KEY POINTS
- A burnt taste in vaping happens when the wick burns, coil gunk builds up, or power settings are incorrect.
Fix this by replacing the coil, cleaning it, or adjusting the power settings.
- Prevent a burnt taste by priming new coils properly, using the right e-liquid for your device, and keeping the tank refilled to avoid dry hits.
- Chain vaping causes a burnt taste because the wick does not saturate fast enough. Avoid this by taking longer, less frequent puffs and preventing coil overheating.
Why does my vape taste burnt?
A burnt taste in vaping usually comes from three main issues: burnt wicks, coil gunk, or incorrect power settings.
These problems can ruin your vaping experience but are easy to fix with the right approach.
This article is about traditional vapes. We do feature the best disposable vape tips as well.
Burnt wicks
The wick is part of your coil, and its job is to soak up the e-liquid from your tank and feed it to the coil.
However, when the wick dries out, it can overheat, causing the cotton wick to burn – the most common contributor to a burnt taste in vapes, often referred to as a burnt hit.
This often happens when the wick doesn’t get enough e-liquid, leading to a “dry hit”.
This can cause noxious fumes and potentially damage the coil’s cotton wick.
How to fix it?
You can either change the coil, or remove the coil and wick and give them a soak in warm water, followed by a plunge into ice water to dislodge any burnt particles.
Coil Gunk
Coil gunk is a residue that builds up on your coil over time, particularly when you use sweetened e-liquids.
This creates a layer of gunk on your coil, which, over time, thickens, darkens, and eventually burns, giving you a distinctly burnt taste.
Sweeter e-liquids like dessert and candy flavors can gunk up your coils faster than clearer fruit flavors.
If you notice a visible residue build-up on the wick and wire inside your coil, its probably coil gunk that’s causing the burnt taste.
Power Settings
If your vape pen power is set too high, it can strain the coils, leading to premature burnout and, you guessed it, a burnt taste.
A high power or higher wattage setting can vaporize e-liquid too quickly, leading to wick burning and resulting burnt hits.
How to fix it?
Balance the power to find the best level for your disposable vape coil.
By reducing the power for higher resistance coils and increasing it for lower resistance ones, you can prevent the dreaded burnt hit.
Also adjust the airflow setting. This can prevent the coil from overheating and burning out at high temperatures.
How To Prevent Burnt Taste in vapes
Below are some easy ways to prevent the burnt taste from vapes.
Prime the coil
Prime your coil by adding some drops of e-liquid directly to the top and sides of a new coil. This helps to prevent burnt hits and prolongs your coil’s lifespan.
After priming, take a few dry hits (inhaling without activating the fire button) to help draw the e-liquid into the wick.
Give your new coil some time to become fully saturated with e-liquid after priming.
How To Prevent Burnt Taste in Disposable vapes
Below are some easy ways to prevent the burnt taste from disposable vapes.
- Give the device a gentle shake. This can help ensure that the wick is properly saturated, leading to more consistent hits and avoiding that dreaded burnt taste.
- Always opt for high-quality disposable vape brands.
- Be careful and make sure that the puff count of the device is accurately represented.
- If your disposable vape consistently delivers a burnt taste, it might be faulty, and replacing the device could be the best solution.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my vape taste burnt?
Your vape tastes burnt because of:
- Burnt wick
- Incorrect power settings and
- Gunk buildup from sweetened e-liquids
Can disposable vapes taste burnt?
Yes they can. This happens if they run out of e-liquid usually or overheating.
How to prevent burnt taste in Vape?
- Prime your coil well
- Refill your vape tank
- Select the right E-liquid
