Modern vapes are built to be convenient, easy to use, reliable and extremely safe, but despite this, things can still occasionally go wrong.

One example is when vapes start to do what’s known as auto-firing, and to give you all the information you need about this topic, in this post, we answer the question, why does my vape keep hitting after I stop?

What is Vape Auto-firing?

Let’s start at the beginning so we all know what we’re talking about.

Vapes are designed to deliver vapor when you take a puff, and this can be activated either by pressing a button or simply when you take a drag – but when you’re not taking a puff, nothing should happen.

However, sometimes, if a vape is defective, it may deliver vapor even when you’re not taking a puff, causing it to “go off” in your hand, in your pocket or even in a drawer or other place where you store it – and obviously, this is not ideal.

When this happens, it is called auto-firing, and back in the early days of vaping, it was a relatively common phenomenon due to the fact that the technology involved was in its infancy and quite unsophisticated.

Nowadays, modern vapes have come a long way, and the technology has advanced a lot, so thankfully, auto-firing is a much less common issue.

That said, it can still happen in certain circumstances, so now let’s move on to questions like what causes a vape to auto-fire and what you can do about it.

What Causes A Vape From Auto-firing?

There are several reasons vapes auto-fire, and although modern vapes are designed to minimize the risk, it can still occur. Here are some of the most common causes:

1. Dust or dirt inside the vape

If your vape gets dust or dirt inside it, this can create a faulty connection or other malfunction in the vape, which can lead to a range of problems including, sometimes, auto-firing.

2. Residue or condensation

Similarly, if a buildup of vape residue occurs inside the vape, this can also cause faulty connections and other problems, which may also result in auto-firing.

The same may happen because of a buildup of condensation from vape juice. Vapes should be constructed to minimize this possibility, so if it happens, it’s an indication that you also have another problem with another component in your vape.

3. A faulty connection between the pod and the mouthpiece

Dust, dirt, residue or condensation may all create faulty connections, but faulty connections may also occur for other reasons such as damage – and any kind of faulty connection can potentially lead to auto-firing.

4. Damage

Another possible cause of auto-firing is damage to the vape in general. For example, if you drop it and a component becomes damaged, this may result in an auto-firing vape.

5. Worn out coil

If the coil is old and worn out, this may also be the culprit you’re looking for.

6. A faulty chip

When you take a puff from your vape, it is controlled by a chip, and if this chip is faulty or becomes damaged, it can cause erratic behavior in your vape – which may include auto-firing.

7. Extreme heat or cold

Exposing a vape to extreme heat – for example, leaving it in direct sunlight in hot weather – may cause it to auto-fire.

The same could also potentially occur in extreme low temperatures, but this is perhaps less likely.

8. Poor construction

Although the quality of most modern vapes is very high, unfortunately, there are still some manufacturers out there producing sub-standard products.

This means if you buy a low-quality product that has been poorly designed or put together – or even a counterfeit – you may still find it auto-fires.

Which type of vapes are most likely to auto-fire?

Although in theory, any kind of vape may auto-fire, certain types are more prone to this issue than others.

Generally speaking, modern mod vapes are the least likely to experience this problem simply because these are the most expensive and high-quality devices, and the technology has advanced to the point where this issue has been minimized.

Another reason these vapes are unlikely to auto-fire is because they usually require you to hold down a button to activate the vape mechanism. If you don’t press the button, they don’t produce vapor, so it’s hard for them to auto-fire unless a major problem occurs.

However, modern pod vapes are more prone to auto-firing since they tend to use a system that activates when you take a puff. There’s no button to press, and this system, although arguably more convenient, is more susceptible to malfunctions.

Most high-quality disposable vapes, on the other hand, don’t usually suffer from this issue.

This is because, although they use an automatic activation system that releases vapor when you take a puff without the need to press a button, they are usually emptied and discarded before problems have time to develop.

Having said that, some disposable vapes are designed to have much longer lives than regular disposable vapes.

However, if you choose a reliable model such as the Jack’s Flask 9000 from Spiritbar, a disposable vape of exceptional quality that can deliver up to 9,000 puffs before you need to replace it, the chances of any problems arising are vanishingly small.

Why is it bad if a vape auto-fires?

Although it’s clear that auto-firing vapes are not desirable, it’s worth making explicit the reasons why it’s not something you want to occur.

First, if a vape starts to auto-fire or produce vapor unpredictably, it could lead to the vapor becoming overheated, resulting in burns to your mouth or throat when you vape.

Auto-firing can also cause vapes to heat up, and if you are carrying one in your pocket, this could lead to you suffering burns to your leg.

Finally, auto-firing vapes may even catch fire or explode, and this could lead to serious burns if it happens while you are carrying it – and it might cause a fire if it happens while a vape is left unattended on a table or in a drawer.

How to Stop a Vape from Auto Firing?

As we’ve seen, the chances of a modern vape auto-firing are low – but if it does happen, what can you do about it?

The first thing you need to do is turn it off and disconnect it from any power sources. Then, after you’ve let it cool down completely, you can inspect it to see if you can identify the problem.

Check inside to see if there is any dirt, dust, residue, leaking fluid, condensation or any other obvious causes for the problem. If this seems to be the root of the issue, simply cleaning the vape may resolve it.

Next, check the coil and see if it needs replacing. This is another obvious quick fix if you find the coil looks past its best.

After this, check the connection to see if there are any issues there. Depending on what you find, this could be something you can resolve yourself – or you may need to take it to a vape shop to have a professional take a look at it.

If it was auto-firing after being left in the sun, let it cool down and then carefully try it again. Proceed with caution, but it may return to normal functionality as it returns to a more normal operating temperature.

If you can’t find an obvious problem, it may be due to a faulty chip or some other issue, in which case you’ll need to ask a professional to help you.

How about disposable Vape Auto-firing?

If you have an auto-firing disposable, on the other hand, there’s little you can do since they are not designed to be taken apart, so you won’t be able to fix it.

In this case, all you can do is dispose of it and buy another one.

How to prevent vapes from auto-firing in the first place?

Although auto-firing vapes are now increasingly uncommon, it’s a problem that can still occur, so you’ll want to do everything you can to prevent it from happening.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you keep your vape clean and fully maintained. Regularly inspect it for buildups of dust or grime, and make sure you don’t allow any residue deposits to form inside your vape.

If you see residue forming, make sure you clean it off as soon as possible.

Treat your vape with care and try not to drop it. Some vapes are built to be especially rugged and durable, but even then, you should avoid throwing them down onto tables or into drawers just as you would with your smartphone or any other electrical device.

Finally avoid leaving your vape out in direct sunlight or using it in extreme temperatures since, as we’ve seen, this can also be a reason a vape begins to auto-fire.

A thankfully uncommon issue with modern vapes

Auto-firing is now thankfully an uncommon issue, and most people won’t ever have to worry about it.

However, if your vape does develop this issue, with the details in this post, you should now be able to work out why it’s happening and what you can do about it.

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