10 Ways to Fix a Leaking E-Cig (and get rid of those sticky stains)!

Red wine on the carpet. Drops of coffee on the settee. Grass on white clothing. Permanent marker on the walls. We’ve all been there. Spills and stains happen often, yet we still hesitate when it comes to knowing just how to remove it. White wine to counteract the red? Bleach on fragile materials? Scrubbing that expensive roll of wallpaper? We get it, removing stains can be frustrating at best and hard work at worst.

When we experience a leaking vape tank, it’s less than ideal. Though most e-cig tanks are leakproof, accidents can still happen. E-liquids are sticky, sweet smelling, and can stain clothing, furniture and other materials. So, if your e-cig is leaking liquid, it’s important to act fast to stop the leak in its tracks and clean up any residue.

THE CLEAN UP: REMOVING STICKY STAINS

First things first, you want to get rid of the e-liquid residue before it stains for good.

If your e-cig has left a sticky situation behind on your clothing or furniture, don't fret straight away. E-liquids are made from Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG), substances that are usually pretty easy to remove and to clean. Depending on the size and location of the spilled e-liquid, they can usually be cleaned with soap and water. 

• Pat the spill with a damp cloth to remove as much excess as possible. Take care not to rub the area if it's on fabric or other absorbent materials!
• Clean the rest of the area with a damp cloth and soapy water. Be as quick as you can to remove all residue before the area dries. 

Now that you're all cleaned up, let's get to avoiding any future leaks from your trusty vape kit.

1. CHECK FOR DAMAGE

If your vape kit is leaking, the most obvious solution is to check your e-cig tank for any damage. Look for cracks, holes, or any gaps to identify where your leaking e-liquid is coming from. Good e-cig tanks are built to be hardwearing and durable, but even the very best vape tank won’t last forever.

If you discover any damage, it is best to replace your vape tank for a new one. While you could attempt a DIY fix for the time being, this is not an effective long-term solution. To stop your vape tank leaking, replace it as soon as possible.

2. TIGHTEN YOUR TANK

A loose vape tank can cause your e-liquids to leak through the gaps. Make sure the fixture is closed securely and no e-liquid is leaking by tightening the top and the base of the tank. This will stop e-liquid from leaking through the joins in your tank.

Also make sure that your coil is inserted properly. Your coil creates a seal within a vape tank that stops e-liquids leaking. Unless your coils are sitting where they are supposed to, your e-liquids are likely to escape. Push your coils inside your vape kit until you hear or feel a light click – this confirms your coils are where they are supposed to be.

But be careful not to secure your tank too tight! If you over-tighten a tank, you might cross-thread it. When your tank is cross-threaded, the threads do not sit in their intended place. Just like a tank that is too loose, this creates a gap for your e-liquids to escape through.

3. ADJUST YOUR LIQUID AND COIL COMBINATION

Every vape kit is different. Depending on the output and power of each kit, they require different coil resistance levels.

Coils with a higher resistance (1.0ohm and above) produce less vapour but provide a stronger throat hit. These coils perform best when paired with 50:50 e-liquids or Nicotine Salts.

Coils with a lower resistance (1.0ohm and below) produce bigger vapour with a smoother throat hit. These coils perform best when paired with e-liquids with a higher VG content such as 30:70 e-liquids and Shortfills. Because of the vapour production, sub-ohm coils typically have large inlet holes. As high VG e-liquids are typically thicker than other e-liquids, they are the perfect option for sub-ohm vaping.

If you use a thinner vape juice with a low resistance coil, you run the risk of losing your e-liquid. 50:50 e-liquids and Nicotine Salts have a lower VG content and are much thinner in consistency. Thinner liquids may escape through the larger inlet holes, causing a sticky situation.

4. VAPE LIKE A VAPER

If your e-cig is leaking into your mouth, it’s possible that your draws are too short.

Although intended to be a safer alternative to smoking, vaping involves a different inhalation method. Since cigarettes are already hot when inhaling, smokers can take short puffs. Unlike smoking, vape kits only heat up as you inhale. As you inhale, your e-cigarette powers your coils to vaporise the e-juice.

If you aren’t inhaling for long enough, your vape kit may cause e-liquids to leak into your mouth, since you haven’t given them adequate time for the coil to turn them into vapour.

When vaping, try to inhale for longer to give your vape device more time to heat up and vaporise your e-liquid

5. USE HIGHER VG E-LIQUIDS

Like we mentioned earlier, higher VG e-liquids are typically thicker in consistency and are less likely to escape through the joints in your vape tanks. Since they are thicker, 30:70s and Shortfills will help you to avoid flooding your coil and prevent leaks.

6. REPLACE YOUR COILS

Coils are consumables that should be replaced often. While older coils are prone to burning, used coils can also become blocked. If your vape pen feels blocked, it’s likely that your coil is clogged with e-liquid residue. A blocked coil can no longer vaporise your liquids so you may experience leaking.

7. CLEAN THE CHIMNEY

Before they can be made into vapour, e-liquids must be heated. Warm vapour frequently causes condensation within your chimney. But when you have not inhaled for long enough, or your e-cigarette hasn’t heated enough, e-liquids can leak into your chimney and into your mouth.

By cleaning the chimney, you can get rid of any last e-liquid drops and continue vaping as normal.

8. FILL YOUR TANK PROPERLY

Many first-time vapers won’t ask how to fill their e-liquid tank. With just 2ml capacity, it seems pretty self-explanatory that it should be full of juice so that you don’t have to top up constantly.

But, if your tank is leaking, and you’re filling it right to the brim, this might just be the reason for it.

Your tank should not be complete full, but contain a small bubble of air at the top. The air bubble works as a vacuum to prevent e-liquids escaping through the airflow holes.

9. CHECK YOUR POWER SETTINGS

Vape kits with variable power settings should be adjusted to suit the installed coil and chosen e-liquid. All coils have optimal power ranges, and your vape kit’s power should be selected to suit this. If the power is too low for your coil, your vape kit won’t properly vaporise your vape juice and instead allow liquids to escape.

10. KEEP YOUR E-CIG UPRIGHT

Keep your tank upright wherever possible. In addition to making it easier to accumulate dirt and dust, storing an e-cigarette on its side can deplete your e-liquid by causing it to leak into unwanted places.

By storing your e-cig in a vertical position, you reduce the risk of damaging your vape device and wasting your precious e-juices.

“HELP! MY E-CIG TANK IS STILL LEAKING”

Most leaking vape kits are caused by general wear and tear and can be fixed with a touch of TLC. But if you’ve hardly used your vape kit and it develops a fault, don’t forget that most e-cig come with a limited warranty. Get in touch with the manufacturer for more information.