While it’s not unusual to get a burnt or burning taste from your vape, it can be bothersome. Most burnt taste related issues can be prevented or resolved. If you’re wondering how to get rid of the burnt taste in your vape, keep reading. In order to understand why your vape tastes burnt, it helps to understand how vapor is produced in an e-cigarette.

What to Do if Your Vape Tastes Burnt

If your vape suddenly tastes burnt, several quick fixes and longer-term solutions may resolve the issue. Follow this step-by-step guide to troubleshoot what to do if you have a burnt vape:

Quick Fixes

• Stop using it immediately: Vaping on a burnt coil can permanently ruin it. Pause and allow the coil to cool.
• Check your e-liquid level: Refill the tank immediately if the tank is running low. A dry tank often causes burnt hits.
• Prime the coil (if it’s new): Add a few drops of e-liquid directly onto the cotton before using a fresh coil. Then fill the tank and let it sit for 5–10 minutes so the wick fully absorbs the liquid.
• Lower the wattage/voltage (if adjustable): A high-power setting can overheat the coil and burn the e-liquid. Adjust to the recommended range.
• Take slower, gentler puffs: Chain vaping or drawing too hard can dry out the coil. Try longer pauses between hits and lighter draws.

If the Burnt Taste Persists

• Replace the coil or pod: The burnt taste will not disappear once a coil is scorched. You will have to install a fresh coil or replace the pod.
• Check for coil buildup: Sweet or dark e-liquids can caramelize and leave residue on coils. If you notice a build-up on the coil, you must replace it.
• Switch e-liquids if needed: High-VG (thicker) juices can clog coils and cause burnt hits in some devices. Try a lower-VG blend or use liquids designed for your vape.

If you’re using a disposable vape and notice a burnt taste, it’s recommended that you stop using it. These devices can’t be repaired, so discard the burnt unit and replace it with a new one.

Once you’ve handled the immediate burnt taste issue, it’s helpful to understand how vape coils work and how to maintain them. Keep reading to learn about coil function, replacement, and long-term prevention.

How Do Coil Vapes Work?

Vapor in e-cigarettes is produced when the e-liquid in the device is heated and vaporizes. When you activate vaping device that utilizes a coil, such as a box mod, the e-liquid is absorbed by a wicking material (usually made of cotton), which the coil inside then heats to create the vapor you inhale.

The Wick is Dry: There Is not Enough e-Liquid on the Coil

You might get a burnt taste in your vape if a dry wick and e-liquid remnants are heated instead of a wick that is properly saturated with e-liquid.

How to fix: This can be resolved by changing your coil regularly.

High VG (Vegetable Glycerin) E-Liquids in Incompatible Vaping Device

You might also get a burnt taste when you vape if you use high- Vegetable Glycerin (VG) e-liquids. The viscosity of VG is more likely to reduce the efficiency of e-transportation to the wick, which can lead to either insufficient e-liquid heating, overheating, and / or more wick residue.

How to fix: This is an issue that can be avoided using lower VG e-liquids, or by using pod-based vaping systems, as the e-liquid in the pods is specifically formulated to work optimally with its accompanying e-cigarette, versus an e-liquid that was self-mixed and not tested for compatibility with the vaping device.

How to tell if your coil is expired?

The coils inside vaping devices don’t last forever so, eventually, your coil will need replacing. If you want to know if your coil has become full of deposits and requires changing, there are several signs you may look out for:

• Burnt tasting vape
Probably the biggest indicator that your coil has reached the end of its lifespan, is an unpleasant burnt taste which accompanies the inhale from your vaping device and may completely overwhelm the flavor of your e-liquid.

• Vape is leaking
If e-liquid starts to leak from your device or leaks into your mouth when you inhale, this can also be a sign that your coil needs replacing. Often, the wicking material of used coils will become clogged up with e-liquid and the atomizer will not be able to vaporize in sufficient quantities, leading to the e-liquid spilling out of the coil’s airholes. Read more on why does my vape leak?

• Unusual sounds when vaping
Gurgling sounds may appear when you are vaping. If your vape produces a pronounced gurgle on the inhale (unless it is intended by the design of the vaping device), it is probable that you need a coil change. However, if your vaping device continues to produce gurgling noises even after a coil replacement, there are several other reasons for this.

• Not producing enough vapor
The amount of vapor produced by your vaping device may gradually reduce as your coil reaches the end of its functional lifespan. However, low vapor production might also be an indication that your vaping device’s battery is low or faulty.

• You haven’t changed your coil for a while
While coils do have a decent functional lifespan, as deposits collect on the coil over time, its usability decreases accordingly. If you haven’t replaced the coil in a long time and your device is displaying any of the signs above, it’s likely that you need to replace your coil.

Why does my vape taste burnt with a new coil?

Your vape should not taste burnt with a new coil, especially if you have taken all the necessary precautions to properly prime your coil. Persisting burnt taste could indicate other issues. If your e-cigarette tastes burnt with a new coil, it may be a sign that your new coil is not high quality, which means it should be replaced right away with a quality coil from a reputable brand. Moreover, it may be that the e liquid mixture is not compatible for the wick in your e cigarette, with a VG/PG – wave mixture that does not transport well in the wick. Additionally, your vape may taste burnt with a new coil if you are vaping at a higher wattage than recommended for the amount of e liquid available in the tank.

How often do you need to change the coil in a vape?

To avoid the burnt taste in vapes, the coil needs to be changed regularly - usually every one to four weeks.

When replacing the coil, you must remember to prime it before installing. The priming process prepares the coil for use. To do this, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Here are some tips:

• Trickle a small amount of e-liquid onto the wicking holes and inside the coil head.
• Push the coil into place.
• Assemble your vaping device.
• Fill your vaping device’s tank with e-liquid.
• Leave the device for 10 minutes, so that the e-liquid can reach the wick.

Learn more about vape coils

How to avoid a burnt taste when vaping?

If you’re experiencing an unpleasant burnt taste from your vape while inhaling, there are a number of things you can try:

• Often, it’ll involve changing your coil for a new one, and then priming your new coil before use. How you do this will depend on the type of coil-based vaping device you use, but usually you will need to unscrew either the top or bottom of your tank to access the coil. You will then need to remove it from the vape’s casing, before replacing it with a new one.
• Other things you can do to avoid a burning taste when you vape are to choose e-cigarette liquids that are lower in VG and vape only at the recommended wattage.
• You may want to explore different types of e-cigarettes, such as those with pod-based systems that do not utilize coils at all. With these products, the whole pod is disposed and replaced when the pre-filled liquid runs out. This means that you do not have to worry about coil-related concerns.

Pod-Based Vapes like VEEV Avoid Burnt Taste and Coil Issues

With vaping devices that do not utilize a coil, like pod-based vaping systems, the e-liquid is often in direct contact with a heater within the pod, and likewise, turns into vapor when heated. Using pod-based vapes, such as VEEV ONE, can be a way to avoid burnt taste. Since the e-liquid filled pods are built specifically for the accompanying vape, the formulation is optimized to ensure the sufficient e-liquid transfer to the heater. Plus, no coils and wicks to maintain, greatly reducing the chance of overheating and a burnt-tasting vape.

Get your VEEV ONE device today and explore all the VEEV ONE flavours available.

This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.