If you’ve ever taken a puff from your vape only to be met with a harsh, burnt taste, you know how frustrating it can be. Instead of the smooth, flavorful experience you expect, you’re left coughing and wondering what went wrong. The good news? You don’t have to endure that awful taste! Whether you’re using a refillable vape or a disposable one, there are simple steps you can take to fix (or avoid) the burnt taste and get back to enjoying your vape.
1. Check Your Vape Juice Levels
One of the most common reasons for a burnt taste is low vape juice. If your tank or pod runs dry, the coil won’t have enough liquid to vaporize, leading to dry hits that burn the wick inside the coil.
How to Fix It:
- Always check your e-liquid levels before vaping.
- Refill your tank or pod before it gets too low.
- If using a disposable vape, try leaving it upright for a while to help any remaining juice reach the coil.
2. Prime Your Coils Before Use
If you’ve just installed a new coil and it tastes burnt right away, it’s likely because the coil wasn’t primed properly. Priming means soaking the coil’s wick with e-liquid before you start vaping to prevent dry hits.
How to Prime Your Coil:
- Drip a few drops of e-liquid directly onto the cotton wick inside the coil.
- Let it sit for at least 5-10 minutes to absorb fully.
- Take a few puffs without pressing the fire button (called “dry puffs”) to draw the e-liquid deeper into the wick.
This small step can make a huge difference in preventing that burnt taste from happening in the first place!
3. Replace Your Coil or Pod
Coils have a lifespan, and even with proper priming, they will eventually burn out. If you notice a persistent burnt taste despite having enough juice, your coil might be at the end of its life.
Signs You Need a New Coil or Pod:
- Burnt or charred taste even with a full tank.
- Weak or muted flavors.
- Gurgling sounds or leaking.
How to Replace It:
For refillable vapes, remove the old coil and install a fresh one (don’t forget to prime it!).
For pod systems, swap out the pod if it’s non-refillable.
4. Adjust Your Wattage and Airflow
If your wattage is too high for your coil, it can overheat and burn the wick, leading to a nasty taste. Similarly, poor airflow can cause excessive heat buildup.
How to Fix It:
Check your device’s recommended wattage for your coil and adjust accordingly.
Start at the lower end of the recommended range and gradually increase as needed.
If your vape has adjustable airflow, open it up to allow better cooling and vapor production.
5. Choose the Right Vape Juice
The quality of your vape juice plays a huge role in preventing burnt hits. At Lit Vape Pens, we don’t use PG/VG-based e-liquids because they tend to be inconsistent, degrade coil performance, and contribute to faster burning. Instead, we focus on high-quality formulations that deliver pure, smooth, and flavorful hits without gunking up your coils.
However, if you’re using PG/VG-based juices, keep these points in mind:
High VG juices (70% VG or more): Thicker consistency, which may cause poor wicking in small coils, leading to dry hits and faster coil burnout.
Balanced juices (50/50 PG/VG): More fluid, making them a better option for most devices, but they still don’t offer the optimized performance and flavor purity that Lit’s formulations deliver.
Sweetened e-liquids: These may taste great initially but leave residue on your coil, shortening its lifespan and increasing the risk of burnt hits.
For the best vaping experience, superior flavor, and coil longevity, always choose premium-quality e-liquids designed to enhance performance—just like those at Lit.
6. Avoid Chain Vaping
Taking multiple puffs in rapid succession (chain vaping) doesn’t give your coil enough time to reabsorb e-liquid, leading to dry hits and burning.
Solution:
Take a few seconds between each puff to let the wick re-saturate.
If you feel the vape getting too hot, give it a break before hitting it again.
7. Maintain Your Vape Regularly
Proper vape maintenance can extend coil life and help prevent burnt hits.
Cleaning Your Vape:
Regularly rinse your tank with warm water to prevent residue buildup.
Clean the coil area and connections with a cotton swab or paper towel.
If using a rebuildable device, replace the cotton wick frequently.
8. Choose the Right Coil
Different coils have different longevity and performance. Mesh coils, for example, heat more evenly and last longer compared to standard wire coils.
Tips:
If you experience frequent burnt hits, try a mesh coil.
Use higher-resistance coils at lower wattages to extend coil life.
9. Use this Troubleshooting Guide
Experiencing a burnt taste? Here’s a quick checklist:
Is there enough e-liquid in your tank?
Did you prime your coil before use?
Is your wattage set too high?
Are you using a high-sugar vape juice?
Has your coil reached the end of its life?
If you answered yes to any of these, try the solutions above to fix your burnt taste!
Fixing a Burnt Disposable Vape
Since disposable vapes don’t allow coil replacements, your options are more limited. However, here are some tricks to try:
Let it rest upright: Sometimes, e-liquid settles unevenly. Letting it sit upright can help it flow back to the wick.
Take slow, light puffs: Inhaling too hard can overheat the coil.
Charge the battery: A low battery can cause inconsistent heating and burnt hits.
Tap or shake gently: Some users find that lightly tapping the device can help redistribute the liquid.
If none of these work, it’s likely time to replace your disposable vape.
Elevate Your Vaping Experience with Lit Vape Pens
A burnt vape taste can be a real buzzkill, but with the right techniques, you can fix it and even prevent it from happening in the first place. From keeping your vape juice topped up to priming your coils and adjusting settings, these small habits can make a huge difference in your vaping experience.
Looking for high-quality vapes that deliver smooth, flavorful hits every time? Check out Lit Vape Pens—designed for ultimate performance and reliability, so you never have to worry about a burnt taste ruining your session.
Happy vaping!
