When To Change a Vape Coil?

The coils in your vaping device are among the parts that require regular maintenance and replacement. This is for every vaper that has anything more than a vape pen. Taking good care of the coils and ensuring they are changed on time will ensure you have a phenomenal vaping experience and save yourself the dreaded burnt vape taste.

Promptly changing your coils ensures you get the best flavours and prevents damage to other parts of the vaporizer.

However, it's hard to tell when you need to change the coils for some vapers until it's too late, and you can’t ignore the bad taste the coils are producing. Here is a quick guide that will walk you through everything from how to tell your coils need changing, how to change the coils, and even how to take better care of them.

How Often Do I Need to Change the Coils?

Coils require changing frequently. However, there’s no designated timeline on how often you should change your coils. Like everything else about vaping, it depends on how much you vape and what you vape.

If you use the vape frequently, it also means you will need to change the coils more often. But if you rarely vape, your coils will last longer. But they should be replaced at least once a month. There are also some tell-tale signs that will alert you when it's time to change your coils.

When To Change Your Coils

Some of the signs that indicate it’s time to change the coils include:

A burnt taste

As the coil is nearing its end, its flavour and vapour production will slump. It will get even worse towards the end, producing a burnt taste that is hard to miss. At this point, your coil is completely gone, and it has to be replaced. This is usually because the coil is burnt out.

• What does a burnt coil look like?

You should never attempt to vape with a burnt coil. Unfortunately, for most vapers, using a device with replaceable coils for the first time, it's a common occurrence. If you want to know if your coil is burnt out, start by opening up the vaporizer and accessing the coil.

A burnt coil will have a black colour, and it looks fried. It also carries a lot of burnt vape liquid around it. If you notice any of these around the vape, you have to change the coil. 

Gurgling sounds

The vape shouldn't produce a gurgling sound when you vape. A gurgling sound is always a bad sign when vaping, and it requires urgent attention. One of the easiest solutions to gurgling noises is changing the coils. When the coil is not working properly, the liquid in the heating chamber is not vaporised, leading to flooding hence the gurgling sounds.

If changing the coil doesn’t fix the coil, it’s a sign that there’s something more serious with your vape that needs investigation.

Weak or “off” e-juice flavour

Weak flavour production is one of the very first signs that your coils are working past their ‘best before date.’ The weak flavour production always comes before you get the dreaded burnt taste. If you’re vaping a liquid you're familiar with, and you aren't content with the flavour production, changing the coils might restore the performance of the vape.

You might also notice that if you change flavours, you get a combination of the old and new flavours. This could also be a sign you need to change the coils. Some vapers go as far as changing the coils every time they change their vape juice flavour just to be on the safe side.

Low vapor production

As your coils wear out, the vapour produced will gradually lessen. At the end of the coil’s lifespan, the amount of vapour will be noticeably less than usual. Changing the coils is a sure way of restoring vapour production and performance.

Vape device starts leaking

A failing coil can also cause leaking. The coils are designed to vaporise the liquid as soon as it lands on the heating elements. If that doesn’t happen, the vape liquid that is not vaporised could start leaking out of the sides of the device. If you have a leaking vape, it's highly recommended to start by checking the condition of the coils. The fix could be as simple as installing new coils.

How Do You Replace Vape Coils?

Once you determine your coils need a change, the challenge now is how to change the coils, which is a simple and quick process.

• Disassemble the device

If you hadn’t already taken the device apart, you will need to disassemble it. If it is your first device, you can refer to the user manual on how to do it.  Remember that only open system vape devices can be disassembled.

• Empty the tank

It's best to replace the coil with an empty tank. If there's any remaining vape juice in the tank, make sure you empty it before attempting to install the new coil.  

• Soak the new coils with e-liquid

Before installing the new coil, apply 3-4 drops of e-liquid on them. This will prevent the coil from burning once you start vaping. Leave the coils for about 10 minutes before installing.

• Unscrew the oil coils and install the new ones

The coils are mounted on poles and held in place using screws. Unscrew the old coils and remove them, then add the new coils and fasten the screws back. You can use kitchen towels to keep your hands free from vape liquid.  

• Reassemble and refill the tank

Once you install the new coil, you can reassemble the vape device and refill the tank. Because you had already steeped the coils, you can proceed to start vaping.

The Bottom Line

You will need to change the coils in your vape regularly to ensure you enjoy the best vape experience. With those mentioned above, you now know the signs you should look out for to know when your coils need changing and how to change the coils.