Why Does My Vape Taste Burnt? Top Reasons and Expert Solutions
If you are a beginner vaper or someone who does not have enough vaping knowledge, it’s almost guaranteed that you will experience a burnt, or dry taste. This is one of the most common issues many vapers face, and while it can be unpleasant, it does not mean that your vape kit is broken or needs replacing.
It is commonly observed that a burnt taste simply indicates a problem with the coil or the way e-liquid is absorbed into the wick. The major thing is that if you find out the cause, this issue is often easy to resolve. By following a few steps and experts' advice, you can easily restore smooth flavour and vapour production. It facilitates you to enjoy your favourite e-liquids and nicotine hits without the vape taste burnt. This blog will indicate some familiar and everyday reasons for burnt taste.
Common Causes of Vape Tastes Burnt
When the coil becomes too hot and you notice an unpleasant taste, this is known as a burnt hit. Two common terms, burnt hit and dry hit are although close to each other but not the same. A dry hit is where you get less flavour and exhale less vapour. But both ultimately affect the efficacy and pleasure of vaping experience. Below are some well-known reasons for vape burnt taste with the recommended experts’ solutions.
1. Replace Your Coil
With the device, if you experience a vape taste burnt, it’s a clear sign that your coil needs to be replaced. The coil is one of the most important components of vaping devices, heating the e-juice and converting it into vapour. Over time, coils wear out as residue from e-liquid builds up, which affects flavour and vapour quality. Regularly changing your coil is crucial for maintaining your vape's optimal performance and ensuring you get the best possible taste from your e-liquids.
Experts' Advice To Fix It
Replace the coil in your vape. Fortunately, replacing a coil is a quick and simple task, and new atomisers are quite affordable, especially when compared to the rising cost of conventional tobacco cigarettes. On average, most vapers find that a coil lasts about one to two weeks, depending on how often they vape and the type of e-liquid they use.
If you’re a light vaper, your coil might even last up to a month before needing a change. Keeping your coil fresh not only improves your vaping experience but also helps extend the life of your device.
2. Not Primed The Coil
Many vapers ask nowadays, why does my new vape taste burnt? When you install a new, high-quality vape coil, it is critically important to prime it properly before using your device. Priming allows the e-liquid to fully soak into the cotton wick inside the atomiser and prepares the coil for use. The cotton wick absorbs the e-liquid, ensuring smooth vapour and rich flavour when you start vaping.
If you skip this step and use your vape just after purchasing it, the cotton inside the coil may still be dry. When dry cotton is heated, it burns instantly, causing a harsh, burnt taste that can destroy both the coil and give you an unpleasant vaping experience.
Experts' Advice To Fix It
To fix the issue of improper coil priming, it is important to let your filled vape tank sit for 5–10 minutes before using it again. This allows the e-liquid to fully saturate the coil and should make the burnt taste disappear.
However, if the burnt flavour persists even after waiting, likely, the coil is already damaged. In that case, the only solution is to replace the coil. For vapes with replaceable coils, simply take apart your tank, unscrew the burnt coil, and screw in a new one. Once the new coil is installed, remember to prime it properly before use by letting the e-liquid soak in again.
If you’re using a cig-a-like or pen-style vape, the process is slightly different. A vape taste burnt means it’s time to replace either the cartomiser or the clearomiser (the transparent tank part in pen-style vapes). Swapping these components will quickly restore your vape’s flavour and performance, ensuring smooth, consistent hits without that burnt aftertaste.
3. Using Low-level E-liquid
Every vape kit simply relies on two main components: a coil or atomiser and a wick. The wick’s job is to soak up the e-liquid, while the coil heats up and turns that liquid into vapour when you take a puff.
If the e-liquid level gets too low, the wick will not have enough vape liquid to stay saturated. When this happens, the coil starts heating a dry wick instead of vaporising e-liquid, causing the cotton wick to burn. This results in the familiar and unpleasant burnt taste that many vapers experience.
Experts' Advice To Fix It
To prevent vape taste burnt, it’s important to keep an eye on your e-liquid levels and refill your tank or pod before it runs completely dry. Keeping your wick properly saturated not only avoids that burnt flavour but also helps your coil last longer and ensures a smoother, more flavourful vape.
- For Prefilled Pod Kits: Replace the previous pod or device with a fresh one as soon as the flavour starts to deteriorate.
- For Refillable Pod Devices: It is always suggested to keep an eye on your e-liquid level. Ensure it stays above the coil, and refill as soon as it drops too low.
