You’ve probably heard that rice helps if your smartphone falls in water. (Pro tip: it doesn’t!) But what happens if I dropped my vape in water? Well, it depends on the type of vape and how long it stayed submerged. Let’s troubleshoot some helpful tips and effective resolutions.

Based on the kind of vape you sent swimming, you might seek substitute parts to mix and match. Or you may have to toss the whole thing and start fresh. Let’s take a deep dive for some recovery ideas when your vape takes the plunge. A rescue mission might be possible!

Why Water is Bad for Vapes

When we talk about vaping, we describe the fumes as smoke or vapor. In reality, they’re aerosols, since their particles are larger than steamy atoms. Also, most vapes have oil-based e-juice, which doesn’t evaporate in the same way that water vapor (aka steam) does. For the record though, some newer e-liquids have water infusions like the AQ30 from Aquios Labs.

The part of the vape that suffers most if you drop it in water is the battery. They’re lithium-ion batteries so when they’re exposed to water, they can short-circuit, catch fire, corrode, or even explode. The purpose of the battery in a vape is to heat the coil which turns the e-liquid into aerosols. That said, rusted coils, infested wicks, and contaminated e-juice can be issues.

Vapes can be structured as disposables, refillables, and re-buildables. These react differently when they fall into water. But in all three cases, if the vape only stayed in the water for a little while, the damage probably isn’t too bad. But this is an unlikely response because vapes have so many openings where water can seep into them. And never charge them while they’re wet!

How Style Influences Function

Disposable vapes usually comprise a plastic case with a mouthpiece at the top and air holes at the bottom. Inside the case, there’s a lithium-ion battery, a fabric wick, and a spiral coil. The wick is saturated with e-juice. The vape dies when the wick dries or the battery is used up. Some disposable vapes are rechargeable so you can extract more power and longer usage.

The case on a disposable vape is light, thin, and rarely waterproof. But other types of vapes are better at withstanding moisture penetration. Vape pens have elongated silhouettes and resemble fancy pens. They’re often metallic so the battery is better protected. As for refillable vapes, these can be pens or disposables. Most have a cartridge that you can replace at will.

Then comes the vape mod. It has several components including a tank full of e-juice, a coil that you can build or buy, and an atomizer, clearomizer, or cartomizer depending on the brand. With these vape mods, you can mix and match various parts, build your own coil, or drip e-liquid directly into the wick. The battery is housed in a metal, glass, or ceramic casing.

If you feel confused, an atomizer is the most basic unit on a vape mod. It usually has a coil and a wick in a sealed metal case. A clearomizer is see-through and combines a tube-like tank with a coil and wick that are both replaceable. Lastly, a cartomizer is a sealed cylindrical cartridge with no replaceable portions. When it’s empty, you just trash it and get a new one.

What If I Dropped My Vape Mod in Water?

A mechanical vape mod is sometimes called an RTA or an RDA. The Re-buildable Tank Atomiser – or RTA – is a vape with a detachable tank that you refill with e-liquid. But a Re-buildable Drip Atomiser (RDA) has a wick that you manually saturate with e-juice. In both these vape mods, the atomizer and tank are separated from the battery via sturdy housing.

These vapes can survive submersion better because the moisture might not make it through the casing. So if your RTA, RDA, or RDTA (a combination of the two) falls into water or gets rained on, dry it as quickly as possible. Separate the parts of the vape and lay them out in a warm place, preferably in direct sunlight. Blot the parts with a lint-free cloth or paper towel.

Tips: Some people suggest using a hairdryer or fan, but this could overheat the battery. Air-drying is the safest option. But this only works if your battery is removable. That way, you can take it out of the case, manually inspect it for signs of moisture, and wipe off any damp spots. But if your vape has a sealed battery box, take it to the vape store. They have the tools to open it.

Getting Water Out of Vape Tanks and Coils

While your battery faces the most danger from water, your vape can be damaged by wet coils and tanks as well. Mixing water into your e-fluid can dilute it, making it taste bad when you inhale. It can also cause blockages or react chemically with the oils to form unwanted by-products. Plus, water within the coil will reduce saturation levels and can result in dry hits.

