Whether you're brand new to vaping or you've been doing it for years, there's a good chance you're making at least one of these mistakes, and you might not even realise it. Vaping looks simple on the surface: fill up, fire, inhale. But get a few things wrong, and you'll find yourself burning through coils faster than you should, chasing a satisfaction you never quite reach, or wondering why your device keeps letting you down.
The most frustrating part? Most of these mistakes are completely avoidable. They're not about having the wrong device or spending more money; they're about understanding how vaping actually works and making a few small adjustments that make a big difference. We've put together the ten most common mistakes we see every day, whether that's someone buying the wrong kit to quit smoking, using the wrong e-liquid for their device, or simply not giving their kit the basic maintenance it needs to perform properly.
Get these right, and everything improves: better flavour, longer-lasting coils, a more satisfying hit, and a device that lasts. Whether you're trying to quit cigarettes for good or you just want to get more from your setup, this guide has everything you need to vape properly without the trial and error.
01 - Wrong Nicotine Strength
Getting your nicotine strength wrong is one of the most common and most damaging mistakes a vaper can make. If your strength is too low, you'll find yourself constantly reaching for your device, never feeling fully satisfied. If it's too high, you're likely to experience headaches, nausea, and an unpleasantly harsh throat hit. Both situations have the same outcome: people giving up on vaping and going back to cigarettes.
The right nicotine strength depends on how heavily you smoked. As a general guide, light smokers who were getting through fewer than ten cigarettes a day typically do well on 0-5mg. Regular smokers (around a pack a day) usually find 6-12mg works best. Heavy smokers (around 2 packs a day) will often need 13-20mg to feel properly satisfied.
It's also worth considering the format of your nicotine. Freebase nicotine (the standard type) can feel quite harsh at higher strengths. Nicotine salts, on the other hand, deliver a much smoother throat hit even at higher concentrations, making them an excellent choice for anyone who needs a stronger dose but finds traditional e-liquids uncomfortable.
Fix
Match your nicotine strength to your previous smoking habit. Light smoker: 0-5mg. Regular: 6-12mg. Heavy: 13-20mg. If the throat hit feels too harsh, switch to nicotine salts for a smoother experience at higher strengths.
Find the right nicotine strength
02 - Not Cleaning Your Device
It's easy to overlook cleaning your vape, after all, it's just a bit of e-liquid, right? But residue and dust build-up is more serious than most people realise. Over time, e-liquid can seep into the connection between your pod or tank and the device body, causing leaking, a weak or inconsistent connection, and an unreliable vaping experience.
In more serious cases, moisture and dust accumulating around the electronics can cause a short circuit - potentially frying your device's internals completely. A device that suddenly stops firing, reads errors, or cuts in and out is often a cleaning issue rather than a fault with the device itself.
The good news is that preventing this takes almost no effort. A quick wipe-down every few days is all it takes to keep your device performing at its best and protect your investment.
Fix
Regularly wipe down your device with a dry paper towel, paying particular attention to the charging port, pod connection points, and any areas where liquid tends to pool. Keep everything dry and dust-free to avoid leaks, poor connections, and electrical damage. Already fried your device?
Grab a new one and get back to vaping properly
03 - Using Multiple Flavours Per Coil
Coils are porous; they absorb e-liquid into the wicking material, and that material retains flavour long after the liquid itself is gone. This means that if you swap flavours without changing the coil, you're not getting a clean taste of your new liquid. You're getting a blend of whatever came before it, mixed with what you've just filled up.
This is particularly noticeable when switching between very different flavour profiles. Going from a strong tobacco to a fresh menthol or from a sweet strawberry to a savoury custard will produce an unpleasant hybrid that does justice to neither flavour. Some combinations are more forgiving than others (switching between similar fruit flavours, for example), but as a rule, your coil will carry the ghost of your last liquid for some time.
If you regularly enjoy multiple flavours, the most effective solution is to dedicate a coil or pod to each flavour family. Many vapers keep separate pods for their daily flavour and a second option for something different. It's a small investment that makes a significant difference to the quality of your vaping experience.
