How Often Should You Change Your Coil?
Posted by Courtney McElligott on Oct 7th 2016
Coil life is personal. How long a coil lasts in your tank comes down to your vaping habits, the e-juice flavor you run, and the kind of device you use. There is no single number that fits every setup.
Once you have vaped a tank or two, you start to recognize the taste of a coil on its way out, and you get a feel for your own timing. If you want clean flavor and want to dodge that dry, scorched note, change your coils on a regular schedule. The exact interval depends on your wattage and the coil type, but after a short while you will know roughly how long yours hold up and when to grab replacements.
How long a coil lasts
It is time to replace the vape coils once the wire has worn out or the wick has burned. Most vapers swap a coil somewhere between every 1 and 4 weeks of use.
Two weeks is a reasonable rule of thumb, but let the taste be your real guide. Watch your vapor for any sign the coil is done.
What matters most is how much you actually vape, not how many days have gone by. Puff all day, every day, and you will be changing coils more often than weekly. Vape only here and there and a single coil can stretch several weeks.
A few other things move the needle. Straight 100% VG e-liquid wears wicks down faster than a VG/PG blend. Sweetened juices are rough on coils too, since the sugars caramelize on the hot wire and gunk it up. And if you run a variable-wattage mod and push the power, expect the coil to give out sooner.
How to know when to change your coil
When the coil or wick burns out, the vapor turns dry and hot. You get less of it than you used to, and a badly cooked coil throws a harsh, acrid taste. This tends to happen if the fire button gets held too long, or if the device rides in a purse or pocket without being turned off or locked.
You might also hear a gurgle in the tank as you inhale. That can mean e-juice is seeping past the coil toward the battery connection. If it does, wipe down the battery and tank cap when you change the coil. Keep in mind a little gurgling is normal right after a refill, so it does not always mean the coil is shot. Sometimes the tank just needs a quick clean.
How to replace your vape coil
Swapping a coil is easy and usually takes about a minute. Separate the tank from the battery, then remove the tank cap and set the tank aside. This is a good moment to clean the tank and refill it, especially if the old coil scorched what was left of your juice.
Unscrew the spent coil from the tank cap and toss it. Wipe the tank cap down and make sure it is dry. Screw in the new coil, reassemble the tank, and stand it upright.
Before you vape, let the wick soak up some e-juice for a few minutes. This step is called priming. You want the wick fully saturated first. Take a puff on a dry wick and the heat from the coil can scorch it right away. Giving the wick time to sit and steep is the simplest way to make a new coil last.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I change my vape coil?
Most vapers replace a coil every 1 to 4 weeks. Heavy, all-day vaping pushes that toward a week or less, while occasional vaping can stretch a coil to several weeks. Let the taste decide more than the calendar.
What are the signs a coil needs replacing?
A dry, hot, or harsh taste, noticeably less vapor than usual, and a gurgling sound on the inhale are the common tells. A flat or slightly burnt edge on a flavor you know well usually means the wick is spent.
Why did my new coil taste burnt right away?
Almost always because it was not primed. Saturate the wick with e-juice and let it sit a few minutes before the first puff. Firing a dry wick scorches it instantly, and that burnt taste does not come back out.
Does my e-juice affect how long the coil lasts?
Yes. Sweetened e-liquids leave residue that builds up on the coil and shortens its useful life, and straight 100% VG wears wicks faster than a VG/PG blend. Higher wattage burns through juice and coils more quickly too.
How do I make my coils last longer?
Prime every new coil, keep the wattage in the range printed on the coil, avoid long button holds, and clean the tank when you change coils. Lighter or unsweetened juices and a VG/PG blend also tend to be gentler on the wick.
What e-juice and coils do you carry?
You can browse our e-juice, replacement vape coils, and mods and devices to match coils to your tank and find a flavor for your next fill.
These products are intended only for adults 21+. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. This article is general product information and is not a smoking-cessation claim.