To prime the coil, start by adding a few drops to the exposed wick. Then fill your tank or pod and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
A burnt vape taste usually happens when the coil cotton isn’t fully soaked, the liquid level is too low, or the power is too high. Rechargeable vapes can taste burnt for the same reasons, plus chain vaping and poor airflow.
TL;DR: Quick Fixes
- Stop vaping for 5–10 minutes
- Check liquid level (cotton holes must be covered)
- Lower wattage / switch to Normal/Eco mode
- Let a refilled pod sit first (prime)
- Replace the coil/pod if it’s already burnt
If the burnt taste comes back, here’s what’s actually causing it and how to stop it happening again.
Burnt coils are the bane of a vaper's existence. There is nothing worse than puffing on your vape only to inhale the acrid taste of burnt cotton - it stops you in your tracks.
If you're lucky, you just have to swap out the entire pod for a new one, wasting e-liquid and money in the process. Otherwise, you need to go through a messy coil change, rinse out your pod or tank, dry it and start again.
Fortunately, you can stop your coil from burning by following a few easy steps. In this article, we are going to explain how coils work and show you how to use them properly. Let's dive in.
Table of Contents
1. Why Does My Vape Taste Burnt?
Coils soak up e-liquid and turn it into vapour. So why do coils seem to randomly burn?
Your cotton is wrapped around a heating element and if it hasn't soaked up enough e-liquid, it will burn when you activate your kit. This is known in vaping circles as a 'dry hit'.
Here is what you can do to stop a vape coil from burning:
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Prime your vape coil.
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Make sure your e-liquid is topped up.
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Don't chain vape.
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Reduce your power.
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Avoid dark e-liquids.
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Check your airflow.
2. Signs of a Burnt Coil
- Burnt vape taste (harsh, dry, peppery, or burnt cotton flavour)
- Flavour suddenly drops off or tastes off (muted, bitter, or not like it should)
- Burnt smell from the mouthpiece or vapour (sometimes overly sweet/charred)
- E-liquid looks darker than usual (especially after a few refills)
- Coil cotton/wick looks brown, black, or scorched (visible damage = coil likely burnt)
3. Can I Fix This or is The Coil Ruined?
If the burnt taste happened once and the pod wasn’t primed: you might recover it after resting, topping up & lowering power. If it tastes burnt constantly: the cotton is likely scorched so replace coil/pod.
4. How to Stop a Vape Coil From Burning (Prevention)
Most burnt coils can be avoided by using the right settings, keeping your coil properly saturated, and giving it time to cool between puffs.
Prime Your Vape Coil
A new coil always needs to be primed first to give it enough time to soak up e-liquid before you use it. All you need to do is fill up your pod or vape tank with e-liquid and wait for 5 minutes. If you are using a high VG e-liquid with a thicker consistency, then wait for 10 minutes before you fire up your vape.
Top Up Your E-Liquid
If your tank or pod runs low your coil will vape what it has soaked up and then it will burn. Your e-liquid doesn't always have to be full to the brim, but it needs to cover the visible cotton in your coil. This should usually be at about the halfway mark in your pod/tank.
Don't Chain Vape
Coils heat up every time you take a puff, keep doing this nonstop and the element can overheat, shortening its lifespan and risking a dry hit. It can also get so hot that it caramelises the e-liquid, leading to a burnt taste.
Hot e-liquid can also seep through the cotton in your coil and leave you with a leaking vape.
All of us are guilty of this at some point, whether lost in your favourite TV show or on a night out, you can easily lose track of how much you are vaping.
Unlike cigarettes, vaping has no cut-off point, so you need to remember to put your vape down every now and then. Try and vape for 2 minutes at a time to give your coil a break.
Reduce Your Power Level
Some more advanced vape devices allow you to adjust the wattage, giving you control over the power delivered to the coil. However, it's important to remember that each coil has a specific operating range. For instance, these SMOK coils have various resistances which each have their own wattage range. Exceeding the recommended power can cause the coil to overheat and burn the cotton.
Being able to adjust the power level allows you to fine-tune your vape, as changes in heat influence the rate and amount of e-liquid vaporisation, which in turn affects both flavour and cloud production.
