This blog post will run through the top 7 reasons why your vape may taste burnt and offer solutions, tips and all the advice you will need for flavourful, lip-smacking, taste-bud tingling flavour you can savour.
Your Coil Needs Replacing
If you’ve been using a vape coil for a week, two or longer, and it starts to taste burnt, this is an indication that your coil needs replacing. The vape coil is one of the most important components of your e-cigarette set-up and its important to regularly change your coils to experienece crystal clear flavour from your e-liquid. You have spent good money on quality e-liquid flavours, and you want to get the most out of your vape juice with vibrant and mouth-watering flavour sensations with every puff.
Indicators Your Coil Needs Replacing:
Burnt Taste
An unpleasant burnt taste on the back of your throat when vaping on your e-cigarette, is a sign that you need to replace your vape coil. The coils can’t be saved at this stage.
Weak Flavour
If you’re e-liquids don’t taste like they used to before, with a dull and muted taste sensation you will need to replace your coil to get the true flavour of your e-liquid restored.
Less Vapour
If you are getting less vapour cloud as you take a puff on your vape, than you did previously, this a clear sign to install a new coil.
Bubbling or Gurgling
An overfilled tank or pod may start to gurgle or bubble as you inhale from the mouthpiece, as your device is flooded with e-liquid. If these signs persist as you take a few draws on your vape you may need to replace the coil.
Device Leaking
If your vape device is leaking and you have disassembled all the parts for cleaning and the issue persists, simply replacing your coils in most cases will solve any issues.
Reasons Why Your Coils May Taste Burnt:
E-Liquid Levels Too Low
If there’s not enough e-liquid in your vape tank or pod, you will experienece a burnt taste as you inhale. The inside of the coil is filled with organic cotton wicking material, if power from the battery heats the dry cotton, it will cause it to burn. This will provide an unpleasant dry hit burn at the back of your throat as you draw in vapour from your e-cigarette, which is best avoided as the taste can be extremely unpleasant.
How To Fix
Ensure your tank and pod cartridge are regularly topped up with a sufficient amount of e-liquid before you take a hit on your vape. The e-liquid will penetrate into the organic cotton within your vape coil and fully saturate the cotton. As you puff on your vape, the e-liquid will turn into a flavourful vapour. Before your vape session always take a glance at your e-liquid levels, and top them up if necessary, this will produce the best flavour and make your coils last longer.
Coils Haven’t Been Primed
When using a new vape coil, its essential to fully soak the coil in e-liquid before you take a draw from your vape. Priming involves filling your device’s tank or pod with e-liquid and leaving it for a few minutes for the e-liquid to soak into the coil before vaping. Pressing the fire button, or puffing when using draw-activated vapes when the cotton is dry will prematurely burn out your coils and taste awful. Once you have burnt your vape coil, there is no going back and your coil will need to be replaced.
How To Fix
Always prime your new atomiser coils before puffing on your e-cigarette. Failure to do so will destroy your coil. Primed coils heat e-liquid more efficiently, for better flavour and satisfying clouds without any burnt notes. Read our guide How To Prime A Vape Coil for more information.
Wattage Is Set Too High
When using a new vape coil always check the packaging or the coil itself to see what the manufacturer suggests is the best wattage range. Setting your vape kit’s power output too high for the resistance of coil will result in your coils getting burnt out as the wick can’t re-saturate quickly enough.
High ohm coils above 1ohm or (1Ω) are less resistant to high temperatures, and low ohm coils are more resistant to high temperatures. That being said always check your wattage to the coils resistance before you vape.
How To Fix
Always stay within the wattage range suggested by the manufacturer for the coils optimal use. Too much power will burn the coil before the wicks have time to saturate the coil. Many modern vape kits offer ‘Smart Mode’ which will automatically read the coils resistance rating and provide a safe wattage output for best performance.
Wrong Type of E-Liquid
Each style of vape kit is designed for a specific type of e-liquid. Some are designed for higher wattages, DTL style inhales and VG-heavy e-liquids. While others are designed for lower wattages, MTL style draws and 50/50 e-liquids.
Coils intended for thicker VG-based vape liquids have larger wicking ports in the coil to accommodate for the syrup-like viscosity of the e-liquid. These liquids will require higher temperatures to vaporise the e-liquid. If you use thinner e-liquids with sub ohm coils, its more likely to leak, and the excess heat will burn the coil.
How To Fix
Always pair your vape with the correct e-liquid.
- MTL (mouth to lung) Coils: MTL coils are best paired with PG-heavy e-liquid including; 50/50 e-liquid, Nicotine Salts, Bar Salts and Hybrid Nic Salts.
Available in a wide choice of nicotine strengths (3mg, 5mg, 6mg, 10mg, 12mg, 15mg, 18mg, 20mg), suited to vapers who are looking to quit smoking, or to provide a real smoking ‘throat hit’ sensation.
- DTL (direct to lung) Coils: DTL coils are best paired with VG-heavy e-liquid including; 70/30 e-liquid, 100ml Shortfills, 50ml Shortfills and nic shots.
Available in lower nicotine strengths (3mg and 6mg), suited to vapers who prefer using sub-ohm vaping kits that produce more vapour.
Selecting the right e-liquid is crucial for achieving smooth vapour, with a clean taste of your chosen flavour.
For more information on nicotine strengths read our guide Nicotine Strengths Guide.
Incorrect Inhaling Technique
MTL vape devices including pod kits and pen kits require a mouth-to-lung style inhale where vapour in inhaled into the mouth then down into the lungs
DTL devices including sub-ohm tanks and DTL kits require a direct-to-lung style inhale where vapour is inhaled straight into the lungs
If you choose the incorrect inhaling technique, this could lead to coughing, a huge dose of nicotine per puff, leaking and may burn out your vape coils.
For more information on each vaping style read our guide MTL Vaping Explained and DTL Vaping Explained.
Puffing Too Frequently
As you draw vapour from the mouthpiece of your e-cigarette, the e-liquid travels to the coil via the wicking material for heating. If you puff on your vape too soon, the e-liquid doesn’t have time to travel down the wick and soak into the cotton. This will result in burnt cotton within the coil, producing a burnt smell, burnt taste and the coil will need replacing.
How To Fix
Allow a short period of time for the e-liquid to absorb into the cotton wick between each inhale. This will help your vape coils last longer, provide a more satisfying vaping experienece, and save you money.
E-Liquid Stored At The Incorrect Temperature
E-liquids should be stored between 0-25 degrees Celsius in a clean dry place. If your e-liquid becomes too cold the viscosity of the e-liquid increases, and if the e-liquid is too warm or stored in direct sunlight, it may become thinner. If your e-liquid becomes thicker your wicks may struggle to absorb the e-liquid, and if your e-liquid becomes thinner, it may cause leaking.
How To Fix
Always store your e-liquids at the correct temperature below 25°C. Keep your bottles of vape liquid out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources which could alter the consistency of the liquid. Store your vape juice in a dark place at room temperature for best results.
