Environmental Humidity and Pipe Gurgling

[Effortlessdepths]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9) - Bob

I live in Florida, home of Humidity. I had a question. Besides improper smoking technique and tobacco moisture level, can outside humidity cause gurgling in the pipe? I would guess yes, but can anyone sound off on this, folks who live in humid climes?

 

[cosmicfolklore]

It doesn't even have to be very humid. If you are familiar with how an air conditioner works with condensing the air and the moisture that forms on the walls of the tubing, you'll see how a few things work to increase water droplets to form on the inside of the stem. Turbulence, difference in air temperature inside the stem and out, speed of the moving air, and probably a few other things that I am not smart enough to know about, ha ha.

Humidity doesn't help. But, neither does smoking your pipe in the cold, and gaps that could cause turbulence inside the stem. Nor, drawing too hard, increasing the speed of the moving smoke.

It's all similar to why water forms inside your air conditioner.

 

[smokiespipesmoker123]

Breath method too, you are exhaling small amounts of your humid lung stuff through the pipe

 

[Effortlessdepths]

I never realized smoking in the cold would causes it, but that makes sense. I do smoke slowly and use the breath method, and often wondered about humid lung air putting moisture in the pipe.

 

[smokiespipesmoker123]

thats what they make pipe cleaners for!

 

[Effortlessdepths]

thats what they make pipe cleaners for!

Definitely use those! I clean after almost every bowl, and have done some regular deep cleaning

 

[workman]

Sure it can. What's far worse, it can make even the most deliciously crispy, sweet, crumbly virginia flake taste like slightly sour water steam ?

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I'm not sure the AC analogy works. That's a matter of Dew Point. The tubes in the AC unit that are passing cold air simply have water condense on them. Same as if you set a glass full of ice down outside when it is humid. I've found gurgling can be fixed most often by 1) drying the tobacco more; 2) tamping down too loosely packed tobacco; and 3) running a pipe cleaner through the pipe air way to absorb excess moisture.

 

[Ctbill]

Strangely enough, we get our fair share of humidity here in New England. All year long...
it’s not uncommon to have 33F and 90% humidity. Sleeting!?
I do notice the “environmental” impact when I smoke outside or out in the garage. Things gurgle... Multiple re-lights...

 

[bullet08]

been noticing use of pipe cleaners more often lately. especially on straight pipes and shorter stems.

 

[mso489]

Not as humid here, in central N.C., as there, but we get pretty high humidity levels. I've never noticed a lot of gurgle and have always attributed occasional instances to condensation caused by the burning tobacco itself, but ambient air is part of it for sure.

 

[whsergent]

I think tobacco smoke is like 90% water vapor or something, so any protuberance in the airway will cause condensation.

It seems to me that if its colder im more prone to gurgles, but i think bigger factors in a drier smoke are correct packing and a unobstructed airway. A little cake will make a smoke drier too imo.

It may be that i smoke too fast when its cold too and smoking fast will make moisture collect.

 

[BROBS]

I think tobacco smoke is like 90% water vapor or something, so any protuberance in the airway will cause condensation.
It seems to me that if its colder im more prone to gurgles, but i think bigger factors are packing and a unobstructed airway. A little cake will make a smoke drier too imo.

It may be that i smoke too fast when its cold too and smoking fast will make moisture collect.

Could well be part of it!!

 

[Chasing Embers]

Breath method too, you are exhaling small amounts of your humid lung stuff through the pipe

Lung air shouldn't be going into the pipe with breath smoking unless you're inhaling.

 

[Effortlessdepths]

Lung air shouldn't be going into the pipe with breath smoking unless you're inhaling.

Yes you're right, I honestly meant mouth moisture. I do not inhale

 

[Chasing Embers]

Yes you're right, I honestly meant mouth moisture. I do not inhale

I don't even go that far. I try to cycle the smoke in an ebb and flow through the shank and stem.

 

[magicpiper]

EDIT: Fixed Capitalization in Title (See Rule 9) - Bob

I live in Florida, home of Humidity. I had a question. Besides improper smoking technique and tobacco moisture level, can outside humidity cause gurgling in the pipe? I would guess yes, but can anyone sound off on this, folks who live in humid climes?

I, too, live in Florida. Central FL to be exact. It could be coincidence or not, I have noticed that I get more gurgle in my pipes during the summer months. I don’t necessarily attribute that completely to humidity. I tend to smoke a lot of VA’s & Vapers when it’s hot outside, which tend to be on the moist side of the spectrum. I also seem to speed up my cadence when I’m outside during the summer months. Humidity probably does play a small role in causing gurgle, but probably not as much as other factors involved. Just my thoughts...

 

[Effortlessdepths]

I, too, live in Florida. Central FL to be exact. It could be coincidence or not, I have noticed that I get more gurgle in my pipes during the summer months. I don’t necessarily attribute that completely to humidity. I tend to smoke a lot of VA’s & Vapers when it’s hot outside, which tend to be on the moist side of the spectrum. I also seem to speed up my cadence when I’m outside during the summer months. Humidity probably does play a small role in causing gurgle, but probably not as much as other factors involved. Just my thoughts...

That makes sense. Thanks everyone for the responses, I have a better understanding of it now. I believe the cold (the small amount of cold we had here in Florida recently) was the primary factor in this case. Im pretty good about slow cadence, and let the 'baccy dry, so I'm guessing that was the primary factor. Also come to think of it, might have packed a few bowls slightly too tight.