Make Vape Coils Last Longer With These Simple Rules

Published: 11 November 2022
Categories: Blog

Whether you use a simple vape pen that was purchased online or a powerful mod that you bought from a local vape shop, you will need to buy new coils, or pods with integral coils, on a regular basis. As a coil deteriorates, it can negatively affect the flavor of your vape; it can also lead to leaks and other issues. The only way to fix these issues is to install a replacement coil but if you are new to vaping, you may have no idea how often you should be changing your coils and what you can do to extend their useful lifespan. But there’s no need to worry if this is the case: after you’ve finished reading our handy guide, you’ll be able to tell when it’s time to change coils and you’ll also know how to get the most out of each coil you install in your device.

How You Can Make Your Coils Last Longer

As the premier vape shop in Parker, we deal with thousands of customers who rely on us to provide them with independent, objective advice. One of the most common questions we are asked is: “How can I get my coils to last longer?” There are a number of measures you can take to extend the lifespan of each coil you use, including the following:

  • Use Top-Quality E-Liquids – The easiest and fastest way to extend the lifespan of your coils is to switch to higher-quality e-liquids. While cheaper liquids can taste very nice, they often contain excessive amounts of sweeteners, which can damage coils very quickly. These sugary ingredients tend to clog up the cotton wick and caramelize as they are heated up. The result is normally a rather unpleasant-tasting vape and a coil that is unable to absorb very much e-juice. If you buy your supplies from a reputable smoke shop such as ours, you can ask the staff to recommend a quality ejuice and be sure of a helpful response.
  • Always Prime New Coils – Manufacturers recommend that you let a new coil sit in the tank for a few minutes before you try to use it, to ensure that it absorbs plenty of e-juice first. However, even if you follow this advice, it’s possible you could damage newly installed coils and thereby shorten their lifespan. Some coils have wicks that take much longer to absorb e-liquid than others, which makes it difficult to judge exactly how many minutes to wait before using them for the first time. Fortunately, there is a solution: priming the wick beforehand. To prime the wick of a new coil, simply apply a small amount of e-liquid directly to the wick, until it is sufficiently soaked all over.
  • Fill the Tank Often – If you talk to a random selection of customers at our smoke shop in Parker, or at any other smoke/vape shop in the area, you are sure to find that almost every one of them has burnt out a coil in the past through not paying attention to the e-liquid level in their tank. If you frequently let the level drop below the marked minimum for your coil, you run the risk of damaging the wick by firing your device when it is not completely soaked. Even if you do not burn out your coil instantly, this approach will inevitably shorten its lifespan, and the lifespan of any coils you may install in the future. Keep your tank well filled and you can avoid this particular issue.
  • Use Liquids with More PG – E-liquids are a mix of vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG). VG is much thicker and more viscous, which means it has the potential to clog the wicks in your coils more quickly. Whilst it’s generally not advisable to use very high PG content liquids in a sub-ohm tank, you may notice an appreciable difference in the lifespan of your coils simply by moving from 70/30 to 60/40 liquids. However, if you are sensitive to PG, it’s possible that you might find the throat hit unpleasant when moving to a liquid with a higher PG content. If so, we would recommend sticking with the liquid you currently use and following the next tip instead, to minimize any negative effect it may have on your coils.
  • Clean Your Coils – If you are happy with the lifespan you are getting from your coils after implementing the previous suggestions, you may want to skip this one. While it will certainly help to extend the life of your coils even further, it is a time-consuming and sometimes inconvenient process. Having said that, if you still want more life from your coils or you have to use liquids with a high VG content to avoid harsh throat hits, you may like to try this suggestion. To clean a coil, simply remove it from the tank then soak it overnight in either vodka, vinegar or just warm water. In the morning, remove the coil from the cleaning solution and leave it to dry somewhere safe. You can do this a couple of times with each coil that you use but after that their ability to absorb e-liquid may be impaired.

If you live in Parker or nearby, please feel free to drop in and talk to us about coil care whenever you are passing our vape shop.