4. Using The Wrong E-liquid
Another common reason for vape burnt taste is the use of wrong vape liquids. All vape kits are distinct, and using the right e-liquid for your device makes a big difference. Some widely used terms like VG, PG, sub-ohm vaping, or 50/50 have attracted many vapers to know what they mean, here’s a simple breakdown:
VG (Vegetable Glycerin)
VG is a key ingredient found in all e-liquids. It’s often blended with PG and nicotine, or just PG for nicotine-free options. Liquids with higher VG content deliver a smoother throat hit and produce thick, dense vapour clouds, perfect for those who enjoy big, cloudy exhales.
PG (Propylene Glycol)
PG is responsible for carrying the flavour in your vape juice. E-liquids high in PG may not produce as much vapour, but they offer a stronger, more defined taste and a noticeable throat hit similar to traditional smoking.
Sub-Ohm Vaping
This refers to vaping with coils that have a resistance of less than 1 ohm. Lower-resistance coils heat up faster, creating bigger clouds and intense flavour, ideal for direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping. On the other hand, higher-resistance coils are better for mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping, similar to how you inhale a cigarette.
50/50 E-Liquid
A 50/50 vape juice contains an equal mix of VG and PG. This balance gives a smooth mix of flavour and vapour, making it suitable for most vape devices, especially those with higher-resistance coils. Other than this, you can also use blends like 70/30 or 80/20, which shift the balance toward either more VG (for vapours) or more PG (for flavour).
Experts' Advice To Fix It
The simplest solution is to make sure you’re using the right e-liquid to prevent vape tastes from burning. Most vape juices will clearly mention which devices they’re suited for, but here’s an easy guide to follow:
- If you’re using a vape pen or a device with a high-resistance coil (1.0 ohm or higher), go for 50/50 e-liquids or nicotine salt juices. These provide smooth flavour, a gentle throat hit, and work best at lower power levels.
- If you’re using a box mod, like Geekvape Aegis T200, or a sub-ohm device, such as Vaporesso Armour Max G, with low-resistance coils, choose high-VG e-liquids or shortfills. These are designed for bigger clouds, rich flavour, and higher wattage vaping.
5. Vaping at Too High Power
Most vapes come with adjustable power settings that allow users to personalise their vaping experience. Lower wattage creates a cooler, smoother vape, while higher wattage delivers warmer, more intense vapour. However, setting the wattage too high can overheat the coil, causing the cotton wick inside to burn and produce an unpleasant burnt taste. Once the wick is scorched, the flavour will remain bad until the coil is replaced. Many devices have variable wattage controls or automatically adjust power based on coil resistance, but box mods and advanced kits require manual adjustment. To avoid burnt hits and extend coil life, it’s important to stay within the recommended wattage range printed on the coil.
Experts' Advice To Fix It
Start by using your vape at a low wattage and slowly turn it up until you find the level that gives the best flavour and comfort. If the vapour feels too hot or tastes burnt, lower the power right away.
Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for the recommended wattage; you will find it printed in small text on the coil. As a general guide, coils with a resistance above 1.0 ohm work best between 10W and 16W, while coils below 1.0 ohm perform better between 18W and 50W.
6. Installed The Wrong Coil Resistance
In the UK vape market, various brands like Vaporesso, Innokin, Jomo Tech and Voopoo, have launched many premium coils in different resistances. When you buy the new device, it comes with two different atomisers of different resistances in the package.
This lets you experiment with both coil options to see which one feels right for your vaping style. Keep in mind that different coil resistances need different power levels to work properly. A higher resistance coil needs less power to produce the same amount of vapour and heat as a lower resistance coil.
Experts' Advice To Fix It
It is recommended to adjust the power or wattage of your vape to match the resistance of the coil you’re using. Every coil type performs best within a certain wattage range, and finding the right balance will make a big difference in both flavour and vapour production. Using too much power with a high-resistance coil can cause the vape burnt taste, while too little power with a low-resistance coil may lead to weak vapour and muted flavour.
To get the best results, always check the expert’s recommended wattage range printed on the coil or listed in your device manual. Staying within this range ensures your coil heats evenly, lasts longer, and delivers a smooth, satisfying vape.
Wind-up Lines
To conclude the explanation, it is stated that a burnt vape is never enjoyable, but the good news is that it’s rarely the end of your device and can almost always be fixed with a few simple steps. Whether you’ve just started vaping or have been using the same setup for a while, knowing how to look after your coil properly makes a huge difference in both performance and flavour.
However, if you’ve tried everything and are still noticing a vape taste burnt or your coils seem to burn out quickly, it might be worth reviewing your entire setup. The problem could lie in the type of e-liquid you’re using, your coil resistance, or even your power settings.
