When looking to take a soothing hit of your vape, the last thing you want is to offend your taste buds. If, after a puff of your vape you find that the flavor is off or has a metallic taste, your device may be encountering issues with its internal components. These issues can lead to foul-tasting vapor, excess coughing, and an otherwise unsavory vaping experience.
Even if you have a high-quality device and are using top-of-the-line e-juice, there is still the possibility of tasting an unpleasant flavor when you vape. If you are searching for a way to remedy this problem, here’s what you can do to avoid foul, metallic-tasting vapor.
Related Reading: Does Your Vape Taste Burnt?
Why Does Your Vape Taste Metallic?
A vaping device is made up of several different important components. Of those, the atomizer head houses the wire coil and the cotton wick. The battery functions to heat up the coil which, in turn, vaporizes the e-juice that is soaked up by the wick and delivers the vapor through the mouthpiece and into your lungs.
If your vape has a metallic taste, more often than not, it is an issue with the atomizer, and more specifically, the coil. These small, metal, and twisted modules typically last only about a week or two, depending on the amount you vape and the type of liquid in your cartridge. Once the coil goes bad, it can deliver a harsh taste that has been said to resemble metal.
Further proving that the atomizer is the underlying problem, evidence has shown that when the vaping device makes popping or hissing noises or the e-juice appears to be discolored, the flavor is off. Further, even when the battery is fully charged and airflow is running, no vapor comes out, adding to the foul taste. These instances show that the coil is running too hot or the wick isn’t saturated with enough e-juice.
Other Possible Reasons Your Vape Tastes Weird
- If you keep taking hits and no vapor comes out, you are experiencing something called a “dry hit”. A dry hit occurs when no vapor is produced and can be caused by a number of factors. One main issue to arise causing dry hits is when your cartridge is empty or the wick is unable to re-absorb the liquid, either because you’re taking too many consecutive hits or because the e-juice you’re using is the wrong consistency for the cotton wick.
- A common side effect of over-vaping named “vaper’s tongue” occurs when you continuously take hits of your vape until the flavor eventually wears off. In this scenario, your device may be producing vapor, but it isn’t providing any flavor. Typically, this situation does not cause problems with the device, however, the user may experience problems such as dehydration and foul odor.
- Often, when the wick isn’t absorbing enough e-juice (either because the wick is too big, the battery wattage is wrong, or the coils are too powerful) you may experience a “burnt hit”. A burnt hit may produce a charred taste in the mouth which can be rather unpleasant as well as a sign that you need to upgrade your device’s internal components. Luckily, there are ways to prevent a burnt hit and the consequential burnt flavor.
What to do if You Experience a Metallic Vape Taste
Many vapers have experienced this metallic-tasting vapor phenomenon. Now, when you’re expecting a soothing hit of salt nicotine, but instead, taste a crow bar, know that there is most likely an issue with your device. Thankfully, if you follow the guidelines below, you can remedy this situation while simultaneously preventing the issue from happening again in the future.
Change Your Coils
Over the course of one to two weeks your coil may go bad, so make sure to swap it out with a new coil. To update your device’s coil, start by completely disassembling the vape via its instruction manual (which can sometimes be as simple as disconnecting the tank.) Once disconnected, empty out any remaining e-juice and remove the old coil.
Before installing a new coil, presoak the wick using five to ten drops of the e-juice you plan on vaping. Soaking will help prevent dry burning the wick when taking the first hit. Then, replace the new coil with the old one, reconnect the tank, and you’re ready to go!
When searching for new coils, keep in mind that many companies label them as “atomizers,” “prebuilt,” or “coil heads.”
Clean Your Coils
While replacing the coil is the best way to ensure no metallic-tasting hits, the next best option is to try dry burning the coil to clean it. Dry burning coils can increase the lifespan of the device by another few weeks. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is to clean the coil every time you exchange or refill your cartridges, or even better, do so every day. Note that cleaning coils can only be done using rebuildable atomizers.
To clean coils via a dry burn, first find an airy space to work so that you don’t inhale any harmful chemicals in the process. Next, remove the e-liquid, followed by the wick. Double check to ensure that no cotton material has been left behind that may singe the coil. If you happen to notice any remaining debris or thick gunk collecting on the coil, remove it and soak with isopropyl alcohol to break up any residue and make it easy to burn.
Once your coils are completely dry, fire your device until they glow red and any leftover liquid evaporates. Use goggles and gloves, and watch out for any squirting e-juice, which can be harmful if it comes into contact with your skin. If you notice combustion, AKA sparks, or fire, stop immediately and attend to it either by stamping it out or calling 911 if it’s an emergency.
Once the coil is clean and cool, rinse it with cold water. Make sure to check for any remaining gunk and repeat the process as many times as necessary to ensure the coil is like new. Finally, reassemble your vaporize and take a small hit to make sure the metallic taste is gone.
Choose a Disposable Vape Pen
To make things easier on yourself and to ensure a flavorful hit every time, consider trying out a disposable vaping device. These small devices, available in a number of styles—ranging from sticks and pens to pods—are built to supply the perfect amount of e-juice that simply stops firing once it’s depleted. Rather than risking tasting the dreaded metallic flavor, with disposables you get nothing but your favorite flavored salt nicotine. Once it’s done, simply throw it away and open a new one.
If you’re sick of dealing with coil cleaning, maintenance, and repairs, look no further than the newest disposable device from Ziip Labs: Z Stick. Not only are our disposable devices long lasting, easy to use, and full of flavor, with Z Stick you will never have to worry about atomizer health and metallic-tasting vapor. If you’re interested in trying some of our delicious 13 flavors and a variety of different nicotine strengths, visit our shop for more information.
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