigs.

Getting the water level right in a bong or dab rig keeps your hits smooth, cool, and properly filtered. Some bongs come with percolators, which also need the right amount of water to function as they’re designed to.

For a bong, fill the water just above the downstem, about an inch. You want the bottom end of the stem to be submerged in water so that your smoke can be properly filtered before you inhale it.

For a dab rig, a bit less water is generally better—just enough to cover the bottom of the downstem or percolator holes.

Avoid overfilling your rig with water, it shouldn’t be so high that it’s splashing back into your mouth when inhaling. A good marker is to fill until water reaches halfway up the water chamber and that bubbles are forming without any splashback.

You can do a test run by inhaling gently through your rig without any concentrate. The rig should bubble up without splashing water back at you. If you do get the not-so-tasty splashback, then pour some water out and test again.

Different Rigs Need Different Water Levels

Depending on the design and size of your rig, including whether or not it has percolators, you might need more or less water than typical. If your rig has multiple percolators, make sure all of them get submerged in water without overfilling.

Now that you know how much water you should be adding to a bong or dab rig, you might be wondering about the best way to actually fill it.

For a bong, either tilt it back and pour water directly into the mouthpiece or remove the bowl and pour water into the opening.

For a rig, avoid pouring water through the downstem since it can get water on the joint where the nail or banger attaches. Fill your rig using the mouthpiece, and try using a water bottle for precise pouring.