The wick will heat up unevenly, and since the water evaporates faster than the oil, the steam (which, ironically, is true vapor) could burn you when you inhale! So if you drop the vape in water, take it out as soon as possible. Dismantle it, replace the wick, and drain the compromised e-juice from the tank. You have to pour everything out since it’s probably mixed with water.

Solution:

Wipe the tank with a dry cloth, then with paper towels soaked in vodka or isopropyl alcohol. Use warm water to rinse the tank and dry it completely to extract any traces of water. Check and soak the coils in the same cleansing fluid (vodka or rubbing alcohol). After an hour or two, rinse the coils and wipe them dry. Wait thirty minutes before you put it back together.

What Happens If I Dropped My E-Cigarette in Water?

An e-cigarette or cigalike is a cylindrical vape. It looks like a narrow tube and some are even styled to mimic cigarettes, complete with the colored filter section at the bottom. Cigalikes usually have two tubes screwed together. The top part is the cartomizer, a cartridge loaded with e-juice, wicking material, and a coil. The bottom half holds the lithium-ion vape battery.

On some brands, the ‘filter’ is the e-fluid cartridge itself, and it attaches to the top of the case holding the battery. These battery cases are solid, so unless the vape stays underwater for an extended time, the innards are probably dry. But you should still pull it out of the water as fast as you can. Separate the two cylinders and blot them dry to remove surface moisture.

Lay the two parts in a well-ventilated spot with absorbent cloth or paper towels underneath to catch any residual water. Wait at least an hour before you assemble, charge, or smoke the cigalike. As an aside, some disposable vapes have a cartridge-like device called a pod that is clipped onto the plastic case that carries the battery. They’re not as water resistant as e-cigs.

But if you’re using a tougher cartomizer and it refuses to ignite when you inhale, the battery is probably kaput. Some cartomizers have a viewing glass to show how much e-juice is left. If there’s still a good amount, you can take your cartomizer to the vape store for reference. The staff can recommend a compatible battery that you can attach to the bottom of your cigalike.

What Happens When My Disposable Vape Gets Wet?

With vape mods, you can dismantle the vape, clean it, and reassemble it. And if the wicks, coils, or batteries are too far gone, you can replace them with new ones. But what happens if I dropped my disposable vape in water? It might get wet if someone splashes you with water or if you get caught in the rain. Or maybe it fell into the toilet, bathtub, sink, or wash bucket.

Sometimes, your vape might end up in the washing machine if you forget to take it out of your clothes. Or maybe someone pushed you into the swimming pool or doused you with water while your vape was in your pocket. In all these situations, the vape stayed wet for a prolonged period so it’s unlikely to be salvageable. Take it off your body as soon as possible.

This is because the vape might burn up, explode, or catch fire, and you don’t want to injure yourself in the process. Even if the battery stays dry, water might seep into the wick and contaminate the e-liquid. Or the coil could rust and burn inefficiently, mixing toxic fumes into your aerosol. Corrosion can even block the terminal between the battery and the coil.

This could prevent power from reaching the coil and warming the wick. And if you do heat the wick, it may release steam instead of aerosol and scald you! Avoid the drama by keeping the drip tip and end cap on your disposable. Most people throw them away as soon as they open the box, but these simple sealers can reduce the chances of water getting into the vape.

How to Survive After a Drowned Vape

It can be pretty distressing when your vape falls into water and can’t be recovered. Especially if it was a pricy vape mod, or if you were sentimentally attached to it. Try filling the gap with a rechargeable Katana or Jack’s Flask vape. They boast 10,000 and 9,000 puffs respectively.

This will give you plenty of time to save up for new equipment. Pick a comforting flavor like Grape Ice. It’s like breathing a fresh glass of soothing wine into your lungs. And since they’re so pocket-friendly, you might decide to stick with them. It’s smarter than investing in mods.

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