A “burnt vape hit,” often called a “dry hit,” is an unpleasant experience signaling a malfunction within the electronic cigarette device. It is characterized by an intensely harsh, acrid taste and an irritating sensation in the throat. This sensation indicates that the device’s heating element has reached temperatures far exceeding its normal operating range. The harsh flavor and feeling are physical manifestations of the device beginning to combust its own components, creating a significant health concern.
The Cause of the Burnt Taste
The physical mechanism behind a burnt hit originates with the coil and the wicking material, typically cotton. Vaping relies on the wicking material drawing e-liquid into the heating coil, which then vaporizes the liquid at a controlled temperature. A dry hit occurs when the wicking material is not adequately saturated with e-liquid before the coil is activated.
When this lack of saturation happens, the coil’s high temperature—designed to vaporize liquid—instead heats the dry cotton wick directly, causing it to scorch or burn. This process generates the signature burnt, bitter taste and the absence of the intended e-liquid flavor. The inadequate saturation, known as “wick starvation,” can be triggered by several common user errors or device issues.
One primary cause is simply having insufficient e-liquid in the tank, which prevents the wicks from drawing enough liquid to the coil. Another frequent trigger is “chain vaping,” which involves taking rapid, successive puffs without allowing the wicking material time to re-saturate fully between inhalations. The use of an excessive wattage setting that exceeds the coil’s suggested power limit also contributes to the problem, as the coil vaporizes the liquid faster than the wick can resupply it.
Toxic Compounds Produced During Overheating
The most serious danger of a burnt hit comes from the chemical decomposition of the e-liquid’s primary ingredients when exposed to extreme heat. E-liquids are largely composed of Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG). While generally considered safe, these ingredients break down into toxic compounds when heated past their vaporization point. When a dry hit occurs, the coil temperature spikes, causing this thermal degradation to happen rapidly.
This overheating produces a significant increase in volatile carbonyls, a class of toxic aldehydes including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein. Studies show that the concentration of these aldehydes increases exponentially when the device is operated under conditions leading to a dry hit, such as high voltage settings or wick starvation. The degradation of Vegetable Glycerin is particularly linked to the formation of acrolein, a highly irritating and toxic compound.
Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are also produced from the thermal breakdown of both PG and VG, and are classified as probable or known human carcinogens. While standard vaping aerosol contains some aldehydes, the superheating event of a burnt hit exponentially increases the user’s exposure. This dramatic rise in toxic byproducts differentiates the risk of a burnt hit from a normal puff.
Immediate and Long-Term Health Risks
Inhaling the toxic aldehyde compounds generated during a burnt hit poses both immediate and potential long-term health risks. The immediate consequences are caused by the highly irritating nature of the aldehydes, especially acrolein, on the respiratory system. Users instantly experience a severe scratchy or burning sensation in the throat, intense coughing, and chest pain.
Acrolein is a potent irritant of the airways, capable of causing significant acute inflammation and damage to the lung tissue. This immediate physical discomfort is the body’s warning sign against inhaling the chemical byproducts of the overheated coil. Repeated exposure to high concentrations of aldehydes is linked to the development of oxidative stress.
Over time, repeated inhalation of these toxic compounds can contribute to chronic respiratory issues. The sustained inflammation of the airways caused by frequent exposure to irritants like acrolein and formaldehyde is associated with an increased risk of long-term conditions. These include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other forms of lung damage.
Practical Steps to Prevent Burnt Hits
Avoiding burnt hits relies on proper maintenance and careful usage of the vaping device. One of the most effective preventative measures involves correctly priming a new coil before its first use. This means applying several drops of e-liquid directly onto the wicking material and letting the coil sit fully submerged in a filled tank for five to ten minutes to ensure complete saturation.
Users should also monitor their e-liquid levels constantly, never allowing the tank to run close to empty. The wicking ports, visible on the side of the coil, must remain submerged in liquid at all times to prevent the cotton from drying out. Another critical step is to adhere strictly to the recommended wattage range printed on the coil itself.
Operating the device above this range will vaporize the liquid too quickly, leading to wick starvation and an eventual dry hit. Finally, avoiding chain vaping is necessary to give the wick adequate time to soak up fresh e-liquid from the tank between puffs. Taking a pause of several seconds between each inhalation allows the coil to cool and the cotton to fully resaturate, ensuring a clean puff.