One of the best things about vaping is the delicious range of e-liquid flavours, whether you prefer menthol-flavoured or fruity e-liquids. But the last thing you want is for your vape to taste burnt instead.
So, what’s causing that unwanted burnt flavour from your vape, and what can you do to fix it?
Why Does My Vape Taste Burnt, and How Do I Fix It?
There are a few different reasons why you might be experiencing a burnt taste when you take a hit from your vape. Here are nine of the most common problems that can lead to an unwanted burnt taste, and how to fix each one:
1. Your Wattage is too High
When you use a variable wattage vape mod, you can set the amount of power that flows through the coil when you take a hit. This allows for a more personalised vaping experience, and in general, higher wattages lead to more vapour being produced.
However, each coil has a maximum recommended wattage. When you go beyond these limits, the coil can overheat and vaporise the e-liquid too fast, burning the cotton wick instead. This can lead to a burnt taste.
Fix: Try lowering your vape’s wattage and testing whether the burnt flavour remains. If the wick has already been badly burnt, you will need to replace the coil in your vape; otherwise, that burnt taste will stick around even if you lower the wattage.
2. You’re Chain Vaping
Chain vaping is where a vaper takes multiple hits of their vape in quick succession, with only very brief pauses in between. Whilst vaping in this way is tempting, chain vaping can dramatically shorten the lifespan of your coils and cause a burnt taste.
When you vape, the power from the battery heats the vape coil, which in turn heats the e-liquid soaked into the wick. The e-liquid then evaporates, producing the delicious vapour that you know and love.
During chain vaping, you don’t leave enough time for more of the e-liquid to soak back into the wick to replace what you’ve already vaped. Repeated chain vaping can dry the wick, leading to a dry hit and burnt taste to your vape.
Fix: Try to leave more time between hits to give the e-liquid enough time to soak back into the wick after each hit.
3. You’re Not Priming Your Coils
When you first purchase a new vape coil, it’s essential to “prime the coil” before use. This means filling your vape with e-liquid and leaving it for 10-20 minutes, to allow the e-liquid to soak fully into the wick.
Otherwise, it’s likely that your first hits out of your new vape will be less than optimal, as the battery will burn the cotton in the coil, rather than vaporising the e-liquid.
Fix: When you buy a new vape coil, fill your vape with e-liquid and leave it for around at least five minutes. Then, vape as you please.
4. Your Wick isn’t Properly Soaked Through
Similar to the previous point, you need to leave enough time after changing a coil or adding e-liquid to your tank for the e-liquid to soak into the wick. Otherwise, the wick will burn instead of the e-liquid vaporizing.
Fix: Whenever you replace a vape coil or refill your vape with e-liquid, leave ample time for the e-liquid to soak into the wick before vaping.
5. You’re Vaping on an Empty Tank
Another thing to look out for is the volume of e-liquid in your vape tank. If there’s too little, the coil will burn the wick inside the coil rather than vaporizing the e-liquid – because there isn’t enough in the tank - leading to that burnt taste.
Fix: Check before vaping that there’s enough e-liquid in your tank, and top up if necessary.
6. You’re Using the Wrong E-Liquid for Your Vape
E-liquids can come in variable ratios of Vegetable Glycerine (VG) and Propylene Glycol (PG). Different vape tanks work best with specific thicknesses of e-liquids. For example, sub-ohm tanks are suited towards thinner e-liquids with a 50-50 ratio of VG and PG, whereas other tanks work best with 70-30 ratio of VG and PG.
Vaping high VG e-liquids with a tank that’s not compatible can lead to your vape struggling to draw that thicker liquid up through the wick channels. This will cause your wick to dry out and burn when you take a hit.
Fix: Check what type of vape you have, and what VG-PG ratio is best suited for your vape.
7. You Have the Wrong-Resistance Coil Installed
Many vape tanks come with two coils with different resistances in the box. We advise that you try both of them to figure out which one is best for your vaping needs.
However, it's important to keep in mind that different resistances require different power levels.
High-resistance coils use less power than lower-resistance coils to produce the same amount of vapor. Therefore, using a high resistance coil on high power can make your vape taste burnt.
8. Poor Quality Vape Juice
Each person has a distinct flavour profile, meaning that they enjoy or dislike certain e-liquid flavours. For some, tobacco and cinnamon-flavoured e-liquids can taste burnt, and the same is possible for high-nicotine-strength e-liquids.
Fix: Try some new flavours — such as fruity e-liquids — and see whether the burnt taste sticks. If not, it’s likely that those saltier flavours aren’t for you.
9. Your Vape is Faulty
If you have checked all of these problems but your vape is still tasting burnt, you may have a faulty vape. Try contacting the manufacturer or the supplier of your vape to see about getting a replacement.
Why Does My Disposable Vape Taste Burnt?
Disposable vapes with a burnt taste are a little easier to diagnose than other vapes.
One cause is that you’re not leaving enough time between puffs, meaning that the disposable’s wick doesn’t have enough time to soak up e-liquid. Shaking your vape can help to distribute the e-liquid and help it soak into the coil quicker. You can also try to leave more time between puffs.
Another cause is that your disposable vape is out of e-liquid. Whilst disposable vapes usually run out of battery before running out of e-liquid, sometimes the reverse is possible, resulting in a burnt taste. If you are out of e-liquid, you may notice the burnt taste more prominently after charging your disposable vape.
If your disposable vape has run out of e-liquid, it’s time to buy a new disposable vape. Choose from a huge range of disposable vape flavours here at Vape Town. Alternatively, you could browse our selection of vape kits and vape tanks, which will save you more money in the long run.
FAQs
How Do I Know If My Vape is Burnt?
You will know if your vape coil is burnt or expired because, when you inhale from your vape, you will experience an unpleasant burnt taste. Your e-liquid won’t taste as it normally does, and the burnt sensation will linger in your mouth. Alongside this burnt taste, your device may make unusual noises and produce less vapour than normal.
Is It Bad to Use a Burnt Vape?
Yes – it is bad to use a burnt vape. If you suspect your vape is burnt, you should stop using it immediately.
If your vape tastes burnt, we hope this guide has helped you to diagnose the issue and get back to safe, enjoyable vaping. If you need replacement vape accessories, like a new coil, or even a brand new vape kit, please explore Vape Town’s extensive collection online or in-store. If you need any further help with how to fix a burnt vape, please contact our friendly, expert team today.