Just about every vaper has been there: you fire up your favorite vape device, fill it with your vape juice of choice, and eagerly anticipate the first deliciously fluffy cloud of flavored vapor. Except when that first puff hits your taste buds, instead of the tasty flavor you’ve been looking forward to, it comes with an overwhelmingly repulsive burnt taste. Between the terrible flavor and its unpleasant – and often painful – journey down your throat and into your lungs, there’s nothing quite as awful as when your vape tastes burnt.

More than likely, this has happened to you at some point in your vaping journey. Although it’s more commonly an issue encountered by newer vapers, it’s also not unheard of for seasoned vape lovers to run into it as well. Luckily, fixing the problem is generally pretty simple, so you can get back to enjoying your vape sessions sooner rather than later.

Some vapers mistakenly assume that if their vape has a burnt flavor or a new coil tastes weird, it must mean something has gone seriously wrong with their device. One expensive vape shopping trip later, they fire up a brand-new mod only to realize that they’re facing the exact same predicament. It can be a frustrating challenge if you don’t understand what’s causing the burnt vape flavor, but breaking down a few basics can help you make sure it doesn’t happen again.

If you’re experiencing a burnt flavor when vaping, the issue lies with the wick inside the atomizer coil. Inside your vaporizer, the wick is responsible for soaking up the e-juice supplied by your tank. Then, the heating element (your coil) transforms the liquid on the wick into vapor, producing the flavored clouds you know and love. However, if the wick isn’t completely saturated with vape juice before you take a hit, the heat can burn the wick material. As it chars, it creates vapor with a powerful burnt flavor that can ruin your entire vape session, otherwise known as a “dry hit.”

At that point, the burnt wick inside the coil is essentially done for, and it’s time to replace it with a new coil. Regularly replacing coils is an expected part of the vaping experience, but understanding what’s causing your vape to taste burnt can help you extend your coils’ lifespan and make the most of your vape budget.

The burnt taste is caused by a charred wick inside your atomizer coil, but why exactly does that happen? There are different factors that could be contributing to the issue, many of which you can easily take steps to avoid. There’s no way to make a coil head last forever, and you should definitely expect to be replacing coils regularly. On average, high-quality vaporizer coils last between two and three weeks. But depending on your specific vape style and device, you may find yourself switching out coils more or less often than your fellow vapers.

For example, a heavy vaper might need to swap coils every week or so if the coil tastes burnt, while less-frequent vapers may be able to stretch their coils for up to a month at a time. A burnt-tasting vape might not necessarily be the sign of a problem, so much as an indication that your time is up with that specific coil. That being said, there are definitely steps you can take to get as much use as possible out of your coils. Many vapers burn through coils far more quickly than they should, simply because of a few simple errors along the way.

Chain vaping is one of the most common mistakes that new vapers make, especially when they’re making the switch from old-school smoking. If you’ve ever installed a brand-new coil only to have it emit burnt-tasting vapor, you might need to break a chain vaping habit. When you take several puffs in quick succession, with hardly any break between, you’re chain vaping. Taking puff after puff doesn’t allow the wick enough time to absorb e-juice, which causes it to quickly dry out and burn, resulting in a burnt vape juice taste.

Solution: Practice giving yourself 15-20 seconds between each puff. This will give your coil ample time to saturate between puffs. If you find that you aren’t getting a satisfactory hit with this approach, it might be time to try a higher nicotine strength or an e-liquid with higher-PG content. Former smokers may find that swapping out their vape juice makes it easier to slow down their puff rate because they can enjoy the throat hit and nicotine level they’re accustomed to. Alternatively, consider using a rebuildable dripping atomizer (RDA), which requires manual wick saturation every few puffs but absorbs e-liquid quickly. RDAs are typically ideal for advanced vapers.

A common customer question at VaporFi is, “Why does my new coil taste burnt?” In rare cases, it could be a defective coil, but it’s more likely that the new coil tastes burnt because the vaper forgot to prime it. Priming your coil ensures that the wick is completely saturated with e-liquid before firing it up. Missing this step can burn your wick right away, ruining your coils before you have a chance to enjoy them.

Solution:

Drip a few drops of vape juice into each of the coil’s input holes before installing it.

• Slowly add drops until you see the liquid beginning to pool near the top.
• Allow the wick to absorb the liquid for a few minutes or even overnight for optimal flavor.
• Install the coil, then take a quick sharp breath through the mouthpiece without hitting the firing button. Repeat 3-4 times, and then you’re ready to start vaping!

Every vape has a recommended power limit (labeled in Watts), and exceeding that can be a one-way ticket to burnt coils. Vaping at too high a temperature or with a variable wattage/voltage device at demanding levels can also cause this issue.

Solution: Stick to the recommended wattage range for your coils to avoid burning them out. If your current setup doesn’t meet your needs, consider upgrading to a sub-ohm mod or a rebuildable atomizer.

Pushing your vape juice levels to the limit can dry out your coils, leading to a burnt flavor. While it’s tempting to stretch your vape time, it’s not worth the cost of replacing coils frequently.

Solution: Keep your e-liquid at a reasonable level, ensuring it always covers the input holes on the side of each coil.

Certain vape juices, particularly those with high-VG content or lots of sugar, can gunk up your coils and cause a burnt flavor. High-VG juice typically has a thicker consistency, making it harder for the wick to absorb. Sugary vape juices can caramelize, building up on the coils and hindering proper absorption.

Solution: Use lower-VG juice (below 70% VG) or switch to a tank with a better wick. Avoid overly sugary e-liquids that can damage your coils.

Now that you’re well-informed about how to prevent the dreaded burnt vape taste, you might just need to restock your coil collection. Whether you’re a new vaper learning the ropes or a seasoned vet who’s clocked plenty of vape time, you’ll need to keep a steady supply of coils on hand. VaporFi carries an extensive selection of vape replacement coils, including top-rated options from the best vape device brands in the industry. Whether your favorite device is a SMOK, Kanger, Innokin, or any of the many other top brands out there, you can bet that we have the coils you need.

Plus, we offer auto-delivery (and a pretty sweet auto-delivery discount as well), so you can enjoy the convenience of never running out of coils again. If you decide you want to venture into the world of building your own coils, we also have premium coil tool kits and materials for that.

If you’re still struggling with burnt coils, or just want some help choosing your next replacement coils, the VaporFi support team is always ready to help. Otherwise, check out our impressive inventory of vape coils to find your next set today.