What is a Bubbler Pipe & How Does It Work?

A bubbler pipe is a small pipe that uses water to filter the smoke before inhalation. While they come in different shapes, sizes, colors, materials, and designs, bubblers all have one thing in common: they make a soft bubbling sound when you inhale. The main advantage bubblers have over other water pipes is that they’re designed to fit in your hand.

While a bubbler is a type of bong, not all bongs are bubblers. There are two distinct differences between bubblers and other water pipes: size and design. Bubblers are typically smaller than bongs.¹

Many water pipes and bubblers also have a different design to their bowls. While most water pipes have a conical bowl with a stem designed to slip in and out of the pipe, bubblers commonly have a fixed bowl and don’t require a stem because of their size.

There is one significant difference between a cannabis bubbler and a hand pipe: bubblers use water and hand pipes don’t. In general, when someone is talking about a hand pipe, they’re referring to a traditional spoon pipe or one-hitter. These pipes don’t use water for filtration. Bubblers, a type of bong, require water to operate.²

Cleaning your bubbler is a bit trickier than cleaning your bong because you can’t disassemble your device the same way. Here is our recommended way to do it:³

• Fill the bubbler with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

• Put a small amount of coarse salt into the bubbler.

• Give it a shake and then leave it alone for an hour. 
  
  

The alcohol will seep into any resin or grime and help it dissolve. If there’s anything left, when you shake the bubbler, the coarse salt should knock debris loose so you can just pour it out. Repeat this process as many times as needed to get your bubbler clean and then rinse your bubbler with hot water and let it dry.

When it comes to pipes, bubblers get some of the most questions from our customers. Here are a few answers to keep you informed:

How much water do you put in a bubbler?

Most bubblers only require a small amount of water to be added to them. To know if you have enough, add water to your bubbler and then take a drag. If it doesn’t bubble, you haven’t added enough. If you get bubbles, you’re good. If you get water in your mouth, you’ve added too much.

Is a bubbler the same as a water pipe?

A bubbler is a type of water pipe (bong), only much smaller.

How often should I change the water in my bubbler?

If you smoke regularly, you should change your water once a day. This will limit resin buildup in your bubbler. If you’re not a regular consumer, you should change the water in your bubbler every couple of days. Not only will this make your cannabis taste better, but it will also keep your bubbler from growing mold or bacteria that could make you sick.²

Using a Bubbler

Our goal is to ensure you get the product you want or the tools you need to make a product. Whether you’re purchasing your high quality rosin directly from our dispensary, or looking for premium flower so you can make your rosin at home, our budtenders can help you find exactly what you need.