SOMMAIRE
Let's talk about that dreaded 'dry hit', that unpleasant burnt taste you've probably already experienced. That little problem that leaves you with a burnt taste in your throat and a strong desire to cough. Spoiler alert, your resistance is to blame for this phenomenon. In this guide, we'll look at why a burnt taste can occur with your electronic cigarette and, above all, what you can do to avoid this unpleasant experience. Warning: if you vape and experience this burning sensation or "dry hit", we advise you to stop immediately. You haven't stopped smoking conventional cigarettes and their harmful effects to inhale burnt cotton vapours. It is essential to change your coil before resuming your vape session.
A used coil or one at the end of its life
The coil is one of the vital parts of your e-cig, consisting of a resistive wire containing cotton which is heated to generate vapour. You need to pay particular attention to your coil to get the best possible vaping experience.
There are several signs that your coil has a problem:
- The taste of your e-liquid is starting to differ from usual
- You feel a drop in vapour volume
- You experience seepage caused by the deterioration of your cotton, which then lets liquid through.
- The ultimate sign: you feel a burning taste when you inhale.
As a reminder, a coil is a consumable that, depending on how you use it, your kit and the e-liquids you use, will have a lifespan of approximately 2 to 3 weeks.
To find out more about resistors, take a look at our guide ‘What is a coil and how to choose one’.
E-liquid level in the tank too low
The level of e-liquid in the tank of your e-cigarette is an important point to check each time you vape. Whether you're using a clearomiser or an atomiser, if your e-liquid level is too low, your coil will no longer be in contact with your liquid, so it won't be sufficiently soaked, resulting in damage to your equipment. You'll experience a burnt taste that can go as far as a "dry hit" and a completely dry cotton pad.
If you're lucky, your coil hasn't burnt out yet and you'll be able to refill with e-liquid. If not, you'll need to change your coil.
Poorly primed coil
When changing your coil, it's essential to prime it. By priming, we mean putting a few drops of e-liquid on the visible areas of your coil. As your coil is dry to begin with, this will allow your cotton to be soaked by capillary action right to the heart of the coil. In addition, we strongly recommend waiting about ten minutes after changing your coil so that it is perfectly ready for use.
Failure to prime or wait could result in the immediate deterioration of your cotton by burning it, as it will not have had time to be impregnated. In this case, you will have no choice but to change your coil again.
The PG/VG ratio of your e-liquid is unsuitable
Your choice of eliquid can also play a part in the durability of your coil. As you'll find on all our product sheets, each coil has a recommended Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerine content according to its ohmage. This PG/VG level must be strictly adhered to if you don't want your e-cig to leak or taste burnt very quickly.
For example, an eliquid containing a high concentration of vegetable glycerine will be thicker and more suitable for low ohm coils. Using a kit that uses MTL coils close to 1 ohm risks giving your vape a burnt taste through deterioration of your coil. As the cotton can't absorb the eliquid quickly enough, it will be burnt.
For greater simplicity, you can opt for 50/50 PG/VG e-liquids, which are compatible with nearly 80% of the coils available on the market.
For more information on this subject, see our guide ‘Choosing the right PG/VG ratio’.
Incorrect wattage setting on your mod
You will find a recommended power range (expressed in watts) on your coils and on our website. This is not to be taken lightly, as the coils are designed and tested for optimum use according to this technical data.
Using the wrong setting for your battery can result in a burning taste with your electronic cigarette. As the coil is not designed to operate at this wattage, there is a risk of burning your cotton wick once again due to excessive heat generation.
Even though, fortunately, recent electronic cigarettes have chipsets (internal software) that enable this adjustment to be made automatically, we still advise you to take a look at your settings regularly.
Chain vaping" (too many cokes)
Vaping will require you to change your habits from when you smoked conventional tobacco cigarettes. During your vaping sessions, you may find that you chain your puffs together at a frenetic pace. This is known as "chain vaping".
Chain vaping in this way can cause your coil to overheat by not allowing it to cool down, resulting in a burnt taste and the deterioration of your cotton. So it's important to take your time and let your coil cool down to avoid Dry Hit.
You don't need to wait 5 minutes, just take the time to breathe between your puffs 🙂.
If you're a chain vaper in spite of yourself, it's quite possible that you have a problem with the nicotine level you're using. Your nicotine level may not be right and so you're vaping more, without being able to satisfy your craving. In this case, it's advisable to increase your nicotine level to find the right balance. To help you in your search, please consult our guide on how to choose your eliquid or contact our customer service department directly.
Incorrect adjustment of your airflow
Incorrectly adjusting the airflow on your device can also lead to heating problems and a burning taste. By incorrect setting, we are mainly talking about an airflow that is completely or almost completely closed.
Sometimes, in your pocket or when you're carrying your electronic cigarette, you close the airflow of your vape to avoid any liquid leaks. You should therefore remember to open the airflow before vaping. If you leave it closed when you go to vape, the air won't be able to pass through your clearomiser and cool your coil. The immediate effect is guaranteed to be a burnt taste, because even if you have e-liquid, the wick of your cotton will be burnt by the excessive heat generated by your resistive wire.
Residue in your coil
Like all vapers, you carry your kit everywhere with you! Whether in your pocket, handbag or backpack, your e-cig is exposed to all kinds of dirt and residue. These residues are deposited on the cotton of your coil and when you vape, they become carbonised, causing a burnt taste.
Leaving your electronic cigarette stored for a long time without use can also clog your coil. It's exactly the same phenomenon as when you haven't dusted for a long time. Micro-particles will settle on your equipment. After a long period of non-use, we recommend changing your coil as well as your e-liquid.
We strongly advise you to store and transport your e-cigarette in a case or bag to avoid any problems.
In addition, regular maintenance of your equipment will improve your vaping experience and extend its lifespan. You can clean your clearomiser or atomiser with lukewarm water every time you change the coil - you don't need any special products. As well as cleaning the coil, this will remove a few drops of your old e-liquid.
Note that your coil, like your battery, cannot be cleaned.
Solutions to remember to avoid a burning taste with your electronic cigarette
- Change your coil every 1 to 2 weeks
- Remember to prime your coil the first time you use it
- Check that you haven't run out of e-liquid in your tank before vaping
- Use an e-liquid that is compatible with your coil in terms of vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol
- Respect the wattage ranges of your coil
- Adapt your nicotine level to your needs and remember to breathe to take breaks
- Remember to open your airflow as little as possible.
- Carry or store your vape properly
- Clean your device regularly
You are now ready to solve 99% of the problems associated with a burnt taste sensation with your e-cig. Even if it requires a minimum of vigilance, it's very easy to avoid this undesirable effect and enjoy the world of vape 100%!