So, you've finally found the perfect device for you and a great flavor of e-liquid, congratulations! We know you're excited, but before you jump into vaping life, it's a good idea to study up on your coils and how to properly maintain them. In addition to buying juice periodically; over time, coils break down and you'll need to replace them frequently. We'll discuss everything you need to know about vape coil life and maintenance below, including signs that it's time to replace them, how to extend the lifespan of your coils, and tips for troubleshooting some common problems so you can be sure to get the most out of your vape!
How Long Do Coils & Pods Last?
Coils and all-in-one pods typically last between five and ten days. Their lifespan can be impacted by the sugar content in your juice, priming, the power or wattage you run them at, and how frequently you vape.
You should be able to tell when a coil is bad because it'll have a distinctly burnt or dry taste when you hit your vape. The flavor of your e-liquid can be diminished as well when a coil starts to burn out, although it's not always as easy to notice. Another indicator is when the cotton inside the coil starts to appear visually darker, or even black. If your juice inside your tank or pod is being discolored too, it might be time to pick up a new pack of atomizers.
Even if your coil doesn't taste bad to you yet, you shouldn't push the same coil or pod past two weeks max. As a rule of thumb, swap it out for a new one at least every two weeks.
Changing your coil often is smart and sanitary because overtime it can pick up bacteria and debris from our pockets, pets, and life in general - gross! The cotton inside the coil will also break down over time after it's been exposed to liquid. Running a coil with little to no cotton is unsafe and can expose you to harmful metals.
If you follow the two week rule, you should have nothing to fear!
Extending Coil Life
Several factors work together to determine how long a coil will last. Don't expect your coil to last longer than the two week maximum, but if it's dying within just a few days or even the same day, then something else may be afoot. Most coils now-a-days are mass produced, so there's always a chance to get a dud, but if it's happening often then there's a few things you can try.
Priming
The primary method to getting better coil life is to make sure that when you get a brand new coil or pod you prime it properly.
Coils are made out of cotton or a similar wick material (see parts of a vape explained) that absorbs your juice. When you get a brand new coil, the cotton inside is dry at first. If you fire your device immediately after filling the tank or with an empty tank, the dry cotton can get burnt right away and taste icky. The easiest way to prevent this from happening to you is to do what we call priming the coil.
If you have a lot of time and patience, you can fill your tank with juice and wait at least 15 minutes before vaping for the cotton to get nice and wet on its own. To speed this process up though, you can prime it!
Before filling your tank, you can take your bottle of juice in one hand and the coil in the other. Go around to each of the windows/vents where the cotton is visible and dab a little bit of juice on them to wet the cotton. Some people also like to put a small amount of juice in the center barrel hole on top of the coil as well.
The slightly wet cotton will absorb the liquid in your full tank much faster.
You can and should prime your pods too if you use a pod style system. If your pod takes a separate coil, follow the same steps as above. If the coil is built into the pod, fill the pod and let it sit with juice in it for at least 10-15 minutes.
Dry Pulls
When using a device that doesn't have an auto-draw feature, you can do what's called a dry pull. Close your airflow off slightly and puff on your vape without hitting the fire button. This will help to pull the liquid in your tank into the center of the coil and decrease the likelihood of getting a dry first hit.
If your device has an auto-draw feature, you can still do a dry pull. Just make sure to take your pod or tank off the device; or if you have a button, turn the device completely off before attempting this method. Inhale a few times on the pod as if you were taking a hit. This will still create suction to help pull juice into the center of the cotton.
Other Things to Consider
Power Range
If you have been patient and priming but the coil still tastes burnt soon after changing, then make sure to check the recommended wattage range for the coil and what power your device is set to.
Coils are made to function within a certain power range. For example, If your coil says it's rated for 40-80 watts, the closer you get to the higher end of that range the faster the coil will become burnt. If your power is at or above that maximum number, 80 watts in this example, your battery's trying to provide too much power that the coil isn't built to handle and it'll burn out fast.
Lock it Before You Pocket
It's possible your device accidentally fired for a long time in your pocket or bag. The wattage could've been bumped up to an unsuitable number if the menu buttons got pressed too.
Always lock or turn off your device before transporting it in this way to prevent your coil from roasting without your knowledge.
Keep it Full
Do you let your tank or pod run completely out of juice before refilling? If so, you'll want to fill more often to make sure your juice level doesn't drop below the visible cotton windows on your coil or the minimum fill line.
