You’ve done your research, you’ve found the perfect vape pen and flavour and all is going well until the unexpected happens. You’ve reached for your vape, taken a puff and it hits you. Your vape tastes burnt. But don’t worry, this can happen to any vaper. The good news is that there are a number of easy solutions to this problem which we’re going to walk you through in this article.
Why is there a burnt taste when I vape?
Most vapers will experience a burnt taste when they vape at some point, regardless of the type of vape device they’re using. This is often referred to as a “burnt hit”. To understand why a burnt hit occurs, we need to have an understanding of how vape devices function. Most vapes generally contain a battery, a coil, a wick and an e Liquid tank or pod. e Liquid from the tank saturates the wick and when you power on your device the battery heats the coil, which heats the e Liquid-soaked wick, this then creates the vapour you inhale.
A burnt hit occurs when there’s not enough e Liquid saturating the wick, so when it heats up you get a burnt taste instead of your usual flavourful vapour.
There are a few reasons why a dry wick, and therefore a burnt hit, can come about. Let’s go through them so you can avoid any future burnt hits and enjoy your e Liquid flavours without any surprises.
1. YOUR e LIQUID IS LOW
As we’ve explained, low e Liquid is a primary cause of burnt hits. If there isn’t enough e Liquid on the wick inside your vape you can end up with a burnt taste in your mouth. When you vape, the wick soaks up the e Liquid, which is then turned into vapour when the coil heats up. Without any e Liquid to vaporise, the heat starts heating the dry wick, which in turn causes an unpleasant burnt taste.
2. YOU'RE PUFFING TOO FREQUENTLY
If you puff too frequently, you may come across burnt hits more than most. When you take puff after puff, you don’t give the wick the time to soak up enough e Liquid, which causes it to dry out and burn. If you start noticing a slightly burnt taste when you inhale, take a moment or two to give the wick the time it needs to absorb more e Liquid.
3. YOUR COILS HAVE BEEN PRIMED INCORRECTLY (OPEN SYSTEM USERS ONLY)
When you’re vaping on a new coil, you should always take the time to prime your coil head properly before filling the tank. Saturating the wick with e Liquid before you start vaping will mean you’re less likely to end up with a burnt taste in your mouth.
4. YOU'RE HIGH POWER VAPING (OPEN SYSTEM USERS ONLY)
If you vape at a wattage that’s too high for your coil, your e Liquid will vaporise too quickly. When this happens, the wick can’t re-saturate quickly enough, so the coil ends up burning the wick.
Make sure you know the wattage range your coil can handle and set your vape to this before you take a puff. You can generally find this information on the product packaging of your coil or device.
5. YOU'RE USING THE WRONG BATTERY
Not all batteries are compatible with your vape, even if they attach. A high-power vape battery connected to a vape tank with lower requirements can easily ruin your coil. Ensure that you buy the right type of battery for your open system device to avoid running into this issue.
6. YOUR PG/VG RATIO IS OFF (OPEN SYSTEM USERS ONLY)
Not all e Liquids are created equal. Some will run like liquid gold while others may gunk up your device. Your e Liquid may be contributing to burnt hits if it is a high VG formula. Vegetable Glycerin (VG) is a base ingredient used in most e Liquids, along with Propylene Glycol (PG). High VG e Liquids are thicker than e Liquids made with a 50/50 VG to PG ratio, which means the coil may not absorb the liquid efficiently. This can lead to possible burnt hits.
If you suspect that it is your e Liquid in your open system device causing your burnt hits, try a different e Liquid with a lower level of VG.
7. YOU HAVE A FAULTY NEW COIL (OPEN SYSTEM USERS ONLY)
You’ve primed your coil and it’s looking good but you’re still getting a burnt taste. If this happens, you may have a faulty coil. It’s best to stop using it and contact the manufacturer of your open system device.
How to avoid burnt hits from your vape
No one likes to have their vaping experience tainted by a burnt taste, so let’s talk through some ways to avoid it happening altogether.
1. CHANGE UP YOUR VAPING TECHNIQUE
Short, frequent puffs on your vape pen will always increase your chances of a burnt hit. And remember to allow 15 to 20 seconds between each puff for the atomiser or coil to absorb a sufficient amount of e Liquid.
2. AVOID COLD TEMPERATURES
When the temperature drops, the viscosity of your e Liquid increases. This means your e Liquid becomes thicker and it struggles to easily absorb into the atomiser or wick. For the best vape experience, it's best to store your products between 0-25°C.
3. CHECK YOUR e LIQUID LEVELS BEFORE YOU VAPE
Before you take a puff, check the amount of e Liquid in your device if possible. This is an easy habit to pick up that will safeguard against burnt hits due to the lack of e Liquid.
Can I keep using my vape after having a burnt hit?
Yes, you can try to use your vape again and see if the burnt taste reoccurs. If it’s not going away, it’s time to get a new coil if you have a mod, change your e Liquid pod if you’re using a pod system, or time to get a new disposable for those using single-use vapes.
Getting help from the Vuse team
Now that we’ve unpacked the reasons your vape may be giving off a burnt taste, you’ll be better equipped to diagnose any future burnt hits and find a solution. For help with your Vuse vape device, give our care team a call or send us a message today.
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