A guide to help maintaining your vape kit. It also covers any main issues that could go wrong. It includes steps to help guide you through what you may need to maintain your kit, tank or mod.
Maintaining Replaceable Pods
The majority of vape kits currently for sale have replaceable pods. Here is an Guide to Maintaining Your Vape Kit and how to take care of replacement pods.
Working Out Which E-Liquids Are Compatible
The first step to working out which e-juices work is to work out the coil resistance used. You can find the resistance by reading the side of your pod / coil for a number, or if you have a mod device you can often find the resistance on the display screen. If you still aren’t sure, you are likely to find the answer to this question by a quick Google search or by asking at your local vape shop. Also, most pods or coils state somewhere on them which wattage to set your vape kit at.
E-Liquids For Sub Ohm Pods Maintaining Your Vape Kit
Generally speaking, coils with a 0.15ohm to 0.5ohm resistance are classed as sub ohm / direct to lung (DTL). The lower ohms offer more vapour and flavour typically. In terms of which e-liquids are best suited to this range of coils, it is generally those with higher VG percentages. There is a huge range of flavours and brands of short fills available, most of which are compatible. We recomend use e-juices with a 70% VG or higher. The VG percentage is stated on e-liquid product pages. Here is a post about our best-selling short fills in 2023.
E-Liquids For RDL Pods Maintaining Your Vape Kit
There are also pods and coils designed for restricted-direct-to-lung (RDL) vaping. These are slightly higher ohms at 0.6ohm to 1ohm resistance. These RDL coils also let you vape slightly higher nicotine strengths. RDL coils are also suited to many of the short-fill flavours and brands available. The VG recommendation is now 70% VG or less. They can also be used with Vapour Days UK or the Cherub brand of 10ml bottles for a longer-lasting coil life and higher nicotine options. Please read our guide to best freebase e-liquids of 2023 guide.
E-Liquids For MTL Pods Maintaining Your Vape Kit
In contrast to the RDL and DTL coils above, some kits are classed as having mouth-to-lung (MTL) coils or pods. These are generally 1.2ohm coils or higher, with 1.8ohm being a standard MTL resistance. This means you can vape higher nicotine strengths for replacing smoking. The most compatible e-juices to use are lower VG with Vapour Days UK or the Cherub brand of 10ml bottles. These bottles are included in a special deal of any 3 for £9.97, along with Vampire Vape. These MTL coils are also suitable for use with nicotine salts, which offer even higher nicotine strengths but a smoother throat hit. Here is a post about the best-selling salt nics of 2023.
If you vape CBD, MTL coils are also compatible with many of the CBD juices on the market, in particular our best-selling range of Orange County CBD bottles.
Priming the Pods
Prime your new pod before activating your vape. This prevents the coil inside the pod from getting burnt out too quickly. Priming a pod involves the following steps:
- Switch off your device.
- Fill the pod with e-liquid designed for use with your chosen pod resistance.
- Allow the pod’s coil to absorb the e-juice for around 5-10 minutes.
- Now you can turn your kit on and start vaping.
Cleaning the Pods for Vape Kits
This section is guidance if you want to give your replaceable pod a clean for changing your flavour or just a general clean. You need to ensure the only parts you clean are the plastic tank section. Ensure not to clean the coil section, the battery compartment or any magnetic connectors with water. You can wipe the pod clean with dry tissue only. Do not use water to clean a pod as it could damage the kit.
Replacing the Pods
Most pods are self-explanatory to change. The majority of kits require you to simply pull the pod out and insert a new one.
Disposing of the Pods
Can you recycle replacement pods? It depends if you can break down the replacement parts into their separate materials. If you can remove the coil and just have plastic left, then you can recycle the plastic after washing it. If you cannot break it down to just the individual materials, then the whole pod will have to go in your rubbish bin. Check with your local authority to see what can recycle as rules can differ.
Maintaining Replaceable Coils
Working Out Which E-Liquids Are Compatible
The first step to working out which e-juices work is to work out the coil resistance used. You can find the resistance by reading the side of your coil for a number, or if you have a mod device you can often find the resistance on the display screen. If you still aren’t sure, you are likely to find the answer to this question by a quick Google search or by asking at your local vape shop. You can also usually which wattage to set your vape kit on the side of the coil.
E-Liquids For Sub Ohm Coils
Coils with a 0.15ohm to 0.5ohm resistance are classed as sub ohm / direct to lung (DTL) vapes. The lower ohms offer more vapour and flavour typically. E-liquids with higher VG percentages are generally suited to this range of coils. There is a huge range of flavours and brands of short fills available, most of which are compatible. Recommendation is for 70% VG or higher, this can be checked in the e-liquid product page specifications. Here is a post about our best-selling short fills in 2023.
E-Liquids For RDL Coils
Coils designed for restricted-direct-to-lung (RDL) vaping. These are slightly higher ohms at 0.6ohm to 1ohm resistance. These RDL coils also let you vape slightly higher nicotine strengths. RDL coils are suited to using many of the flavours and brands of short fills available, except the recommendation is now 70% VG or less. They can also be used with Vapour Days UK or the Cherub brand of 10ml bottles for a longer-lasting coil life and higher nicotine options. You may be interested to read the best freebase e-liquids of 2023 guide.
