If a refillable vape pod has built-in coils, it can last from a few days to a few weeks. The lifespan of these coils and pods will depend on:
- The Type Of E-liquid: Thicker e-liquids are likely to reduce a vape coils lifespan, especially if the coil used is not designed for thick, sub-ohm e-liquids.
- The E-liquid Flavour: Flavours that are overly sweet, such as dessert flavours, often contain sucralose (a sweetener). This sweetener is legal and fine to use, however it does gunk up the coils, reducing their lifespan.
- Heavy Vaping: The more e-liquid you puff through a coil, the quicker it deteriorates. If you're a heavy vaper and go through lots of puffs per day, you can expect your coil to not last as long as other, lighter vapers.
If your refillable vape pod features removable coils, the pod itself can last for some time before having to replace it. Depending on which type of e-liquid you use, the pod can last from a few weeks to a few months. Any strong flavoured e-liquid or e-liquid that has citrus flavourings can stick to and break down the refillable pod quicker than other types of e-liquid.
There are a number of factors that will indicate that your refillable vape pod needs changing. These factors can either relate to the built-in coil, or the refillable pod itself. The telltale sign that your vape pod needs changing is if it produces a burnt, unpleasant taste when puffed. This means the cotton inside of the vape coil is burnt. When you start tasting this burnt flavour it's advised that you change your coil or refillable pod ASAP to avoid inhaling burnt cotton.
If your vape pod starts leaking continuously when it has never leaked before, this is a sign that it needs changing. The e-liquid inside of your refillable pod can slowly break down the seals and leak into the middle of the coil causing leaking and spit back (when vape juice is spat into your mouth when inhaling). If your vape pod develops this issue after a while, it's not faulty, it's just asking to be changed.
Contrary to popular belief, dark yellow or brown e-liquid does not indicate a burnt pod all of the time. Some e-liquids are naturally darker due to the flavourings and nicotine used. If the darkening colour is accompanied by a burnt taste, then it's best to change you coil and pod.
You may have seen a vape pod or vape coil sold in a few variations. The coil resistance is labelled on the pods are sometimes written as "0.8ohm" or "0.8Ω". This number represents the electrical current resistance. The higher this number is e.g 1.2Ω the more resistance there is on the coil. High resistance means a tighter drag and less vapour production. A lower number e.g 0.3Ω will allow more power through the coil meaning bigger clouds and more vapour, even if the coils are vaped at the same wattage.
If you're looking for a refillable vape pod that replicates the feel of disposable vapes or pre-filled vapes, then go for a higher resistance (number).
If you're looking for a vape coil or pod that creates bigger clouds and can handle thicker e-liquids, go for a lower resistance.
Different types of vape pods come in different resistances, the recommended wattage will be different across brands, therefore its best to check the recommended wattages on your coil, the bottom of your vape pod, or on the outer box package.
