Just like any piece of machinery, your vape will sometimes need a little maintenance! As vapers, it’s important to know the basics of keeping our kit at its best, whether it’s diagnosing issues with taste, cloud production or power, or knowing when to replace parts of the hardware. The coil is one of the most important elements of an e-cigarette and it’s vital that you perform regular checks and changeovers to enjoy a satisfying vape experience. 

What is a vape coil?

The coil is responsible for heating up your e-liquid and creating that all-important vapour. It consists of a wire (or sometimes mesh) as well as wicking material. 

There are plenty of indicators that let you know when it’s time to change your e-cig coil but the frequency of when you do it really depends on the device. In this blog, our vaping experts are going to talk you through some of the most common signs that your vape needs changing. 

1. Your vape is making a bubbling/gurgling sound

If your vape is starting to make a hollow bubbling sound, it’s screaming out for a coil change. An old coil that has been used for a long period of time can cause flooding, gurgling and spit-back if it is not replaced.

2. Your vape tastes burnt

If you’re vaping a dead coil, chances are you will know about it. That horrid burning taste is usually down to a coil that needs replacing and if you’re getting a burnt taste, you should aim to change it ASAP. Sometimes, you can get away with simply cleaning the coil, however, this will only buy you a short amount of time. 

3. You can’t taste your e-liquid

Chances are you have a favourite e-liquid and you know exactly how it should taste. Whether you’re all about the fresh menthol hit, or you prefer your vape straight out of the sweet shop, you will instantly know when something isn’t right. A loss of flavour is another indication of a worn-out coil, so once you start to lose the consistent flavour, it’s time to replace the coil. 

4. You’re not producing any clouds

Whether you’re a cloud chaser or not, the vapour produced by your device is a key indicator as to whether it’s working properly. If you start to notice that your vape isn’t producing as much as it used to, chances are the coil has reached its endpoint. We do recommend checking battery power before you do replace the coil as this can also impact vapour production. 

How to change your coil

Changing an e-cigarette coil is easy as long as you’re careful with your device. Here’s our stop by step guide to changing the coil in (most) vaping devices. 

1. Take your vape apart

This isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Although every vape device is different, you typically need to unscrew the tank from the bottom of the vape. 

2. Empty the tank

You should always change your coil when your tank is empty, mainly to avoid your e-liquid going everywhere! If you have vape juice left in your tank, pour the remainder straight into the bin or to be extra careful, into a small bag of something absorbent (like cat litter).

3. Pre-soak the new coil

Vaping a dry coil isn’t nice, so it’s important to pre-soak the wicking material of your new coil before you use it. To do this, add around 10 drops of your chosen e-liquid to the coil and leave to saturate. 

4. Add the new coil

Unscrew the old soil from the bottom of the device and discard it properly. Screw in the new coil and reassemble your vape device. Fill up the full tank with your chosen e-liquid and wait around 5-10 minutes to ensure that the new coil is fully saturated.

Looking for a new coil for your vape device? At UK Vape Supply, we stock a wide range of hardware to suit leading e-cigarettes. Check out our full coil range including Aspire Coils, Smok Coils, Freemax Coils and Innokin Coils today.