avoid carbon monoxide poisoning?

[lizziechic123]

okay, so I'm sure we've all heard of it, but how do you completely avoid carbon monoxide poisoning for everyday hookah smoking?
If I'm gonna be an everyday smoker, I wanna do it right, and safe
thanks in advance

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by lizziechic123

okay, so I'm sure we've all heard of it, but how do you completely avoid carbon monoxide poisoning for everyday hookah smoking?
If I'm gonna be an everyday smoker, I wanna do it right, and safe
thanks in advance

Ventilate the area while you smoke. Smoke on a full stomach. Have water nearby. Don't hoover the hose (inhale, exhale, immediately inhale again, etc.).
If you're using quick lights, let them fully turn red before pulling on your hookah. In general, make sure your coals are red before pulling.

Also, no need to make a new thread for every question lol, just ask it on your previous threads, we'll get to them all.

[IMCarnochan]

The only time I ever have had CO related (what I assumed was CO related) migraines were when I was using quicklights. Plenty of ventilation, dont hoover the hose and you should be fine.

[lizziechic123]

awesome, and thanks you guys
the reason I started a new thread for these questions is maybe because someone new will see it in the title and want the same info.
I'm pretty paranoid about being new to hookah and just want to make sure everything is safe. and I'm sure most other newbies would be the same

[IMCarnochan]

Originally Posted by lizziechic123

awesome, and thanks you guys
the reason I started a new thread for these questions is maybe because someone new will see it in the title and want the same info.
I'm pretty paranoid about being new to hookah and just want to make sure everything is safe. and I'm sure most other newbies would be the same

People who ask a bunch of questions become the next wave of people who help the next next wave of people. Ask away, darlin.

[Madwolf]

Don't be afraid to ask questions....

but to answer..........

Avoid quicklights like the plague... if you dont have a coil burner on your stove, they sell coil plates for 17$ at walmart.

Eat and be hydrated........... and dont hoover.

[IMCarnochan]

Originally Posted by Madwolf

Avoid quicklights like the plague... if you dont have a coil burner on your stove, they sell coil plates for 17$ at walmart.

And 10$ on amazon, free shipping with prime. Just saying

[Alby]

I simply open a window, and if I feel very paranoid, I turn on the ventilation above the stove for a short while.
I also light the coals outside when possible, though more because I don't like the smell of cocos lighting than the CO.

[lizziechic123]

Awesome, thanks a bunch
Another question, why use a burner rather than a lighter?

[AlisterSuggsden]

Originally Posted by lizziechic123

okay, so I'm sure we've all heard of it, but how do you completely avoid carbon monoxide poisoning for everyday hookah smoking?
If I'm gonna be an everyday smoker, I wanna do it right, and safe
thanks in advance

Avoiding excess CO is done as follows:

1) Smoke out of a large (say 30" plus tall) narghile since I recall reading research that indicates that larger narghiles have lower CO concentrations
2) Use fully heated, natural coals only. No quick lights!
3) Smoke in a well ventilated room or better yet on a porch like I do.
4) Don't take huge, deep inhales. Take shallow pulls instead.
5) Wait about a minute or so between pulls and enjoy what you are smoking
6) Smoke on a full stomach
7) Drink lots of something non-alcoholic when you smoke.
8) Cleaning hose hose and narghile frequently will prevent particulate junk from being inhaled. That doesn't have anything to do with CO but it's a good idea from a health standpoint and a clean setup tastes better.

[KyleDezow]

Don't hoover the hose?

[IMCarnochan]

Originally Posted by KyleDezow

Don't hoover the hose?

Good plan. Dont pull, exhale, pull, exhale, pull, exhale... Take time between pulls.

[Zyst]

Just a little something that's been missed, buy coco based coals: Coconaras, Coco Ultimates, Coco Jamras so on and so forth. Wood based coals have made a couple of our members sick, cocos seem to be the way to go.

Good luck and happy smoking!

[KyleDezow]

Originally Posted by IMCarnochan

Good plan. Dont pull, exhale, pull, exhale, pull, exhale... Take time between pulls.

Thank You for the info.

[Zyst]

Originally Posted by KyleDezow

Thank You for the info.

Welcome to the forums Kyle! You'll learn a lot here. Take some time to read the stickies since they cover a lot of basic info and of course the forum rules.

Happy smoking!

[Zanaspus]

I don't avoid it. I embrace it. Waaaaay better buzz!

[Madwolf]

Originally Posted by lizziechic123

Awesome, thanks a bunch
Another question, why use a burner rather than a lighter?

natural coals wont light with just a lighter, they have no fuel in them to get them going........ which means they have no fuel flavor which is why they are prefered...

Always go natural coals....... coconara, starlight, exotica, etc

[darklabel]

Have good ventilation as said already and avoid QL.

[Alby]

Originally Posted by Madwolf

natural coals wont light with just a lighter, they have no fuel in them to get them going........ which means they have no fuel flavor which is why they are prefered...

Always go natural coals....... coconara, starlight, exotica, etc

Exactly. But be careful if you get starlight since they also make QLs, which incidentally are among the worst QLs I've ever used. Pay attention that you get the nats and not the QLs...
The most preferred brands are Coconara, Cocoultimates, Cocojamras, and Cocomazayas, at least on here. Exoticas are also good, but some people have reported they have a slightly higher CO output if you're bugged about tiny differences. I personally prefer any of the cocos just because I can heat manage better with the shape.
But yeah, any natural coal is 20x better than the best quicklight, both for health and quality smoke. Get a coil burner or use a stove. It's preferable to use a coil burner since you could use that outside if you have a plug-in or an extension out there. Then you can light cocos outside, those little buggers stink.
Cheers.

[lizziechic123]

awesome, thanks a bunch

[MoshPitMayhem]

Thanks indeed I didn't know QL's were a big CO no no. Finding the cocoa based coals in your average smoke shops is kinda difficult though, any suggestions for where to order them from online?

[Pwnanza]

5starhooka.com is a pretty good place to get them. that's where im going to get mine, for now im just using exotica's i cut into cubes

[epitome]

If you use natural coal, close off your kitchen if possible and turn on your exhaust fan and open windows while you're heating them up. When it comes to CO or other fumes you should isolate and ventilate. CO is denser than air so try closing off your kitchen or direct airflow to push it from the area.

If you use quicklights please take the time to light them outside and fully get a good ash coat before bringing it back in. Gets all those chemical reactions off of there.

Have good ventilation and keep your hookah low (I like mine on the floor with a vase protector), the CO will fall and the fresh air will come to you at window level. Smoking outside is divine and a normal happening at many music festivals I go to, hookah lounges under some trees with nice art are divine. Why not make that chill zone in your back yard, trip to the park, or BBQ on the patio?

If you ever have a CO detector go off, get yourself checked out. I had bad CO poisoning (not from my hookah) and it is not something to take lightly. Gotta keep this hobby healthy so be aware of keeping your hookah zones safe and enjoyable.

[phatdaddy]

i have gotten co poisoning from cheap qls. sucks, so just try nats.