E-Liquids For MTL Coils
In contrast to the RDL and DTL coils above, some kits are classed as having mouth-to-lung (MTL) coils. These are generally 1.2ohm coils or higher, with 1.8ohm being a standard MTL resistance. This means you can vape higher nicotine strengths for replacing smoking. The most compatible e-juices to use are lower VG with Vapour Days UK or the Cherub brand of 10ml bottles. Liquids are included in the special deal any 3 for £9.97, along with Vampire Vape. These MTL coils are also suitable for using with nicotine salts, which offer even higher nicotine strengths but a smoother throat hit. Here is a post about the best-selling salt nics of 2023.
If you vape CBD, MTL coils are also compatible with many of the CBD juices on the market, in particular our best-selling range of Orange County CBD bottles.
Priming the Coils Guide to Maintaining Your Vape Kit
Each new coil needs to be primed before activating your vape. This prevents the wick from getting burnt out too quickly. Priming a coil involves the following steps:
- Switch off your device.
- Fill the tank with e-liquid designed for use with your chosen coil resistance.
- Allow the coil to absorb the e-juice for around 5-10 minutes.
- Now you can turn your kit on and start vaping.
Cleaning the Coils
It is not recommended you clean coils. If the coil is no longer vaping very well, it is likely that a new coil is required.
Replacing the Coils
Here is a helpful video showing how to identify your vape’s coils https://www.vapourdays.co.uk/vape-coils/video-how-to-know-which-coils-your-tank-uses/.
You usually need to replace the coil when your vape stops tasting as good. It may get a burnt taste or your flavour may not be as nice or as strong as it usually is.
To replace the coil, you will either have to pull the old one out or unscrew it, depending on how your kit works. Insert your new coil in a similar way to how you removed the old one. Then follow the priming instructions above, allowing the e-liquid to soak into the coil for several minutes before vaping.
Disposing of the Coils
Can I recycle Coils? We wish this was easy but you cannot very easily recycle coils as they contain a number of different materials (cotton, metal, remnants of e-liquids, wires). If you are able to remove the cotton and wire parts and wash the metal, then you can recycle the metal part at your recycling centre as scrap metal. You can contact your local authority who will advise you on what can be recycled.
Maintaining The Vape Battery Guide to Maintaining Your Vape Kit
Charging Inbuilt Batteries Guide to Maintaining Your Vape Kit
If your battery came with a USB port to be able to charge it through your kit, always check the user manual for which amps of wall plug you should use. The majority of vape kits require you to use a 1amp wall plug. Phone chargers, iPad chargers, and many other plugs, output too much for vape kits. These can cause the batteries to overheat and will damage the battery.
Using the correct wall plug will make your battery last significantly longer. There are two wall plug options available: this link is for a commonly-recommended 1amp wall plug. Aspire also do a 1amp wall plug here.
Charging If It Has Replaceable 18650 /21700 Batteries
Some mod boxes are powered by a single 18650 or 21700 battery. If this is the case, and there is a charging port and cable, then it should be fine to charge through the charging port. Batteries can be charged using external chargers.
For many mods, they use two or more 18650 or 21700 batteries. It’s recommend dual 18650 batteries are charged with external battery chargers. A suitable dual charger is the Efest Slim K2 charger, or you can use an optional 4 bay Nitecore charger or 8 bay Efest Lush Q8 charger if you want to have multiple spare batteries.
Please note that if the mod requires more than one battery, all of the batteries used should be the same brand, bought at the same time, to ensure they output equal power. This ensures that one battery is not discharging faster than the other, and prevents battery venting. Using an external battery charger will keep the batteries as a matched pair and charge at equal power.
Disposing Of A Failed Mod / Battery / 18650
At the moment, the recycling teams do not have the ability to recycle replacement vape batteries. You should dispose of any vape batteries and mods at your local recycling and waste centre. Here, they will be able to guide you on where to dispose of the batteries safely.
Carrying Spare Batteries Around Guide to Maintaining Your Vape Kit
Carry batteries in a suitable container. This can be the casing that came with the batteries, or using a separately purchased container. This is to prevent the two batteries from venting. It also ensures they stay in the best condition so they don’t become damaged. Here is some information on battery types and safety.
Maintaining Vape Tanks
Cleaning
If you want to rinse out the inside of your tank with water, make sure to fully remove the coil. You can then rinse the plastic/glass section with water under a tap and leave it to dry. When fully dried screw the coil back into place and refill it with e-liquid.
Replacing Broken Glass
Many of the vape kits and tanks available for sale have replacement pyrex glass options. Some tanks and kits have larger bubble glass options, which reduce the frequency of refilling with e-liquid. Accidents happen and having spare glass is always a good idea. We sell spare glass in our Bristol city centre vape shop if you do need to buy some urgently.
Preventing Condensation Build Up
If you are new to vaping, it can feel like the tank is leaking. Most current tanks have leakproof designs. However, condensation builds up in the chimney section of the tank. Vapes create vapour similar to a kettle. Each day you may want to flick out any condensation build-up by placing a tissue on the drip tip section of the mouthpiece and gently flicking the tank in your hand from facing the ceiling to facing the floor.
Maintaining E-Liquids or Disposables
We recommend storing liquids and disposable kits in a cool, dark place such as inside a cupboard. Once opened, it is down to personal preference on how long you would continue vaping that same opened bottle. There are no official recommendations on how long to discard an opened bottle of juice.
Error Messages
If you have a mod device, you may sometimes see an error message. It may say ‘Atomizer low’ for example. In cases like this, check your user manual provided with the kit. The user instructions are also available through the manufacturer’s websites. These instructions will guide you on how to fix the specific error for your vape.