How To Tell If A Vape Is Burnt

Imagine this: you're settling in for a relaxing evening, your favorite vape in hand, ready to unwind with a flavorful puff. But instead of that familiar satisfying taste, a harsh, acrid sensation fills your mouth, followed by an unpleasant burnt odor. Disappointment washes over you as you realize your vaping experience has taken a turn for the worse.

Knowing how to identify a burnt vape is crucial for a pleasant and safe vaping experience. This article provides a comprehensive guide on recognizing the signs of a burnt vape, understanding the causes, and preventing it from happening, ensuring that your vaping sessions remain enjoyable and satisfying.

Understanding the Burnt Taste

The most obvious indicator of a burnt vape is the taste itself. Instead of the intended flavor profile, you'll experience a distinctly unpleasant burnt or acrid taste. This harsh flavor is caused by the heating element in your vape (the coil) overheating and burning the wicking material, usually cotton, instead of vaporizing the e-liquid.

The burning sensation can also be accompanied by a harshness in the throat, making it difficult to take a full puff. Coughing or a scratchy feeling in the throat are common indicators that something is amiss.

Visual Clues: Inspecting Your Device

Beyond the taste, a visual inspection of your vape can reveal signs of burning. Examine the coil through the tank or pod if possible.

A coil that appears dark, black, or heavily discolored is a strong indicator of burning. The wicking material surrounding the coil should be a clean, saturated color, not charred or blackened.

Checking the E-Liquid

The e-liquid itself can also offer clues. If your e-liquid appears darker than usual, particularly if it's near the coil, it might be due to excessive heat exposure.

In some cases, you might even see small particles of burnt cotton floating in the e-liquid.

Odor: More Than Just a Bad Taste

The smell of a burnt vape is often unmistakable. It's a pungent, acrid odor that differs significantly from the pleasant aromas associated with flavored e-liquids.

The burnt smell can linger in the air and even cling to your clothing, making it quite noticeable to those around you.

Why Does Vaping Taste Burnt? Common Causes

Several factors can contribute to a burnt vape. Understanding these causes can help you prevent future occurrences.

Insufficient E-Liquid Saturation

The most common cause is insufficient e-liquid saturation of the wicking material. This happens when the coil isn't properly primed or when the tank is empty, and the coil attempts to vaporize dry cotton.

Always ensure your wicking material is fully saturated before taking your first puff on a new coil. Regularly check your e-liquid level and refill your tank before it runs dry.

Chain Vaping

Chain vaping, or taking multiple puffs in quick succession, doesn't allow enough time for the wicking material to re-saturate between puffs. This can lead to the coil overheating and burning the wick.

Allow a few seconds between puffs to ensure adequate e-liquid saturation.

High Wattage Settings

Using a wattage setting that is too high for your coil can also cause burning. Each coil has a recommended wattage range printed on it.

Exceeding this range can cause the coil to overheat and burn the wicking material quickly.

Old or Damaged Coils

Over time, coils degrade and lose their ability to effectively vaporize e-liquid. The build-up of residue from the e-liquid can also contribute to burning.

Regularly replace your coils according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Regular coil replacement will greatly increase your vaping satisfaction.

Incorrect Priming of Coils

Properly priming your coils is essential to avoid burning. Priming involves saturating the wicking material with e-liquid before first use.

This ensures that the coil is properly saturated and ready to vaporize e-liquid when you first activate it.

Prevention: Keeping Your Vapes Flavorful

Preventing a burnt vape is largely about proper maintenance and usage habits. Here are some key steps you can take:

Priming Your Coils Properly

When installing a new coil, prime it by dripping e-liquid directly onto the wicking material until it is fully saturated. Let it sit for several minutes before vaping.

This ensures the coil is ready to vaporize e-liquid from the first puff, preventing dry hits and burning.

Monitoring E-Liquid Levels

Regularly check your e-liquid levels and refill your tank or pod before it runs completely dry. Vaping with an empty tank is a surefire way to burn your coil.

Don't let the tank run dry.

Adjusting Wattage Settings

Always use the appropriate wattage setting for your coil. Refer to the manufacturer's recommendations printed on the coil.

Start at the lower end of the recommended range and gradually increase the wattage until you find your preferred vapor production and flavor. Avoid going above the maximum recommended wattage.

Avoiding Chain Vaping

Allow sufficient time between puffs for the wicking material to re-saturate with e-liquid. Resist the urge to take multiple puffs in quick succession.

Take a moment to pause between puffs and give the coil a chance to cool down and re-saturate.

Regular Coil Replacement

Replace your coils regularly, even if they don't appear to be burnt. Coil lifespan varies depending on usage and e-liquid type, but most coils last between one and two weeks.

Replacing your coil regularly can have a huge impact on vaping experience.

Choosing the Right E-Liquid

Certain e-liquids can gunk up coils more quickly than others. E-liquids with high sugar content, such as those with excessively sweet flavors, tend to leave more residue on the coil.

Consider using e-liquids with lower sugar content or switching to a different flavor profile if you experience frequent coil burning.

What to Do if Your Vape Tastes Burnt

If your vape tastes burnt, the first step is to stop vaping immediately. Continuing to vape with a burnt coil will only worsen the problem and could be harmful.

Remove the burnt coil and replace it with a new one. Make sure to prime the new coil properly before vaping.

If the taste persists after replacing the coil, check your tank or pod for any residue or debris. Clean the tank thoroughly with warm water and allow it to dry completely before refilling with e-liquid.

A Final Thought

Encountering a burnt taste while vaping can be a frustrating experience. However, by understanding the causes and taking preventive measures, you can minimize the likelihood of it happening. By priming correctly, you can avoid burning the wick material. Regularly checking e-liquid levels, avoiding chain vaping, and using the appropriate wattage settings are some of the methods mentioned. Replacing your coils is another important point to consider to ensure that you always have a great vaping experience.

By implementing these practices, you can ensure that your vaping sessions remain enjoyable, flavorful, and free from the unpleasant taste of burnt coils. Ultimately, mindful vaping habits lead to a better, more satisfying experience for everyone.