How To Fix a Broken Vape Pen

When testing out a new device, even experienced vapers sometimes encounter problems. Your vape pen might suddenly stop producing vapour or just completely stop working after you refill it. Issues can even happen with brand-new disposables.

With all the different parts in a vape and the many settings they come with, it’s not uncommon for problems to pop up. But don’t worry, there are ways to fix them!

Clogged Vape Pen Not Producing Vapor

The airways will frequently become clogged if your e-liquid or cannabis oil is too thick for your vape battery. Flooded coils are an issue as well. This happens if you overfill your e-juice or if you didn’t use your pen for a long time so the e-liquid pooled at the bottom. Due to the backlog, some oil will rise to the drip tip and quickly cool and clog as it moves away from the heat source.

Cleaning the drip tip of a refillable vape pen with a removable mouthpiece is an easy way to clear blockages. However, this can only be done if the cart or tank is empty, otherwise you will waste your unused e-juice. Here’s a simple method of how you can fix the clogged pen that is still in use.

Applying heat externally can help clear it up, and a common household item like a hair dryer can do the trick. Hold the vape about 5 inches away from the heat source for 15 to 20 seconds to warm it up. The heat should be enough to liquefy the oil and unclog the pen. After heating, hold the vape firmly and give it a good shake. Take a dry hit to see if the pen is unclogged, if it’s still not working try heating it again for an additional 20-30 seconds. Make sure to avoid heating the battery as getting a battery too hot is never a good idea.

Disposable Won’t Hit

Disposable vapes can also exhibit this issue. Although it’s less common, mistakes during the manufacturing process can cause the vape to get clogged and not work. Luckily, most of the time it can be fixed quickly.

Initially, you must identify what is wrong. If you’ve tried hitting your vape and nothing came out it’s likely an airflow problem. Start by removing the mouthpiece and inspecting the rubber airflow part inside. If it’s kinked or not straight it can cause an airflow blockage.

Use the pen to straighten the rubber piece. Insert the pen through the hole and align the rubber piece until it’s straight. Once the rubber piece is straight, put the cotton piece back in, followed by the mouthpiece. Push the mouthpiece firmly to ensure it’s securely in place.

Bad Cartridge Connection

First of all, make sure that you have a fully charged battery. Check if the charger you’re using is the correct one and if it’s properly connected. You can additionally try a different charger, as sometimes the cables can bend and break. If the charger is not the issue it’s usually a connection plate.

When you take your device apart, in the middle you will see a circular connection plate. Make sure there is no dirt on the plate as it can affect the connection. If it’s dirty, wipe it using a Q tip and rubbing alcohol.

Connection plates tend to get pushed down if you screw the cartridge too tight. However, it’s nothing scary, here’s how to fix it in a minute or two.

Stick a paper clip in between the connection plate and the thread and push towards the middle. The plate will start to raise making your battery functional again. However, make sure not to use too much pressure as the connection plate can come apart.

Burnt Taste

When you start tasting a burnt flavour while vaping, it usually means your atomizer isn’t getting enough e-liquid any more. First of all, check if your tank is adequately filled with e-liquid.

If your vape pen is filled with e-liquid and the burnt flavor is still present, inspect your coil and atomizer unit. During vaping, e-liquid residue can build up on the coil, causing it to burn the old debris instead of fresh liquid. If your coil looks discoloured or dirty, it’s time to replace it. Also, remember that it takes a few minutes for your e-liquid to fully soak into the wick. If you’ve just refilled your tank, give your device a couple of minutes to let the liquid absorb before using it.

If you know for a fact that the coil isn’t burnt and the vape is still harsh, here’s how to quickly fix it. Take your pod, using your finger stop the airflow at the bottom part and blow into it. This will push the e-juice out of the wick. After that, give it a couple of dry hits, so that the e-juice gets back in.

Popping Sounds and Leaking

However, if you start hearing louder popping sounds or notice gurgling noises and see the e-liquid dripping, it’s time to check your tank, as overfilling can cause these issues.

To test if your device is overfilled, grip it firmly and flick it towards the ground. This will force the collected e-liquid to get out of the drip tip. If there’s more buildup, take the top of your tank and use a tissue or a cotton bud to dab around the coil collecting the excess residue.

Old coils can also cause crackling and leaking vapes. In this situation, you will have to change your coil. When placing a new could make sure to wipe the tank dry, making sure there is no old residue left. 

Troubleshooting your vape will get easier as you get more familiar with vaping and understand the characteristics of vape pens. With the aid of this guide, you should be able to swiftly resume enjoying your vaping by addressing some of the most frequent problems that beginner vapers run into.