A harsh, scorched flavor when vaping, often called a “dry hit,” occurs when the heating element vaporizes the dry cotton wick instead of the e-liquid it should be soaked in. This unpleasant sensation indicates that the wicking material has burned, which can happen due to setup mistakes, incorrect device settings, or poor e-liquid choices. Understanding the core causes of this burnt taste allows for both immediate correction and long-term prevention. The issue is rooted in the wicking material failing to fully saturate with liquid before heat is applied or failing to resaturate quickly enough between uses.
Understanding Coil Failure
The vape coil contains the heating element and the wicking material, typically organic cotton, which draws liquid from the tank to the heat source. A dry hit occurs when the coil heats a wick that is not fully saturated, instantly scorching the cotton and releasing a bitter, acrid taste. Once the cotton burns, the damage is permanent, and the only solution is to replace the coil.
Preventing this initial burn requires coil priming. When installing a new coil, apply a few drops of e-liquid directly onto the exposed cotton ports and into the center of the wick. After assembling the tank and filling it, let the device sit untouched for at least five to ten minutes. This soaking period allows the wick to fully absorb the liquid, ensuring no dry spots remain when the coil is activated.
Even with proper priming, a coil’s lifespan is limited, and it will eventually taste burnt due to “coil gunk.” This gunk is a dark, caramelized residue that builds up on the heating element and wick over time. This residue is formed by unvaporized components of the e-liquid, especially sweeteners, which caramelize under heat. Once this crust forms, the coil cannot wick efficiently, leading to dry spots and a muted, burnt flavor.
E-Liquid Management and Saturation
The composition of your e-liquid significantly affects how quickly the wick can resaturate and how long the coil lasts. E-liquids are primarily made of Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG), and their ratio determines the liquid’s viscosity. VG is a much thicker, syrupy substance compared to the thinner PG.
Thicker, high-VG liquids wick much slower than high-PG liquids, requiring more time to soak into the cotton between puffs. If your coil has small wicking ports designed for thinner liquids, a high-VG juice may not keep up with your vaping pace, resulting in frequent dry hits. Choosing an e-liquid with a higher PG content, such as a 50/50 ratio, can significantly improve wicking speed and reduce the risk of burning.
Artificial sweeteners, such as sucralose, accelerate coil failure. Sweeteners do not vaporize cleanly; instead, they caramelize and leave a sticky, dark residue on the coil and cotton. This caramelization creates coil gunk, rapidly decreasing the coil’s ability to absorb liquid and leading to a premature burnt taste. To maximize coil life and maintain a clean flavor, consider switching to unsweetened e-liquids or those with minimal sweetener content.
Proper tank management is an essential preventative step. Allowing the e-liquid level to drop too low means the wicking ports are no longer fully submerged, making it difficult for the wick to draw liquid. Keeping the tank consistently topped up prevents the wick from running dry and maintains the necessary liquid pressure for efficient saturation.
Adjusting Device Settings and Puff Style
Device usage and selected settings directly impact the coil temperature and the speed at which the wick must perform. Every coil is designed for a specific wattage range, often printed on the coil head. Vaping above this maximum wattage causes the coil to overheat and vaporize the e-liquid faster than the wick can resaturate, leading to instant burning.
If you experience a burnt taste, immediately lower the device’s wattage to the lower end of the coil’s recommended range to prevent further scorching and allow the wick to recover. Conversely, underpowering a coil can cause issues, as it may not vaporize the liquid fully, leading to unvaporized residue buildup and premature gunking. Finding the “sweet spot” within the suggested wattage is important for optimal performance.
“Chain vaping” is a frequent cause of burnt flavor, even with a properly primed coil. Chain vaping involves taking multiple puffs in rapid succession with minimal time in between. This habit does not allow the wick sufficient time to draw new e-liquid and resaturate the cotton before the next firing. To correct this, incorporate a pause of at least 15 to 30 seconds between puffs, giving the wicking material the recovery time it needs.
Adjusting the airflow can offer a quick fix for a harsh hit, as more air passing over the coil helps cool the heating element. Restricting the airflow too much concentrates the heat and contributes to the cotton drying out faster. Opening the airflow slightly allows for a cooler draw, reducing thermal stress on the wick and helping the e-liquid keep the cotton saturated.