WHY IS MY VAPE LEAKING?
Posted on 10 March 2022
The unfortunate reality of working with e-liquid is that you will inevitably encounter leaking from your device. No one likes having their vape spill e-liquid all over their hands or pockets. It’s messy, inconvenient and can cause a significant interruption to an otherwise pleasant vaping experience. The good news is that there’s almost always an easy solution, so before you drop a bunch of cash on a whole new device, let’s go over some common causes of leaking and how to fix them.
INCORRECT FILLING. This is a common mistake for new vapers and people using a new style of tank for the first time. Make sure to carefully fill your tank or pod from the proper fill port. Any e-liquid that spills over into the central coil shaft will fall straight through the coil without being vaporized and leak out, especially on bottom airflow tanks.
DAMAGED SEALS. Over time the silicone o-rings that maintain a tight seal between different parts of your tank can wear down. If you notice leaking from the seals where the glass tube meets the top or bottom caps of your tank, double-check your o-rings for damage. Most tanks come with backup o-rings that can be used as an easy but often overlooked remedy for leaking. If the leaking persists after you’ve replaced the seals on the tank itself, check the seals on your coils. Especially for press-fit coils, a broken seal can cause significant leaking. Typically a new coil will resolve the issue.
TIGHTEN, BUT NOT TOO TIGHT. It’s essential for the proper function of your device that all the pieces fit together snugly. Make sure nothing on your tank or pod is loose, and that your coils are securely fitted in place. Beware of cross threading, which could leave space for e-liquid to seep in between the seal, or over tightening that could cause damage.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT COIL. Different coils are intended for different styles of vaping. If you prefer the mouth to lung vape style and accidentally choose a sub ohm coil, you might find that you’re not vaporizing the e-liquid quickly enough. This can cause the excess liquid to seep out of the cotton and drip out the bottom of your pod or tank.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT POWER. This fix goes hand in hand with the previous one. Making sure that your vape is set to the recommended wattage for the coil you’re using helps ensure that your coils perform to their full potential. If your wattage is too low, you end up with the same problems as using the wrong coil; not vaporizing the e-liquid fast enough, thus leaving the extra to drip out the bottom airflow.
CHOOSING THE CORRECT E-LIQUID. The viscosity of your e-liquid can also play a role in leaking problems. E-liquid with a higher vg concentration is more viscous, making it ideal for low resistance coils. Coil flooding can occur if the e-liquid you’re using is too thin for your coil, resulting in leaking and spitback from your device.
There are a lot of factors at play in curating the ideal vaping experience, and while most leaking issues have an easy solution, it can be difficult to pinpoint the problem on your own. Luckily the experts at your local vape shop have seen it all, and will be able to help you figure out exactly what solution will work best for you, so you can leave the days of damp pockets and sticky hands behind.