A coil is an essential part of a vape pen. It is responsible for heating up the oil or e-juice of your choice and producing a vapor that perfectly mimics cigarette smoke. It is also one of the vape components that aren’t as durable as the tank or the battery.
Continue reading to learn more about how long vape coils last, how to increase their durability, and the things you can do to avoid replacing them too often.
How Long Can You Use a Vape Coil?
The duration of a vape coil depends on a number of factors. Typically, a coil can last anywhere from a few days to several months before you need to replace it. Let’s look into some factors that determine how long you will be able to use a vape coil in your pen.
1. Frequency of Use
The first and most important factor that affects a vape coil’s lifespan is the frequency at which you use the pen. Do you take several puffs per day or are you one of the avid vapers who always keep their vape with them and take a puff whenever possible?
If the latter, your vape pen coil is less likely to last long. The more frequently the coil heats up, the shorter its duration will be. As you take a puff, the coil is responsible for heating the e-juice, which leaves a residue that shortens your coil’s lifespan.
The liquid buildup causes a coil to burn out fairly quickly. If you vape too much, you will find yourself needing to replace it every few weeks, if not days.
On the other hand, if you take an occasional puff from your pen, you won’t have to think about buying a new coil for months.
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bonesthaskata
2. Wattage of a Vape Pen
A wattage is, simply put, the amount of power that goes into heating the coil in a vape pen. High wattage allows the coil to reach hotter temperatures and heat up more quickly.
Most vape pens have non-adjustable settings, while modern vape pens let you choose the wattage at which you want your device to operate.
Low wattage will result in a weaker flavor of your e-juice and less vapor. Higher wattage provides a better vaping experience as it enhances the flavor and produces more vapor.
While the latter sounds great, be careful when adjusting the settings on your vape pen. The coil burns out and gets damaged more quickly if it uses more power to operate. You will find that the lower wattage will allow your coil to last much longer than the high one.
3. The Quality of E-Liquid
The e-liquid that you choose to vape can have a significant impact on the lifespan of your vape coil. You should buy e-juice from reputable brands that use high-quality ingredients.
Vape oils that contain a lot of additives and sweeteners can leave a larger amount of residue on a coil, causing it to burn out and become less effective quickly.
On the other hand, choosing a high-quality e-juice can be more expensive short term, but will save you money in the long run because you won’t need to replace the coil as often.
The density of e-liquid plays a role as well, no matter the brand or ingredients. Some e-juices may be too dense or too thin for a certain coil, so always read the manufacturer’s guidelines before you choose the brand and the flavor of the e-liquid you will use for your vape pen.
4. The Quality of Vape Coil
Of course, the quality of the vape coil itself plays a role too. Coils are made of different materials, and some of them are more likely to last longer. Some of the best coil materials are ceramic, stainless steel, and mesh.
Ceramic coils are durable because of this material’s high resistance to heat. This allows a coil to avoid damage from high temperatures for longer, increasing its lifespan.
Stainless steel is a strong material highly resistant to corrosion. This means that a stainless steel coil will not break down as easily, allowing you to use it for longer.
Mesh coils are among vapers’ most popular choices. A mesh coil is made of metal with holes in it. It is a bit wider and bigger than traditional coils so it spreads the heat more evenly, leading to less damage to the area and a longer lifespan.
5. Proper Maintenance
Like with all other parts of a vape pen, you need to regularly maintain the vape coil as well. If you take care of it properly, you will be able to use it for longer.
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coilmagicians
How To Maintain a Vape Coil
Let’s talk about the things you can do to maintain your vape coil and help it last longer. You can find the specific guidelines for your device in the manufacturer’s instructions, but these are some general pieces of advice that can help you get an idea of what you should do.
1. Clean the Coil Regularly
You should clean your vape pen’s coil at least every two weeks but it would be most optimal to do it weekly. Cleaning the coil implies getting rid of e-juice residue on it, which in turn increases its lifespan and the quality at which it operates.
The process is easy and you will need a couple of hours to do it. You can find the detailed steps to cleaning your coil here.
2. Avoid Dry Hits
If you have been vaping for a while, you have surely felt what is called a dry hit – an uncomfortable puff that tastes like burnt cotton.
This happens when there is not enough e-liquid in the tank for the wick to transfer to the coil. When it occurs, the coil overheats, so when it happens often, the coil can degrade and get damaged.
Therefore, avoid dry hits and always check if you have enough oil in the tank before taking a hit.
3. Prime the Coil Before Use
Speaking about dry hits, don’t forget to prime the coil before using your vape pen. The simplest way to do this is to wait for around ten minutes when you fill the tank with oil before taking the first puff. This prevents dry hits and saves the coil from damage.
4. Gradually Increase Wattage
If your vape pen has an option of adjusting the wattage settings and you want to vape on high wattage, make sure to gradually increase the power and not use the highest option right away. This will allow the coil to get used to higher temperatures more easily, prolonging its lifespan.
When Do You Need To Change a Vape Coil?
No matter how well you maintain and take care of the coil in your vape pen, there will come a time when you will need to replace it. A coil is a small piece of metal that gets hot whenever you take a hit, so wear and tear is inevitable sooner or later.
Here are some signs that tell you that you need to replace your coil.
1. Bad Taste
A burnt taste is most commonly a sign of a burnt-out coil. It is unpleasant and it can irritate your throat, along with other health dangers it may pose as it can release harmful chemicals into your lungs. When you start noticing this, replace your coil as soon as possible.
Bad taste can also occur if you change the brand and flavor of your e-juice frequently. The different flavors and consistencies can accumulate on the coil and produce an unpleasant flavor. You can try to solve this by cleaning the coil, but if that doesn’t help, replace it.
2. Decreased Vapor Production
As a vape coil gradually wears off, it loses its full potential of reaching high temperatures. Consequently, it doesn’t properly heat e-liquid and produces less vapor than usual. If you notice this happening often, it is time to replace the coil in your vape pen.
3. Leaking
If your vape coil is damaged it may have some cracks or gaps. This can cause the oil to start leaking, which is a definitive sign that you need to replace the coil.
When you notice leaking, it’s important to replace the coil not only because your vape pen isn’t functioning optimally, but also because the e-juice can come into contact with the heated coil and release toxic fumes into your lungs. Be careful and watch for any leaks.
Conclusion
Vape coils can last anywhere between several days to a couple of months. The factors that determine how long a coil can last include the frequency of use, the wattage of a pen, the quality of e-liquid and the coil itself, as well as how well you take care of the coil.
To prolong your vape coil’s lifespan, clean it regularly, avoid dry hits, prime the coil before use, and gradually increase the wattage at which your device operates.
You should replace the coil when you start noticing the bad taste, decreased vapor production, or leaking from your vape pen.
I hope that this helped you understand more about vape coils and their expected lifetime. Please let us know if you have any questions and we will try to help. In the meantime, enjoy vaping!
