A vape that is not producing vapour, or producing very little, is one of the most frustrating vaping problems, especially if it worked fine yesterday. The good news is that most causes are simple and fixable without any technical knowledge. Here are the eight most common causes and how to resolve each one.
1. The Battery is Dead or Low
The most common cause by a significant margin. If your device has no charge, it cannot heat the coil and produce vapour. Even a low battery can result in weak, unsatisfying hits before the device stops producing vapour entirely.
Fix: charge your device via USB-C. All current mainstream vape kits use USB-C charging. Most vape kits have an LED indicator showing battery level. A solid light when connected usually indicates charging. A flashing light when you try to fire often indicates a dead or critically low battery.
2. The Coil is Burnt Out or Flooded
A worn-out coil that has reached the end of its lifespan may produce almost no vapour before giving a faint burnt taste. A flooded coil, where too much e-liquid has saturated the wick beyond its capacity, can also reduce or prevent vapour production and cause a gurgling sound.
Fix for burnt coil: replace the coil. Pair it with a tank clean for best results.
Fix for flooded coil: remove the coil and gently blow through the top (mouthpiece end) of the tank onto a piece of tissue to clear excess liquid. Leave the coil to air for a few minutes before reinstalling. If flooding is persistent, reduce how hard you draw on the device.
3. The Pod or Tank is Empty
It sounds obvious but it is frequently overlooked, particularly with pod kits that have opaque pods where the liquid level is not visible. Running a coil dry produces little to no vapour and risks burning the wick.
Fix: check the liquid level in your pod or tank. Refill if needed and wait 3 to 5 minutes before vaping to allow the wick to re-saturate. If your pod has a transparent window, check it regularly as part of your vaping routine.
4. The Airflow is Blocked
Many devices have adjustable airflow rings or slots. If the airflow is partially or fully closed, very little air can flow through the device, resulting in weak or no vapour. E-liquid residue can also build up on airflow slots and partially block them over time.
Fix: check your airflow control ring and open it to the appropriate setting for your vaping style. Clean any residue from the airflow slots with a cotton bud.
5. The Device is Not Firing
For devices with a fire button, check whether the button is functioning. Some devices have a safety feature that locks the button after a certain number of presses, usually five rapid clicks toggles the device on and off. If the device is locked, five rapid clicks will unlock it.
For draw-activated pod kits with no button, check that the pod is properly seated in the device. A pod that is not fully inserted may not make the electrical connection needed to fire.
6. A Connection Issue Between the Tank or Pod and Device
The 510 connection on tank devices or the pod contact on pod kits can accumulate e-liquid residue over time, preventing a clean electrical connection. This results in the device not firing at all or producing very weak vapour.
Fix: remove the tank or pod. Inspect the contacts on both the device and the tank or pod. Clean any visible residue with a dry cotton bud. Reinsert and test.
7. The Coil Resistance Does Not Match the Device
If you have installed a replacement coil with a resistance outside the supported range of your device, the device may not fire the coil efficiently or at all. Most devices have a supported coil resistance range printed in the manual or on the device itself.
Fix: check the resistance of your coil (printed on the coil itself) against your device's supported resistance range. If they do not match, you need a compatible coil. Browse our coil range and check compatibility with your device
8. The Device Has a Fault
If you have worked through all the above and the device still produces no vapour, the device itself may have a fault. This is less common but does occur, particularly with older devices or those that have been dropped.
Fix: contact our customer service team. We have been helping vapers troubleshoot their devices since 2012 and can advise on whether the device needs replacing or whether there is a further fix to try. If the device is recent and not working correctly, it may be covered under the manufacturer warranty.
Quick Troubleshooting Checklist
- Battery charged? Charge via USB-C and try again.
- Pod or tank has liquid? Refill and wait 5 minutes.
- Airflow open? Check the airflow ring or slots.
- Device on? Try 5 rapid clicks to unlock.
- Pod seated correctly? Remove and reinsert the pod.
- Contacts clean? Wipe with a dry cotton bud.
- Coil burnt out? Replace with a new primed coil.
- Coil compatible? Check resistance matches device range.
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