Few things in vaping are more annoying than a burnt vape. Sometimes, the burnt flavor comes on suddenly, and other times, it’s more of a gradual process. Either way, though, it severely detracts from the experience. A good vape oil or wax concentrate is rich in delicate terpenes, and you can’t taste those expensive terpenes if they’re covered by a flavor that’s harsh and burnt. Worse yet, the flavor of a burnt vape may be so bad in some cases that it gives you a sore throat or makes you cough.
Is it bad to hit a burnt vape? Anything that makes you cough is probably not something that you want to inhale, so we’d say it’s definitely in your best interest to fix your burnt vape if you can – and in this guide, we’ll tell you what your options are.
The best way to fix a burnt vape depends on the type of device you’re using and what the specific symptoms of the issue are. With that in mind, we’re going to divide this article into two sections explaining what you can do about a burnt vape pen and how to fix a burnt dab pen. Let’s dive in and get your device working.
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How to Fix a Burnt Vape Pen
We’ll begin with instructions for fixing a burnt vape pen. If you’re using a 510-thread battery and a vape cartridge, you’ll find the troubleshooting steps you need here.
Make Sure the Cartridge Is Fully Primed
If you’ve just filled an empty vape cartridge for the first time and are getting a burnt flavor, chances are that you tried vaping immediately after filling the cartridge. That’s one of the most common mistakes that people make with empty vape carts. The reason why a new cartridge produces a burnt flavor is because it isn’t fully primed yet. The ceramic core still has some dry pockets, and that causes the cartridge’s coil to overheat. Vape oil is extremely viscous; that’s why you have to push the plunger so firmly to dispense the oil into the cartridge. Because the oil is so thick, you need to give it plenty of time to absorb. Wait about a half hour and try vaping again.
Make Sure Your Cartridge Isn’t Empty
If your vape pen started producing a burnt flavor suddenly after tasting completely normal for a while, you should check to confirm that the cartridge isn’t empty. Since many discreet vapes use a compact design that hides most of the cartridge inside the body of the device, it’s easy to lose track of how much oil you have left. If your vape pen doesn’t have a window that allows you to see the cartridge, you’ll need to pull the cart out of the device periodically to check your oil supply.
Unclog the Cartridge
If you’re certain that your cartridge is fully primed and are getting a burnt taste anyway, it’s possible that the cartridge is clogged because it’s been stored at a cool temperature, increasing the viscosity of the oil. If that’s the case, you’ll need to loosen the oil by warming the cartridge. If your vape pen has an automatic preheating function, that should do the trick. If not, remove the cartridge and hold it in front of a warm vent for a few minutes. You can also seal the cartridge in a plastic bag and run hot water over it. Once the oil loosens, it should begin flowing smoothly through the cartridge again.
Lower Your Vape Pen’s Voltage
If you have a high-end vape pen like the CCELL® Palm Pro, there’s a good chance that your device has adjustable voltage. Having a variable-voltage device is a good thing because it allows you to get bigger clouds out of a cartridge that’s a bit on the weak side, but it’s also a bad thing because it means that you can set your device to a higher power level than what your cartridge can actually support. If you’re using a new vape cart for the first time, you should always set your device to the lowest available voltage and ramp it up slowly.
Replace the Cartridge if It’s Old
Are you using a refillable cartridge? If you are, it’s important to be mindful of the fact that no cart lasts forever. After a few refills, the cartridge will start to produce a burnt flavor because of the residue that collects on the coil. If you’re on your third or fourth refill, it’s time to start thinking about replacing the cartridge.
How to Fix a Burnt Dab Pen
If you’re using a dab pen, you vape by placing wax on your device’s coil before you vape. Because dab pens tend to operate at very high temperatures, they can sometimes be a little harsh. The good news, though, is that a dab coil is a fairly simple mechanism compared to a vape cart and is pretty easy to troubleshoot as a result. Here’s how to fix a burnt dab pen.
Make Sure the Wax Is Fully Softened
Did you experience an extremely harsh, burnt flavor when you hit your dab pen for the first time? If so, you need to learn the first rule of hitting a dab pen properly: Don’t inhale until the wax is completely softened. After putting the wax on the coil, pulse your device by pressing the fire button a few times or by puffing a few times without inhaling. Remove the dab pen’s mouthpiece and check the coil. If the wax is fully liquified, you can take a full puff. If not, soften the wax a little more.
Lower Your Dab Pen’s Voltage
When it comes to variable-voltage functionality, the same rule applies to both vape pens and dab pens – set your device to a low power level and ramp it up slowly. If you get a burnt hit, the voltage is too high.
Clean Your Dab Coil
One of the great things about using a dab pen is that a wax coil can produce a high-quality flavor for a long time. That’s only true, though, if you keep the coil clean. When a dab coil begins to produce a burnt flavor because of dark residue, remove the coil and soak it in rubbing alcohol for an hour or so. Rinse the coil and allow it to dry completely before you use it again.
Use a Bubbler or Water Pipe
Are you getting a burnt flavor with your dab pen regardless of what you do? If that’s the case, you’ll want to consider connecting your device to a bubbler. When you use a bubbler, the vapor from your dab pen passes through water before you inhale it. The water lowers the vapor’s temperature, greatly reducing harshness. At Hamilton Devices, we offer several dab pens that make it easy for you to enjoy water filtration.
- The KR1 vaporizer ($69.99) has a built-in bubbler.
- The PS1 vaporizer ($79.99) has a built-in bubbler.
- The Nomad vaporizer ($66.99) comes with a glass bubbler attachment. It also comes with a water pipe adapter.