Fix
Always use a fresh coil when switching between significantly different flavour profiles. If you switch flavours regularly, consider keeping dedicated pods or coils per flavour to keep each tasting its best.
04 - Buying a Sub-Ohm to Stop Smoking
If you're switching from cigarettes to vaping, the type of device you choose matters enormously. Sub-ohm devices are powerful, cloud-producing kits designed for experienced vapers who prioritise flavour intensity and vapour volume. They're not built for people who are trying to quit smoking, and using one can seriously undermine your chances of success.
Here's why: sub-ohm devices use direct-to-lung (DTL) inhaling, which is a very different technique from smoking. They're also typically paired with low-nicotine, high-VG e-liquids that simply can't deliver the satisfaction a new quitter needs. The combination of unfamiliar inhale style, insufficient nicotine, and an overwhelming device is a recipe for frustration.
The devices designed for quitting smoking are pod kits and mouth-to-lung (MTL) starter kits. They're compact, simple, and crucially, they replicate the tight, restricted draw of a cigarette. Paired with the right nicotine strength, they're the most effective way to make the switch.
Fix
If you're quitting smoking, start with a pod kit or MTL device. They feel familiar, they're easy to use, and they work with higher nicotine strengths that actually satisfy cravings.
05 - Using the Wrong Type of E-Liquid
Not all e-liquids are compatible with all devices, and using the wrong type is a very easy mistake to make, especially for newer vapers who might assume any liquid works in any kit. The key factor is the VG/PG ratio, which refers to the balance of vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol in the e-liquid.
High VG e-liquids, typically 70% VG or above, are thick and viscous. They're designed for sub-ohm tanks, which have wider coil channels and more power to vaporise dense e-liquid efficiently. When you use a high VG liquid in a pod kit, the liquid is too thick to wick properly through the small coil channels. The result: dry hits, a burnt, acrid taste, and coils that burn out far faster than they should.
Pod kits and MTL devices need thinner liquids, typically a 50/50 (equal parts PG and VG) or a higher PG ratio. These flow easily through narrow coil channels, wick efficiently, and carry nicotine far more effectively, which makes them the ideal match for pod systems.
Fix
Always match your e-liquid to your device. Use 50/50 or high PG liquids in pod kits and MTL devices. Reserve high VG (70%+) liquids for sub-ohm tanks only.
06 - Waiting Too Long to Change Your Coil
Coils don't last forever, and knowing when to replace yours is one of the most important habits a vaper can develop. A coil that's past its best doesn't just taste bad; it actively detracts from every aspect of your vaping experience. The burnt, harsh flavour of a dead coil is one of the most off-putting things in vaping, and yet it's one of the most common complaints we hear.
The lifespan of a coil depends on how frequently you vape, what e-liquid you use, and the power setting of your device. As a general rule, most coils should be replaced every one to two weeks. Sweet and dessert flavours tend to burn out coils faster due to their higher sugar content. If you're a heavy vaper using sweet liquids, you may need to change more frequently.
The warning signs are clear: a noticeable burnt or unpleasant taste, a reduction in vapour production, or a gurgling sound when you inhale are all signs that your coil needs replacing. Don't wait until it becomes unbearable; by that point, you may already have affected the wicking material and caused residue to build up further into the tank.
Fix
Change your coil every 1–2 weeks, or sooner if you notice a burnt taste or reduced vapour. Don't push a coil past its best; it's a false economy that ruins your experience.
07 - Chain Vaping
Chain vaping, taking puff after puff with barely any pause between — is a surprisingly common habit, particularly for people who have recently switched from smoking. When you smoked, you could take drag after drag without any consequence to the cigarette itself. With a vape, it's a different story entirely.
Every time you take a puff, your coil heats up and vaporises the e-liquid that has soaked into the wicking material. Between puffs, the liquid needs time to re-saturate the wick. If you vape again before this has happened, you're applying heat to a dry wick
, which is exactly how you get that harsh, acrid burnt taste. Do this repeatedly, and you'll burn through your coil in a fraction of the time it should last, and potentially damage the wicking material permanently.
