Why Does My Vape Taste Burnt & How to Fix It

Got the dreaded burnt taste from your vape? You're not alone. So, why does my vape taste burnt? It's usually down to a few fixable issues like burnt wicks, gunked-up coils or setting the power too high.

• A burnt taste in vaping is usually caused by burnt wicks, coil gunk build-up, or incorrect power settings. Fix it by changing the coil, cleaning it, or adjusting power settings.
• Prevent a burnt taste by properly priming new coils, choosing the right e-liquid for your device, and keeping the tank regularly refilled to avoid dry hits.
• Chain vaping can lead to a burnt taste due to insufficient wick saturation. Avoid it by taking longer, less frequent puffs and ensuring your coil doesn't overheat.

There are three main culprits behind a nasty burnt taste: burnt wicks, coil gunk accumulation, and improper power settings. Occasionally getting a burnt taste from your vape kits can be a real bummer, but it's a common issue many vapers face when their vape tastes burnt.

The wick is part of your coil, and its job is to soak up the e-liquid from your tank and feed it to the coil. But what happens when the wick dries out? It can overheat, causing the cotton wick to burn — the most common contributor to a burnt taste in vapes, often referred to as a burnt hit.

This often happens when the wick doesn't get enough e-liquid, leading to a "dry hit". This can cause noxious fumes and potentially damage the coil's cotton wick. That burnt cotton taste isn't what you signed up for, right?

Don't worry, there's a couple of solutions. You can either change the coil, or remove the coil and wick and give them a soak in warm water, followed by a plunge into ice water to dislodge any burnt particles.

Coil gunk is a residue that builds up on your coil over time, particularly when you use e-liquids sweetened with sucralose. This sweetener is notorious for creating a layer of gunk on your coil, which, over time, thickens, darkens, and eventually burns, giving you a distinctly burnt taste.

Did you know that sweeter e-liquids like dessert and candy flavours can gunk up your coils faster than clearer fruit flavours? This can significantly shorten your coil's lifespan. So, if you notice a visible residue build-up on the wick and wire inside your coil, it's probably coil gunk that's causing the burnt taste.

If your vape pen power is set too high, it can strain the coils, leading to premature burnout and, you guessed it, a burnt taste. A high power or higher wattage setting can vaporise e-liquid too quickly, leading to wick burning and resulting burnt hits.

But don't despair! There's a way around this. You can balance the power to find the optimal level for your coil. By reducing the power for higher resistance coils and increasing it for lower resistance ones, you can prevent the dreaded burnt hit.

And don't forget to adjust the airflow setting. This can prevent the coil from overheating and burning out at high temperatures. A simple reduction in wattage or puff duration can also help mitigate those dry hits that contribute to the vape tasting burnt.

There are some excellent, tried and tested ways in which burnt taste can be prevented.

Priming your coil is like warming up before a workout. It's essential. Add a few drops of e-liquid directly to the top and sides of a new coil. This simple step not only prevents burnt hits but also prolongs your coil's lifespan.

After priming, take a few dry hits (inhaling without activating the fire button) to help draw the e-liquid into the wick. And remember, patience is key! Give your new coil some time to become fully saturated with e-liquid after priming.

High-VG e-liquids are thicker and best suited for sub-ohm vaping, while 50/50 e-liquids work well with most devices with high-resistance coils.

Just like you wouldn't wear high heels to a salsa dance, you wouldn't use an e-liquid that's not compatible with your device. For vape pens or devices with high-resistance coils, use 50/50 e-liquids or nicotine salts. Using the incorrect type of e-liquid can lead to a harsh or unpleasant experience.

Keeping your vape tank filled with e-liquid is like keeping your car's gas tank full. It prevents you from getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, or in this case, experiencing burnt hits due to an empty tank. So, remember to regularly check and refill your tank with e-liquid.

Chain vaping also can quickly deplete your tank, causing the coil to dry burn and produce that unwanted burnt taste. By keeping your tank full, you ensure the wick is properly saturated with e-liquid, helping you avoid the pitfalls of chain vaping. And let's not forget, maintaining a sufficient level of e-liquid in your tank prevents exposure of the coil to dry spots and excessive heat.

As we mentioned earlier, chain vaping can lead to a burnt taste. But why is that, and how can we avoid it?

Chain vaping involves taking repeated puffs from an e-cigarette or vape device with only brief pauses between sessions, and strain your vape's battery while increasing power use.

But the most notable side effect of chain vaping is that it prevents enough vape juice from being absorbed by the coil, leading to dry burning and a burnt taste.

It's important to pace yourself to avoid dry hits. Adopt a slower vaping pace with longer but less frequent puffs.

Let's shift our focus to vape coils. Understanding their lifespan and knowing when to replace them is crucial in preventing a burnt taste and ensuring a satisfying vape experience.

How often you vape, the ingredients in your e-liquid, and the wattage at which you vape can all significantly affect your coil's lifespan.

On average, vape coils need to be replaced every 1 to 2 weeks. However, this can vary greatly among users. Heavy vapers may find themselves needing to change coils as often as every few days, while casual vapers might get away with once a month.

Changes in the flavour of the vapor to consistently taste burnt, visible darkening of e-liquid, and dark brown or black spots on the coil's cotton are strong indicators that it's time to replace your coil.

Some signs that indicate coil failure and the need for a new one include:

• Decreased vapor production
• Receiving error messages such as 'atomiser error'
• Device flashing
• Gurgling sounds

And if all else fails, remember the simplest rule of thumb: if your vaping experience is consistently unpleasant, it's a good idea to replace the coil.

Even prefilled pod vapes can develop a burnt taste, usually because the pod is running low on e-liquid or the coil is overheating.

Just as with other vaping devices, there are steps you can take to improve your prefilled pod vape experience and keep that burnt taste away. First, adopt a slower vaping pace with longer but less frequent puffs. This helps stop the pod's coil from overheating and keeps the burnt flavour at bay.

Here are some other tips we recommend to prevent a burnt taste from a prefilled pod vape:

• Swap to a fresh pod when the flavour starts to fade — a prefilled pod running low on e-liquid is the most common cause of a burnt hit.
• Let a new pod settle for a minute or two after clicking it in, so the wick fully saturates before your first puff.
• Always opt for high-quality, genuine prefilled pods and kits.
• Authenticate your device prior to buying. There are lots of fakes out there.
• Be cautious of puff-count claims that may not accurately represent real-world usage.
• If a prefilled pod consistently tastes burnt even when fresh, it may be faulty — try another pod, and replace the device if the problem persists.

To summarise, it's likely that your vape tastes burnt because:

• The cotton wick is burnt
• The coil needs cleaning
• The vape needs to be on a lower power setting
• You're inhaling too hard and too regularly

We've explored the reasons behind that unpleasant burnt taste and discovered how to fix it. Remember, understanding your device, taking proper care of your coils, and using the right e-liquid can make all the difference. And don't forget about taking breaks between puffs to prevent chain vaping and overheating. By following these tips, you can avoid burnt tasting flavours and enhance your vaping experience.

Having more vape-related trouble? Check out our other troubleshooting vape guides for help.