How to Properly Maintain Your Coils and Prevent Burnt Hits

The Dreaded Burnt Hit

Nothing ruins a vaping experience faster than inhaling a harsh, acrid, burnt cloud of vapor. A burnt hit means the cotton wicking inside your coil has singed. Once a coil is burnt, it cannot be fixed—it must be thrown away. However, by following a few simple maintenance rules, you can dramatically extend the life of your coils.

1. Always Prime Your New Coils

The single most important step in coil longevity is "priming." When you insert a brand new coil or pod, the dry cotton inside needs time to absorb the thick e-liquid. If you press the fire button while the cotton is dry, it will instantly burn.

How to prime: After filling a new pod or tank, let it sit entirely untouched for a minimum of 10-15 minutes. For larger sub-ohm coils, drip a few drops of e-liquid directly onto the exposed cotton before installing it.

2. Don't Chain Vape

Taking multiple deep puffs in rapid succession (chain vaping) doesn't give the cotton enough time to re-saturate with e-liquid between puffs. If you vape faster than the wick can absorb juice, you will dry-burn the cotton. Give your device 10-20 seconds to rest between puffs.

3. Avoid Very Sweet E-Liquids

E-liquids packed with artificial sweeteners (sucralose) are notorious "coil killers." When heated, these sweeteners caramelize and leave a thick, black crust (gunk) on your coil wire. This gunk eventually prevents the coil from heating evenly and leads to a burnt taste. If you want your coils to last weeks instead of days, opt for clearer, less sweet flavor profiles like menthols or subtle tobaccos.

4. Keep Your Tank Topped Up

Never let your e-liquid level drop below the exposed cotton holes on your coil. If the juice level is too low, the coil will draw in air instead of liquid, resulting in a dry hit. Refill your pod when it gets to about 25% capacity.

5. Use the Right Wattage

Every coil has a recommended wattage range printed directly on the side of it. Pushing 50 watts through a coil rated for 15 watts will instantly incinerate it. Start at the lowest recommended wattage and slowly work your way up until you find your sweet spot.