-Authored by Randi Sprintis
There comes a time in every new vaper’s life when things start to change. A few weeks into your initial vaping experience, you’ll start to notice a different taste, less smoke, or maybe some weird gurgling noise coming from your device. A common mistake at this stage is to assume that the device is broken, toss it in the trash, then start searching for a different brand when the one you have is perfectly fine. This can be a costly mistake. If you start to notice these symptoms it most likely means that it’s time to change out your coil.
Usually, those new to vaping are aware that their device requires some maintenance, but after a few weeks of pure vaping enjoyment, they sometimes forget, which is completely normal. However, taking care of your coil is one of the most important tasks you have as a vaper, but we’re not here to scold you. Below is a brief overview of what coils are, what they do, and how you should take care of them.
What is a Coil?
If you take your device apart and you have the pieces laid out in front of you, you can probably guess which piece is the coil by the name alone. It looks like a small spiral wire, otherwise known as… a coil. The coil is basically the heartbeat of any electronic vaping device. The coil is the component that heats up the e-liquid in order to produce the vapor that you inhale through the mouthpiece. The level of resistance the coil produces is measured in ohms. Just remember that lower ohms equal more intensity. If you hear someone mentioning “sub-ohm vaping”, it means they prefer thicker clouds and a stronger taste.
Coils can be made out of a number of different types of wire, like stainless steel, titanium, or nickel wire. Some experienced vapers will choose to build their own coils. If you’re just learning about what a coil is, then it’s best to save that information for another time. While the idea of a coil seems simple, those who choose to build coils themselves are most likely vaping experts. There are a few different tactics and strategies for building a coil yourself, but if you’re still new to this, it’s best to take on the vaping world one step at a time.
Coil Maintenance
We began this post with the all too common scenario of realizing that your coil needs to be changed. You’ll notice that your device isn’t hitting the same way it used to. As soon as you detect a burnt taste, you know that you’ve reached that threshold. You’ll probably see this between the 2-4 week mark, depending on how often you use your device. While the coil can last for a few weeks, the cotton portion, or the wick, should be changed out more often than not. If you notice the cotton has turned a dark brown color and it doesn’t appear to be absorbing the e-liquid, it’s probably time for new cotton. There are a few ways to make your coils last longer as well. If you’re choosing to clean the coils, you can definitely save a few bucks, but you need to be careful when cleaning the coils or else you can damage either the coil or the device itself.
Basically, the idea is to heat the coil while it’s submerged in water to burn any excess residue off the wire, allowing it to be used a bit longer. You can do this by removing the e-juice and wick, firing up the device, and carefully dipping just the coil into a small cup of water. You might hear a little crackle from the heat hitting the water, but that’s expected. After you hold your device over the water for a few seconds, about 5-10, take the device out and heat it up again to allow the coil to dry off. You should notice that the coil looks and feels a bit cleaner. This can help the coil to last a bit longer, but it’s only recommended that you do this a few times before purchasing a new one. Coils were not meant to last forever.