If on the other hand, you can't adjust the power on your vape kit or your device has a SMART Mode setting, you needn't worry as the smart chip in the device will automatically detect the coil's resistance and set the power level for you.
Avoid Overly Sweet and Dark Liquids
Vapers of dessert flavours are particularly prone to this problem as any e-liquids that are especially sugary can caramelise on the coil over time.
Not all dessert flavours will do this, but it's worth keeping an eye out for extremely dark liquids as these are guaranteed to be 'coil killers'.
They may taste great, but you pay for it with a certainty that your coil will gunk up pretty soon, it won't vape efficiently and that gunk can start to give you a burnt taste.
Check Your Airflow
And finally, if you've done all of these things and you're still getting a burnt taste then you might want to take note of how you hold your vape.
Airflow not only carries all your vapour, it also cools down your coil. Take note of where your airflow inlets are and make sure you don't inadvertently block them with your fingers.
Additionally, if you have adjustable airflow make sure it's not closed off fully, otherwise your coil will overheat pretty quickly.
5. Choosing the Right Coil
Matching Resistance
Your new vape kit will come with one or two coil options to get you started. This will give you an idea of what range of coils you need to look for.
Here is an example of what to expect:
Wattage Range
Remember to stick within the coil's wattage range. Use too little power and you may find that your vape is lacklustre, use too much power and you can burn the coil. If you can't adjust the wattage, then you needn't worry as your vape kit will set the optimal power level for you.
If you want to dive down further into coils and resistance, our handy Coils Buying Guide will tell you everything you need to know.
6. FAQs
How do I properly prime my coil to prevent it from burning?
How often should I replace my vaping coil?
This depends on how often you vape and what type of e-liquid you are using, but generally a coil should last you between 1-2 weeks.
Can the type of e-liquid I use affect my coil's lifespan?
Absolutely. Vaping at a wattage that's too high for your coil can cause it to burn out quickly. Always check the recommended wattage range of your coil and adjust your power accordingly.
Can the type of e-liquid I use affect my coil's lifespan?
Yes, e-liquids with higher VG (vegetable glycerine) content are thicker and can cause your coil to burn out faster, especially for coils not designed for high VG e-liquids. Additionally, sweeter e-liquids like desserts can leave a residue that clogs the coil.
Does the wattage I vape at affect my coil?
Absolutely. Vaping at a wattage that's too high for your coil can cause it to burn out quickly. Always check the recommended wattage range of your coil and adjust your power accordingly.
Can cleaning my coil extend its lifespan?
We don't recommend that you rinse out your coils as once a coil is burnt there is no going back and it's better to replace it with a new one.
Why does my vape taste burnt on a new coil?
Usually the coil wasn’t primed long enough. Fill your tank or pod and wait 5 for minutes (10 minutes for thicker high-VG liquids). Make sure that your wattage is within the coils operating range. This is usually printed on the side of the coil, or visit the product page online.
Why does my rechargeable vape taste burnt even when it’s full?
The power can be too high for the pod/coil, or the wick can’t keep up if you chain vape. Lower the wattage/mode and pause between puffs. Coils can overheat if you vape continuously.
Can a burnt taste go away?
If it was a brief dry hit, sometimes resting and topping up helps. If your coil tastes burnt continuously, the coil cotton is likely scorched and needs replacing.
What’s the fastest way to stop burnt hits?
Stop vaping, top up you vape juice so that all the cotton holes are covered, lower power, and let the pod sit before trying again.
7. Conclusion
Properly primed and paired with the right e-liquid, you can reduce the likelihood of burning a coil. Remember to take frequent breaks in between vaping and keep your e-liquid topped up, with your airflow at least a little bit open.
Remember to buy only the best quality e-liquids, keep your tank topped up to ensure that burnt taste is a thing of the past.
If you would like to share your thoughts on this article or your experiences with burnt vape coils, please add a comment below.
8. Additional Resources:
www.vapesuperstore.co.uk contains general information about vaping and vapour products. The information provided is not medical advice, and should not be relied upon unless explicitly cited. We do not make any warranties surrounding the health benefits, reliability and accuracy of written copy across all pages on our website, including blog content and content posted on social media.