Disposable devices are a dime a dozen in the world of vaping. For the most part, when you buy a disposable vape, you can expect to draw some vapor the moment you hit the mouthpiece. Sometimes, it doesn’t work out that way.
Before you toss out that vape pen, you may want to read our guide to troubleshoot it. Sometimes, it’s more salvageable than you think.
How to troubleshoot a vape pen that won’t hit
Credit: thekindpen
We’re going to name the most common causes (and fixes) of a vape pen that won’t hit or draw.
1. A Vape That Isn’t Turned On
Most vape pens that are made to be disposable are simple to use. They can get activated by just inhaling on the pen. Not all of them are going to do this, though. Sometimes, you may need to turn them on.
Check the instructions on the side of the cartridge or vape box. Do you need to press a button first? If so, problem solved.
2. A Clogged Mouthpiece (Or Vape End)
In order for a vape to be able to hit, you will need to have airflow that goes from the mouthpiece all the way to the tip of the vape. If you don’t have airflow, you won’t be able to inhale from your vape.
This is a simple fix. First, make sure the end of the vape doesn’t have a removable rubber stopper on it. If there is a cap on the end of the vape, remove the cap. Then, check the mouthpiece to make sure there is nothing clogging it.
If you notice a clog, try to remove whatever’s in the way of the mouthpiece with a toothpick , tweezers, or a needle. You should be able to get debris out fairly easily that way. Oh, and dust off the airflow holes at the tip of the vape with a paper towel or cotton pad.
3. A Dead Battery
Dead batteries can happen to disposable vapes, too. Whether or not this is fixable depends on the design of the battery itself. If your vape comes with a charger, charge your vape until you see a light blinking or a full battery indicator, then take a few puffs. It could be out of juice.
Sometimes, a vape will be too old or will have a malfunction in its built-in battery. If this is the case and the battery is not rechargeable, you’re out of luck. You will need to buy a brand new disposable vape.
4. Low (Or Leaking) E-Liquid
Admittedly, this can be hard to check with most models. If your disposable pen used to hit but suddenly doesn’t, think back to the last couple of puffs. If the puffs tasted burned, then you probably had bad vape juice or ended up running out of juice altogether.
If you noticed some juice leaking out of the side of the vape, then your cartridge leaked. Unfortunately, that means your vape is totally busted.
Finally, in some cases, you may be able to remove the mouthpiece of the vape. If you can, check the wad of cotton near the tip. If the cotton is dry, you probably ran out of vape juice or the vape juice was improperly loaded. This, too, means you have a dead vape.
5. Overuse
Yes, it’s true. You can be the person who overuses a vape to the point that the vape needs a break. If you’ve been puffing on it a lot, especially in rapid succession, you may actually be wearing out the battery, wicking device, or more.
Think about how your vape has been hitting. If your vape suddenly has seriously weak hits, then it could be that your vape was just a bit too heavily used. This is one of the more common reasons for a full vape that just happens to taste acrid.
Thankfully, this is a pretty easy fix.
To fix this, just place the vape down and wait for 10 to 20 minutes. Then, try the vape again to see if it started to pull a bit more. If it’s doing better, then you just need to space out your inhales a little bit more.
PRO TIP – Check to see if your vape’s battery feels unusually warm. This is often a sign that you are overworking the disposable battery and need to give it a rest. In warmer climates, you will also have too space out your inhales more.
6. Air Bubbles In The Cart
Another common reason for a vape to be unable to hit deals with the positioning of your vape. Sometimes, air bubbles will pop up in the cart if you leave it on its side. This can make it hard for your device’s intake vents to work and can interrupt the flow of your vape juice.
Thankfully, there are some fairly simple methods that you can use to get your vape juice flowing again. The easiest thing you can do is gently tap, shake and swirl the vape pen around like you would a magic wand.
In a lot of cases, just a quick shake is enough to get things flowing again. You may need to take a couple of inhales before you actually get the vapor you want, but it will eventually work out well.
7. Overheating
Most disposable vapes have some kind of overheating prevention built into a key area of their machine. This is good, considering the high heat that goes through a typical vaporizer. It’s there to prevent things from (literally) blowing up in your face.
If you left your vape in a hot car or felt your vape getting unusually hot, only to have it not pull anymore, your vape could have overheated. The safety system probably shut it down before things could get ugly.
A good fix for this is to bring it out of the heat and let it cool down. Then, check to see if it can pull now. In some cases, it may just need a cooldown. In other cases, the vape may already be too fried to do much.
8. Frozen E-Liquid
Credit: litvapepens
On the other side of the spectrum is a case when you leave e-liquid or vape juice out in the freezing cold. Though it is unlikely that your liquid will be fully frozen, extremely low temperatures can cause condensation and may also make it hard for the liquid to travel.
Warming up the vape, giving it a quick (but gentle) shake, and also giving it a couple of extra puffs can help make it work again. This can serve as a good lesson to learn if you live in a cold climate: vapes and cold do not mix!
9. Take Apart The Vape
Sometimes, the disposable vape you have may have a problem inside the mechanics. If you are willing to risk not smoking it again and have a knack for fixing things on your own, you can take it apart and try to figure out what’s wrong.
We do not suggest this as this can lead to risks with the vape’s integrity and safety. However, some people still try to do this from time to time. It’s an “attempt at your own risk type of deal”.
Should you return the vape and ask for a refund?
If you have tried almost everything on this list (aside from taking apart the vape) without any success, there probably isn’t much of anything that you can do to make things better. Disposable vapes are not made to last, after all.
Dud vapes do happen, even for major brands like Cake. If you feel you have gotten a dud vape and recently purchased it, go back to the store with your receipt and explain what happened. The store will likely give you a refund or an exchange.
What should you do if the store refused to give you a refund for a bad vape?
While most stores do try to do their best, there are some that can not offer refunds or returns for one reason or another. Maybe it’s because other clients abused the system. Maybe it’s because the store is already thin on cash. Either way, don’t argue with the clerk.
Instead, you may want to message the company that makes the disposable vape directly and show proof of purchase. Many companies make a point of cultivating a solid reputation among buyers, so they may be willing to give you a replacement or a coupon instead.
In conclusion…
A disposable’s failure is just part of life as a vape enthusiast. Thankfully, there are tons of quick fixes that you can use to make sure that you get the most out of your vape’s lifespan. If those don’t work, that’s okay.
Most vape companies are happy to replace a dud vape as long as you explain the situation. That’s why they’re well-liked.
