How to maintain your vape: Top tips for taking care of your vape kit

Like all technology, e-cigarettes require a little bit of maintenance to keep them in good condition. If you’ve just invested in a brand new vape kit, you’ll want to make sure it lasts as long as possible. 

To help you out, we’ve put together our top tips for maintaining your vape device, including how to clean it and get the most out of your battery’s lifespan. Here’s everything you need to know about taking care of your vape kit. 

Keep your battery contacts clean

If your vape device has a removable pod or tank, you need to clean the contacts regularly. It’s easy for debris or vape juice to build up between the tank and the battery, which can cause it to stop recognising the connection. If your device isn’t firing properly or telling you that the coil can’t be detected, then this is the first thing you’ll want to check. 

The easiest way to do this is to take a clean cloth or a cotton bud and gently wipe away any excess e-liquid or dirt. Don’t press on the contacts, as this could cause damage. If your tank is prone to leaks, you’ll probably need to give everything a wipe down more regularly to keep it working properly. 

Don’t let your e-liquid run low

To help your coil last longer, make sure your e-liquid doesn’t run out. This will also help you avoid dry hits, which give you that horrible burnt taste. It’s best to keep your e-liquid topped up at least a third of the way full. 

You should also avoid overfilling your tank or pod, as this can cause leaks and flood the coil. If you have overfilled it, empty the tank a little and wipe away any excess vape juice before replacing it. If it’s spilled into the mouthpiece, rinse it clean and leave it to air dry if it’s removable, or flick it towards the floor a few times whilst the tank is empty if you can’t separate them. 

Clean your vape tank regularly

If you’re trying a new flavour or noticing a buildup of gunk in your tank, it’s time to give it a clean. If you’re using a pod system vape device, it’s best to just replace the pod with a new one, as trying to clean it will damage the coil inside. If you can remove your coil, it’s really easy to clean the tank. 

First, remove the tank from your vape device and separate it from the coil and mouthpiece if you can. If you can’t remove the mouthpiece then it’s fine to wash it with it attached. Empty out any remaining e-liquid and place everything except the coil into a bowl of warm water. To give it an extra clean you can add some dish soap. 

Leave it to soak for a little while before giving the tank and mouthpiece a scrub with something like a toothbrush. Once clean, wipe everything down with a clean cloth and leave it to air dry for as long as possible. If you have any water droplets inside when you reattach it, you might get some spitting and gurgling noises when you try to use it.

All that’s left to do is put everything back together, top up your e-liquid and you’re good to go!

Change your coil when needed

Unlike your tank, you can’t clean your coil to make it last longer. Once it’s burnt, you need to replace it with a new one. You’ll know it’s nearly time you start to notice your vape tasting a little bland or burnt and it won’t produce as much vapour as usual. 

If you have a pod system, like the VooPoo Vinci, all you need to do is replace the whole pod. If you’ve got a kit with a replaceable coil like the Aspire PockeX or Eleaf istick P100, then you just replace the coil. 

Simply take the old coil out of your tank and pop a new one in. To help your coil last longer, you’ll want to wick it first. Wicking is the process of dripping some e-liquid onto the cotton via the holes in your coil before you put it back in the tank. Once everything’s back together, refill your tank with e-liquid and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. 

Store your vape kit correctly

Storing your vape kit properly is essential if you want to keep it running as long as possible and preserve the battery. Don’t expose it to extremely hot or cold temperatures and keep it out of direct sunlight. Don’t leave your device or e-liquid in the car for long periods either. For extra protection, it’s a good idea to carry your vape kit in a case rather than throwing it in your bag or pocket, as this will help keep it clean. 

When it comes to e-liquid, you should store them in a cool dark place away from sunlight. There’ll also be an expiration date on the bottom to tell you when it’s time to throw them away. It’s usually around two years after it was manufactured, by which point the ingredients will have degraded to a point where it won’t taste great. Whilst it’s not advisable to vape out-of-date e-liquid, there’s currently no evidence to suggest it’s dangerous. 

Try to avoid letting the battery run out

Recharging your battery before it empties completely could help increase its lifespan, so once it reaches 20% it’s a good idea to plug it in. 

Nowadays, most devices have over-discharge and overcharge protection so you don’t need to worry too much. Despite this, you shouldn’t leave your vape unattended whilst it’s charging for long periods as, like with all technology, things can go wrong. 

Turn off your vape when you aren’t using it

To preserve battery life and stop your vape firing whilst it’s in your pocket or bag, it’s a good idea to turn it off whilst you aren’t using it. Not all devices allow you to do this, but if it does have this feature, you’ll be able to find out how to turn it off in the user manual. Most just require you to press the firing button several times. 

So, that’s everything you need to know about maintaining your vape kit! Want to learn more about safe vaping? Take a look at our ultimate guide to vaping. 

Keep your vape kit in top condition with our range of replacement coils and pods, or explore new flavours with our huge range of £1 10ml e-liquids and delicious shortfills. Remember, we offer free next day delivery on all orders over £15, so you’ll never be left waiting long for your new vape products to arrive from One Eliquids!