Different types of vape coils are designed for different types of vaping. Coils can last from a few days to a few weeks. The lifespan of your coils 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.
Coils have varying sizes and materials, all designed for different types of e-liquid. Bigger coils with a lower Ohm (Ω) resistance are designed for thick, high-VG e-liquids and are usually found in big vape kits and vape tanks. Smaller coils with a higher resistance are designed for MTL vaping (like using nicotine salts). They will last longer if a thinner e-liquid is used such as a 50VG/50PG liquid.
There are a number of factors that will indicate that your vape coil needs changing. The telltale sign that your vape coil 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 ASAP to avoid inhaling burnt cotton.
If your vape pod or tank starts leaking continuously when it has never leaked before, this is a sign that it needs changing. The e-liquid inside of your 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 coil continuously has e-liquid inside of the coil or the sills are deteriorating, the coil needs replacing.
Contrary to popular belief, dark yellow or brown e-liquid does not indicate a burnt coil 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.
You may have seen a vape coil sold in a few variations. The coil resistance is labelled on the pods or coils and 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 vape coil 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 that creates bigger clouds and can handle thicker e-liquids, go for a lower resistance.
Different types of vape coils 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.
There are many different ways to help prolong the life of your coil, whether it's a MTL or DTL coil, a replaceable coil or a built-in coil. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep your coil in the best condition.
- Letting your coil soak. A fresh coil is completely dry. This means the cotton is incredibly susceptible to burning. A new coil needs to soak in e-liquid before being heated. If your coil is built-in to your vape pod, simply fill up the pod with e-liquid and let the coil soak for a minimum of 5 minutes. If your coil is removable then you can simply prime the coil by dripping a few drops of e-liquid onto the exposed cotton will help the coil soak up some e-liquid. You can then insert the coil and fill up your pod or tank and allow the coil to further soak up some e-liquid for a minimum of 5 minutes.
- Breaking in your coil. New coils will sometimes need to be gradually used to ensure they last a long time. This means starting at a lower wattage and gradually making your way to your desired wattage. This is commonly used for bigger sub-ohm devices, however small pod kits with a variable wattage can benefit from this practice too.
- Using the correct e-liquid. Depending on the coil resistance and size, it will work best with a certain viscosity of e-liquid. Smaller, MTL coils will have a longer lifespan when used with 40VG-60VG e-liquids, while DTL sub-ohm coils last longer with 70VG-85VG e-liquids. Using an e-liquid that's too thin will cause spitting and leaking, and a liquid too thick will cause the coil to dry out and burn.
- Keep your kit filled up. Letting your vape pod or vape tank run dry will cause your vape coils to dry out and burn a lot quicker. Don't let your tank run dry.
