Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Siphon using your mouth
• Method 2 of 3: Siphoning by immersion
• Method 3 of 3: Spray with 2 garden hoses
• Necessities
• Tips
• Warnings

Siphoning is a great way to use gravity to move large amounts of water from one place to another. You can empty a swimming pool, clean an aquarium or prepare jugs of rainwater by siphoning. If you're dealing with fresh water, you can siphon the water through a hose using your mouth to apply the pressure. If you work with a single siphon hose, submerging and draining the hose is a quick option. However, for larger tasks, a two hose system is probably better.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Siphon using your mouth

1. Place the empty bucket. You are going to use gravity to move water from one place to another. The object from which the water is taken must be higher than the destination of the water. So if you are going to move water from a full bucket to an empty bucket, place the empty bucket on a stable surface that is lower than the full bucket.
2. Place the hose. Place the end of the siphon hose in the empty bucket. It should almost touch the bottom of the bucket to prevent it from falling out. Place the other end of the hose in the full bucket.
   • You can use almost any kind of hose for fogging. However, it helps if the hose is see-through so you can keep an eye on the progress of the water.
3. Vacuum lightly on the end of the hose. Take the end of the hose that is in the empty bucket. Hold the hose vertically up to avoid air bubbles. Place your mouth on the end and suck it lightly. Continue to suck until the water has passed halfway through the hose.
   • Pay attention to the position of the water in the hose, otherwise you may swallow it when it comes out of the hose. For this reason, it is not a good idea to suck in other liquids, such as gasoline, with your mouth.
4. Drain the water into the empty bucket. Remove the end of the half-full siphon hose from your mouth and quickly place it in the empty bucket. The water will flow through the hose into the empty bucket. This will continue until the tall bucket is empty or you take one of the ends out of the bucket.

Method 2 of 3: Siphoning by immersion

1. Immerse the hose in a container of water. Roll up the siphon hose into a circle and place it in a container filled with water. Gently push the hose down until it is completely submerged. Air bubbles will float to the surface of the water as the air clears from the hose. When the bubbles stop, the hose is full of water and ready to spray.
   • To make sure all bubbles are gone from the hose, shake the hose a bit before pulling it out.
2. Place your fingertip over the end of the hose. Since the hose is full of water, keep the end you take out of the container closed. Fold or push the end closed, creating a barrier. Then place a fingertip or your thumb over the end, blocking the flow of water.
   • The hose must be completely submerged during this process, otherwise you will create bubbles in the hose.
3. Move the end that you are holding closed to the empty container. Slowly and carefully lift the blocked end out of the water. Keep your finger in place at the end of the hose, making sure to keep the open end submerged. Place the blocked end in the lower, empty container.
4. Unblock the hose. Take your finger off the end of the hose. Hold the hose down with your fingers to prevent it from swinging around when the water runs out. Watch the water flow from the old container into the new one. If the water flow appears to be slowing down, shake the hose briefly to restart the flow.

Method 3 of 3: Spray with 2 garden hoses

1. Place the first garden hose. Place the end of the hose on the bottom of a tall container full of water. If you choose to anchor the hose to an object to keep it from moving, make sure the water flow is not blocked. Then place the other end of the same hose in the empty container.
   • This is a good method if you need to spray water over a longer distance or if you need to move a large amount of water.
2. Attach a shut-off valve. Screw a shut-off valve onto the end of the hose that is in the full container. Make sure the valve is open. Shut-off valves are available at local garden centers.
3. Attach a second hose. Take the second hose and screw one end into the empty side of the shut-off valve. Then attach the other end of the second hose to a faucet. Check that all connections are tight.
4. Fill the siphon hose. Open the tap until water runs through both hoses. Check when the first hose is filled and then close the shut-off valve. The second hose can then be disconnected from the tap and from the shut-off valve. You now have 1 hose that is full of water and connected to both containers.
5. Open the shut-off valve. As soon as you open the shut-off valve, water will flow from the hose into the empty container. You can hold the end of the hose to direct the flow of water if you wish.

Necessities

• Container with water
• Plastic hose
• 2 garden hoses
• Shut-off valve
• Bucket
• Object to anchor the garden hose

Tips

• If you are going to siphon as part of an experiment, add a few drops of food coloring to the water. You can then see the water better as it flows through the hose into the empty bucket.
• Place a shut-off valve on the inlet and a check / check valve in the outlet, then fill the hose with water until all air is out. The hose remains ready for use as long as the shut-off valve is closed. Place the inlet in the water and open the valve, the spraying will start automatically. You have full control thanks to the closing valve and the control valve. Stop spraying before drawing air into the hose, the hose will then remain ready for use.

Warnings

• Make sure the hoses you are using do not have holes. If they leak water, the fogging may take much longer or may not work at all.
• It is a good idea to have a separate hose for siphoning water. Do not use the same hose to spray water and gasoline or chemicals.