What to Do if Your Glass or Silicone Chillum isn’t Producing the Right Level of Smoke/Hits

A chillum, whether it be glass or silicone, is a refreshingly simple type of piece that requires minimal maintenance and performs like a champ. But, any type of device that we use to smoke dry herb can give us problems once in a while. Besides that, a lot of times it comes down to how you’re packing your bowl, or the quality of herb that you’re using. Either way, we’re certain that you’ll be able to get back to enjoyable smoking sessions in no time.

With that said, if you’re struggling to get a good hit out of your chillum, here are the main reasons why that can happen, and what to do about it.

Tip #1: Check for Clogs
First off, you’ll want to make sure that there isn’t a clog that’s obstructing airflow, because that will definitely give you weak hits, or no hits at all. Clogs can occur from built up resin that results from a lack of cleaning your chillum, or bits of herb that find their way in the airflow channel – even debris from outside if you’re not storing your chillum properly.

Use a long, pointy object like a modified wire hanger to stick down the entire airflow chann

Tip #2: Make Sure You’re Using Fresh Herb
Sometimes, the chillum isn’t to blame at all. If you’re using old, dried out herb, you’re not going to get good hits – instead, you will likely get thin smoke that irritates your throat. Don’t just use herb you’ve bought recently, but store that herb in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out before you get a chance to finish it.

Tip #3: Make Sure You’re Loading the Bowl Properly
If you’re not loading your chillum properly, you can end up with a disappointing smoke. A chillum is easy to load since the bowl is vertical, and at the end of your device. But, this can actually make it more common to load it incorrectly, since you might assume that due to the shape of the device, you can just jam a bunch of herb in one end, and it’ll smoke easily. Make sure that you don’t overload the bowl, or else there will be no room for air to make its way through the flower, resulting in very weak hits that are unable to satisfy you in any way.

Tip #4: Consider the Grind
If you’re not using a grinder, it may be time to invest in one. A lot of people break up herb with their hands before loading it into their chillum, and technically, this can work out just fine. But, a grinder can give you far better hits by increasing the surface heating area, which leads to fuller, more abundant smoke that flows easily.

Tip #5: Make Sure You Have a Good-Quality Chillum
Of course, sometimes, you can do everything right, but your actual chillum is just lacking. If you buy a cheap chillum that was produced poorly, then you may never get the satisfying hits that you deserve. It could be an airflow channel that’s just too narrow to deliver meaningful amounts of smoke, or a bowl design that makes it hard for the smoke to travel at all. Make a point to purchase your chillum from a reputable source, in order to know you’re getting one constructed for nothing but pure satisfaction.