Why does my vape leak?
Leaking liquid isn’t fun for anyone. More recent pod devices and tanks are pretty good at avoiding this issue, but there are still some things that can cause your kit to leak. Here, we’ll go through some simple steps to follow to avoid this.
Check your glass and seals
The very first thing to check would be your glass and seals. For glass tanks, check for any cracks that juice can escape from. Failing this, check the o-rings that create the air seal. These are located at the top and bottom of the glass, and can damage over time through use. If the o-rings are damaged, it means the tank cannot create a proper air seal, and therefore gives the liquid a way to escape. Most kits will provide spare o-rings in the box for this reason. The damaged ones can simply be removed and replaced with new ones.
Most pod devices will use a plastic pod rather than a glass tank. Check for the same things here, any cracks in the pod/seals. If your pod has a rubber seal that holds the liquid in where you fill it, check that this isn’t damaged as well. Pods are easily replaceable if they become damaged over time, and normally inexpensive. You can search for our replacement pods here.
If you are using a pod device with a push fit coil, it’s also worth checking that your coil is properly fitted. If there are any gaps, it again means the pod cannot make a proper air seal.
Make sure you fill your device correctly
Some pods and tanks have a centre section called a chimney. This is a tube that runs from the coil to your mouthpiece. If any liquid gets into this chimney section while filling your device, this will cause leaking, gurgling and sometimes spitting.
The best practice is to fill your tank at an angle, this helps to prevent juice from getting where it shouldn’t be. We also recommend not over filling your device, leaving some air in the tank helps to keep the liquid in.
Coils and VG / PG Ratios
The next thing to check, is that you are using the appropriate coils for the liquid you have. The higher the amount of VG a liquid has, the thicker it is, and the more power is needed in order to efficiently vaporise it. So if you are using a 70VG / 30PG liquid in a smaller, higher resistance coil, this can cause issues with the coil burning and even leaking, as the liquid is too thick for the cotton to fully absorb and hold on to. For these smaller devices, we recommend using a 50VG / 50 PG mixture.
The same goes the other way too. When using a 50VG / 50PG liquid in a very low resistance coil, the liquid is too thin. The cotton inside the coil cannot hold on to the thinner liquid, causing it to leak and even burn.
To summarise, for high resistance coils (0.6ohm and higher), we recommend a maximum of 50VG / 50PG liquid. For low resistance coils (0.5ohm and lower), we recommend using a minimum of 60VG / 40PG.
If you want to read more about VG and PG, you can do so here.
Check your wattage
Underpowering a coil can cause it to leak with certain liquids. When underpowering a coil, it simply can’t heat the liquid enough to vaporise, causing it to thin and leak. Check the power rating for your coil (usually in watts) and ensure that your device is set to the appropriate wattage/power level.
Coils do also expire after usage or even if they’ve just been sitting in the device for too long. Once they do, they begin to lose their ability to wick. This essentially means it will lose the ability to hold on to liquid. We recommend changing your coil every 5-10 days, this ensures that your device is always at top performance and prevents dry-hits and leaking. You can read our handy guide on how to change your coil here, or refer to the user manual in the box.
Overheating
Leaving your device in direct sunlight or in a generally hot environment, such as a hot car etc, can also lead to leaking. This is because heat actually thins e-liquid, and some coils simply cannot hold onto the liquid. This causes the liquid to seep through the cotton and out of the bottom.
