Burnt coils are the worst, let's look at why it happens.
In this article...
There’s nothing worse than your coil burning while you’re in the middle of something or away from your vape supplies. But, if you’re new to vaping and haven’t experienced this before, you might be wondering ‘why does my e-cig taste burnt?’. Well, there are several reasons why a coil might be expiring faster than usual, let’s take a look.
Your coil has been in too long
Coils (including those that are built-in to pods and disposables) have a limited lifespan. Over time the wicking material inside them starts to degrade and burn. When this happens you’ll either lose the flavour from the coil or it will taste a little burnt. Don’t worry, it’s not harmful but it certainly isn’t pleasant. When this happens simply change your coil or pod and you’ll be good to go.
Typically coils last around a week or two, but this can change based on the liquid you’re using, the power setting or how you vape.
The power is too high
If you can change the power settings on your kit, then it may be set too high. All coils have a wattage threshold, based on the resistance. It’s usually written on the side or bottom. Using my OXVA XLIM 0.6ohm V3 pods as an example, it says on the bottom that it can run between 20W and 25W.
Running a coil higher than its tolerance can cause it to burn out faster, if not instantly. This can sometimes be saved if you act fast enough and the burnt taste will go away, but in most cases it’s cause for a change. Likewise, if you run your kit under the lowest number, it can cause leaking.
You draw too hard
If you draw harder on a cigarette you get more smoke, but e-cigs don’t work like that. The only way that you can get more vapour is to increase the airflow, turn up the power or use a lower resistance. If you draw too hard on a high ohm coil then the wicking material won’t be able to soak up the liquid quick enough. This results in dry cotton being heated, which can cause burning.
If you think you’re drawing too hard on your kit, then you might need a lower resistance coil. If you’re not sure what this means then feel free to contact us, and our customer service team will be able to help.
There’s not enough e-liquid in the tank
If you let your tank or pod run completely dry then there’ll be no liquid for the coil to vapourise. This will result in the wicking material burning, which can result in a horrible smell and taste. Known in the vaping world as the dreaded ‘dry burn’.
Having liquid in your tank doesn’t mean that you’re safe from this happening. If the levels drop below the wicking holes (pictured) then it can also cause the coil to burn. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your liquid levels and make sure you keep your kit topped up.
You didn’t prime the coil before use
Priming a coil is something that’s missed by a lot of new vapers, and some regular ones. It’s a very important step when fitting a new pod or coil. When a new one is put into an e-cig, the cotton will be dry. You need to allow time for it to soak up some of the liquid or it’ll burn when you first fire it up.
With vape pods and built-in coils, simply waiting 5-10 minutes after filling is usually enough.
If your kit has a removeable coil, then you can also add a few drops to the inside of it as well as into the wicking holes.
You’re using the wrong kind of e-liquid
Different resistances of coils can handle different ratios of liquid. If you’re using the wrong one for yours, then it’ll cause problems. When using a liquid that’s too thick for the resistance you use, the wicking material inside of the coil won’t be able to keep up with your vaping. This usually results in burning, which as we’ve talked about, isn’t pleasant.
Low resistance coils (0.15ohm-0.8ohm) can handle high VG liquids like shortfill. These produce a significant amount of vapour. You can also use 50/50 in these kits with little issue. Better avoid high PG liquids though, as they’re thinner and might cause leaking.
Higher resistance coils (1.0ohm+) are better with thinner liquids, like 50/50 or high PG liquids. Putting high VG liquid in these will definitely cause your coil to burn.
The coil is faulty
Very rarely, a coil will be defective. After all, unlike kits, they can’t be tested before being sent out for sale. A faulty batch of coils or pods is always a horrible experience, but don’t fret! If you bought them from us we have a 48hr DOA policy for coils. So if you’ve put in your coil and it doesn’t work, contact our customer service team, and they’ll be able to help.
Sadly, we can’t replace them if you burned out your coil by not priming it or if you forget to turn off your kit before putting it in your pocket. But, they can still help you find the best savings on replacements!
So, now when someone asks “Why Does My E-cig Taste Burnt?” you can tell them! If you have any questions or need some advice about your vape, feel free to contact us. Our dedicated customer service team are always happy to help.
