Suleman Ayub

How long do vape atomizers/coils last? The life of a vape coil depends on a number of factors. First of all it is important to understand that an atomizer coil is a consumable (just like a spark plug or a light bulb), it needs to be periodically changed. If you are experiencing bad or burnt flavor or the coil is producing no vape at all, it is definitely time to either clean or change your vape coil. There are also several precautionary measures which can be used to significantly increase the lifespan of your atomizer coil. Just like a spare tire, it is advised to keep a new coil at hand, you never know when you might need one. Learn About Your Atomizer Coil Don’t get confused by the terminology, an atomizer coil is also referred to as vape coil, vape atomizer or just coil. The important aspect is to understand the working principal, which is fairly the same for any type of vape coil. Made up of a resistance wire, wound around organic cotton (a wicking media), an atomizer coil makes mist out of vape juice. The coil heats up, in turn heating the e-juice present in the cotton, vaporizing it. The vape coil is powered by an electrical source through cells or a battery. It is important to understand the significance of ohms in a vape coil. Coils with lower resistances (especially sub ohm coils) will require more power, will heat up more, provide increased amount of vapor and an intense flavor flow. Vice versa is also true, the choice depends upon your preferences. Factors Affecting the Life of Your Atomizer Coils In order to consider the lifespan of an atomizer, think of it as a light bulb (its filament coil is just like an atomizer coil), the more you use it the shorter it’s lifespan. No matter what design of atomizer you are using, the life of vape coil can drastically be improved. Overall, the lifespan of a vape coil is dependent on these factors: Frequency of use Power (Watts) at which you normally vape The composition of vape juice (The higher the VG %, the thicker the liquid and more difficult to be wicked) The acidity level of your e-juice, vape coils burns faster with more acidic liquids Unfortunately there is no indication light, that the coil is burnt out, but there are many signs when you should either change your vape coil or clean it: Decreased vapor production (due to chocking of cotton/presence of gunk) Burnt taste or poor flavor Hearing leaking or gurgling noises Cleaning the Atomizer Coil: Soak it in hot water or vodka. Soak your atomizer in hot water or vodka for about 15-30 minutes. Then take it out and let it dry. Make sure to dry it completely before using it again. Best to let it dry overnight. Draining the vape coil. In about once a week, take your atomizer coil out of your device and place it on a piece of napkin or a paper towel in an inverted position. This will allow all the liquid to be drained out of the vape coil. Let it rest for 24 hours, in order to thoroughly clean the vape coil. Make sure to give appropriate time for wicking before your first draw, since all of the liquid has been drained out. Extending the Life of Your Atomizer Coil 1. Keep the Voltage/Wattage Low The life of an atomizer coil can be drastically be improved by lowering the voltage at which you vape. The vapors produced and the flavor would be less rich, nonetheless it will definitely improve the atomizer coil life. 2. Vape Juice Choice As discussed earlier vape coil life is also depended on the vape juice choice. Try to use a low VG vape juice and always purchase from authentic stores. Never use knockoff cheap liquids with questionable ingredients. 3. Properly Breaking in a New Atomizer Coil for Longevity Whenever you are changing your oil vape coil with a new one, make sure of two things is essential to ensure that the coil is not burnt during first draws: Make sure that the wick thoroughly soaks up the vape juice. If the wick is dry the heat will burn it right away, rendering the coil useless. Ensure proper priming of the atomizer coil, take a few dry hits without firing the vape, and wait some time to ensure through absorption. Break in the coil. This implies to slowly increase the Voltage when using a new atomizer coil. It’s logical, and is just like buying a new car, during the initial mileage it is advised to drive at low speed. Similarly, gradually increase the voltage as you vape. 4. Avoid long continuous firing. Either make a habit of avoiding continuous long firing of the vape device, or use a protection system in your device. This would not only increase the life of the atomizer coil but also ensure that you don’t get any dry hits. 5. Waiting four to six seconds between hits. In order to absorb more e-juice and produce more vapor, your coil needs some time. It also ensures that the atomizer coil cools down. Firing too quickly would lead to dry hits and ultimately burn the vape coil. 6. Don’t fire your vape tank empty.  Even though it may seem that there is still e-juice present in the tank, but remember the lower the liquid gets, the more difficult it becomes for the coil to absorb it. Just make it a habit of refilling your tanks at quarter mark and you will thank me later on. Budget Friendly Advice If you still feel that the cost of atomizer coils is bearing heavy on your budget, it might be a better option to change your atomizer type. Re-buildable atomizers (RBA) would require some effort and time to re-build or re-wick the coil but it would be an economical choice.