Why Is My Vape Kit Leaking, Spitting, Or Bubbling?

Why Is My Vape Leaking?

If you’ve found yourself with a pocketful, or even a mouthful, of e-liquid thanks to a leaking vape – don’t panic. There are a few reasons why your device might be leaking, and all of them are easy to fix once you know how.

You’re Not Filling It Right

Vapers tend to run into two main problems when it comes to topping up, particularly when refilling a new kit – and both of them can lead to a leaking vape.

First is refilling it via the hole in the mouthpiece. It might look convenient, but putting e-liquid down the mouthpiece is the easiest way to flood your vape and cause it to leak. This can lead to e-liquid leaking from the top of your vape and leave you with a mouthful of e-liquid.

You’re Overfilling Your Vape

An overfilled pod or tank can also lead to leaking, even if you've filled it correctly. To prevent this, leave a small amount of space when topping up your device.

There’s Problems With Your Coil

The coil is a key competent in every vape, so checking yours is in full working order is always a good idea.

Over time the cotton in your coil degrades and this means e-liquid can flow through too quickly and flood it, leaving you with a leaking vape.

The best way to check for a burnt coil is by vaping – if you notice a burnt taste, then it’s likely your coil that’s to blame. Spent coils will have very dark or black cotton peeking through the wicking hole, this looks a lot different to the bright white cotton you see on a fresh coil.

You can also look for discolouration of the e-liquid, a burnt out coil can often make your e-liquid appear brown, or even orange.

Annoying as this may be – it’s an easy fix. Changing your coil regularly ensures your vape is in tip-top condition and delivers a better flavour. To do so, either remove the coil from your pod/tank and replace it with a new one, or, in the case of built-in coil pods, replace your entire pod. For more information on changing your coil, check out our beginner’s guide to vape coils.

You’re Using The Wrong E-Liquid For Your Coil

By now, you’ll have probably come across the term ‘VG/PG concentration’. This is how much VG and PG is in your e-liquid.

There are many reasons why you might choose a high VG, 50/50 or high PG e-liquid (we go into them here), but picking the incorrect concentration can also cause your vape to leak. It all comes down to the thickness of your vape juice.

A sub ohm coil, designed for DTL vaping, is best suited to a thicker e-liquid (70% VG for example) thanks to its large wicking holes. A thinner liquid will flood your coil as it soaks through the larger wicking hole too quickly and your kit won’t have enough time to vapourise it. This e-liquid can then leak from the mouthpiece and the airflow.

Using a thicker e-liquid in an MTL kit can also create problems. These coils have smaller wicking holes, which is why they need a thin liquid that is easier to absorb. If you were to use a thick liquid the cotton won’t be able to absorb it quickly enough, and when you went to vape the coil would end up burning the cotton instead. This burning makes holes in cotton which e-liquid rushes through, causing a flooded coil that leads to a leak.

To fix this issue, make sure you’ve matched the resistance of your coil with the VG/PG concentration of your e-liquid.

Your Tank Or Pod Is Damaged

Vape kits are designed to be durable, so a damaged kit is actually very rare. If your kit has been correctly assembled but is still leaking, your pod/tank may be cracked or chipped.

These issues are easier to spot when your pod/tank is empty and clean. Once you’re ready to check, hold it up to a bright light and rotate it to inspect for damage. If you do spot any, replace your pod/tank immediately.

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Why Is My Vape Spitting?

Spitting occurs when small droplets of warm e-liquid travel up through the chimney and are inhaled along with any vapour. Whilst this can be unpleasant, it’s not dangerous – it can also be remedied. Spitting can be caused by:

• Not letting go of the button when you finish inhaling. This causes vapour to get trapped in the chimney and as it cools it turns back into liquid, which is then inhaled when you have your next vape. To fix this, try letting go of the button before you’ve finished inhaling.
• The airflow is too tight. This can restrict vapour’s ability to travel up the chimney, becoming trapped. In kits with adjustable airflows you can solve this problem by opening the airflow a little more.
• The wrong e-liquid for your coil. If your e-liquid is too thick, or your wattage too low, your vape may struggle to turn vape juice into vapour. This can cause e-liquid to pass through the cotton wick and into the chimney – and then into your mouth. Ensure you’re using the right wattage for your coil and your e-liquid. A higher VG e-liquid requires a higher wattage.
• Not cleaning your device. Washing out your pod/tank and your mouthpiece with warm water and a cotton bud can clear away excess e-liquid in your chimney. In fact, we recommend you do this every time you change your coil.

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Why Is My Vape Bubbling?

Vape juice, like any liquid, has a tendency to bubble as it heats up. It’s the sound of these bubbles breaking that creates those distinctive popping or crackling noises you encounter with a lot of vapes.

A bubbling vape is usually nothing to worry about, but we know that if your vape juice is bubbling or gurgling excessively, it can become annoying. To fix this, try opening up your airflow to allow more air into your chimney for a looser inhale. You may find that taking a deeper inhale will also stop your vape from bubbling or crackling so much.

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Summing Up

The fixes we’ve covered in this guide should be able to fix your leaking, spitting, or bubbling vape. But if the problem persists, contact our customer service team who will be happy to assist you further. Our friendly experts are available to troubleshoot your vape 7 days a week via phone, email, even live chat.