If you find it hard to pace yourself, a smart vape device might be worth considering. Many modern smart devices track your puff frequency and alert you when you're overdoing it, helping you get more from your coil and your e-liquid while avoiding the unpleasant effects of an overworked device.
Fix
Wait at least 20–30 seconds between puffs to allow your wick to re-saturate. If you find yourself chain vaping habitually, consider a smart device that monitors your usage and helps you pace yourself.
08 - Buying Unregulated or Counterfeit Products
The vaping market has unfortunately attracted a significant number of counterfeit and unregulated products, particularly as the category has grown in popularity. These products are found on unverified websites, social media marketplaces, and even some physical outlets, often sold at prices that seem too good to be true. They are.
Unregulated devices lack the safety protections found in genuine, compliant products: no overcharge protection, no short-circuit cut-off, and no temperature regulation. In the worst cases, faulty batteries in counterfeit devices have been known to fail dangerously.
Beyond safety, counterfeit e-liquids may contain unverified ingredients at uncontrolled concentrations, something you really don't want to be inhaling.
In the UK, legitimate vaping products must comply with TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) regulations and carry the relevant safety certifications. Buying from a reputable retailer, in-store or online, is the only reliable way to ensure you're getting genuine, tested, compliant products every time.
Fix
Always buy from a reputable, established retailer. Check for TPD compliance markings on e-liquids and safety certifications on devices. If the price seems suspiciously low, treat it as a warning sign.
09 - Vaping in Inappropriate Places
Vaping is not the same as smoking, but it isn't universally welcome everywhere either, and vapers who ignore this do a disservice to the wider vaping community. Vaping in enclosed public spaces, workplaces, restaurants, or on public transport without checking whether it's permitted can create conflict, contribute to a negative perception of vaping, and in some cases, land you in genuine trouble.
Beyond the social aspect, it's worth considering the people around you. Even if the vapour is far less harmful than cigarette smoke, not everyone wants to share an airspace with it and respecting that goes a long way. The vaping community has worked hard to be taken seriously as a legitimate smoking cessation tool, and inconsiderate use undermines that effort.
The practical solution for situations where vaping isn't appropriate is nicotine pouches or lozenges. Both deliver nicotine discreetly and effectively, no vapour, no smell, no disruption. Keep them on you for meetings, flights, restaurants, or anywhere else your vape isn't welcome. They're not a replacement for vaping, but they're a very useful tool to have alongside it.
Fix
Always check whether vaping is permitted before using your device in a public or enclosed space. Keep nicotine pouches or lozenges on hand for situations where vaping isn't appropriate, same nicotine satisfaction, zero vapour.
10 - Not Staying Hydrated
This one gets overlooked more than almost any other mistake on this list, and it's so easy to address. Vaping, particularly with higher PG e-liquids, can cause dry mouth and mild dehydration. Propylene glycol is hygroscopic, meaning it draws moisture from its surroundings, including the soft tissue in your mouth and throat.
The symptoms are easy to misattribute: a dry or scratchy throat, reduced flavour perception, a persistent mild headache, or a feeling that your vape "isn't quite right." Many vapers spend time troubleshooting their device or switching liquids when the real fix is simply drinking more water throughout the day.
The solution couldn't be simpler: stay properly hydrated. If you vape regularly, aim to drink a little more water than you usually would. You'll likely notice an improvement in throat comfort, flavour clarity, and your overall vaping experience fairly quickly. It's the simplest upgrade you can make, and it costs nothing.
Fix
Drink more water throughout the day, especially if you vape frequently. If you're experiencing a dry or scratchy throat, try increasing your water intake before changing your device or liquid; it's often all you need.
Not sure what's right for your setup?
Our team knows their stuff. Whether you need help choosing the right device, finding the perfect nicotine strength, or picking a liquid that actually works for your kit, we'll point you in the right direction.
0 comments