Liquid Luck
The type of e-liquid you use has a strong impact on your coil's life expectancy, so if you've been careful to prime and keep your wattage in the correct range but are still experiencing short coil life, it might be worth it to try a different juice next time. Our Custom Blended Flavors at Vaporfi Columbus are pure and inhalant grade - not food grade, meaning they have no added sugar.
The more sugar content a juice has, the quicker the wires inside your coil can become caramelized, or coated in the burnt sugar. This can lead to the coil tasting bad faster. E-liquid flavors with high sugar content are likely to burn out any type of coil faster than a similar juice with lower added sugar would.
Using a thicker blend juice in a smaller pod style or with a mouth to lung coil can decrease coil life because the wick holes on MTL coils are usually smaller and not equipped to absorb the thicker juice as easily as a direct lung coil would. If you're experiencing problems with a max VG juice, you can try a lower resistance coil or possibly switch to a thinner, 50/50 blend ratio.
Potential Problems
Strange Noises
Have you ever heard a loud popping or cracking sound when hitting your vape? It's startling, but actually totally normal. When you hit a coil that has been out of use or cold it will sound like popping when it begins to heat up. If the crackling is accompanied by a gurgling noise or a hot glob of juice on your tongue, then read on to our section about flooding.
Flooding
Vapes can spit juice out for a number of reasons. Your pod or tank could be overfilled, and that liquid has nowhere else to go when it expands. This can also lead to leaking. You may have accidentally filled your juice down the wrong hole, or gone a little overboard with your priming, causing the coil to become flooded.
Hearing a gurgling sound while hitting your vape can also indicate flooding. Inhaling too aggressively with a fully open airflow can sometimes pull too much juice into the coil at once. Try closing your airflow off slightly and taking softer drags, or switching to a coil with a lower resistance.
If you happen to leave a tank sitting full of liquid without vaping on it for a few days the coil can become flooded and/or leak. Remember, after a few days the cotton will begin to break down. At this point it's a good idea to dump your tank liquid and change your coil.
Finally, take another look at the wattage range of your coil. If you're running your device at a power setting that's far below the low end of your coil's range, the coil could potentially be drawing in more juice than it's able to burn off, causing the leaking and spitting.
On a tank, you can easily clear flooding by turning the device upside-down and pressing the button as if you were going to take a hit, but instead of inhaling, forcefully blow into your vape's airflow to simultaneously burn up some of the excess juice and expel whatever condensation is left.
Leaking
Have you recently changed your coil? If you've been running the same coil for a long time and are starting to notice leaking it might be indicating it's time for a coil change even if it still doesn't taste bad yet.
On the other hand, if you just changed your coil and then the leaking began, something may have gone wrong with the fit when putting your tank back together. Some older styles of tanks hold their coils with parts that screw together. Make sure your coil is screwed into the bottom plate of the tank first and is not cross threaded. Tighten the coil down firmly, but be sure not to over tighten. Once the coil stops with your fingers then don't tighten any further.
If your coil is a press fit, make sure any wings or flat edges it might have are properly aligned with the tank or pod.
Not Firing at All
Did you recently purchase a pod style device and go to hit it for the first time only to realize it won't produce vapor? Pull the pod out of the device and verify that there is no sticker or other packaging on the bottom of the pod that would prevent it from making a connection.
If you have a box mod device that's turned on but reads no atomizer, then something is preventing the device from reading your coil properly.
Has your coil been changed recently? Running the same coil for a long time can sometimes cause the coil to fail even if there's no burnt taste. If the problem persists with a fresh coil the connections might be dirty or not fit together properly. Check inside the 510 connection between the bottom of your tank and your battery/mod. If it looks gunky, gently swab both ends with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol.
Make sure your coil is fit into the tank properly and that nothing is cross threaded. Take this opportunity to inspect the bottom of the coil and the connection plate on the bottom section of your tank, it may need to be cleaned as well.
Check that pesky power range once more. If you're running at a wattage too far below the recommended range for your coil, it sometimes won't be getting enough power to actually fire. Try turning your watts up to at least the minimum number on the coil and see if that produces vapor.
Make It A Habit
Maintaining your vape coils is crucial for ensuring a smooth and enjoyable vaping experience. By taking the time to prime and replace your coils as needed, you can prolong their lifespan and avoid any unpleasant flavors or reduced vapor production. Remember to use the right wattage for your coil!
By following these simple tips, you can enjoy a consistent and satisfying vaping experience for longer.
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