Blogs

Vaping seems simple—just inhale and enjoy, right? But if you’re new to it, there are a few common mistakes that can ruin your experience. Some might cause harsh hits, leaking, or weak vapor, while others could burn out your coil too fast or waste your e-liquid.

To help you vape like a pro from day one, let’s go over the biggest mistakes beginners make and how to avoid them.

Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid while Vaping

1. Inhaling the Wrong Way

Not all vapes work the same way, and inhaling incorrectly can mess up your experience. If you’ve ever taken a hit from a vape and thought, "Why does this feel weird?", you might be inhaling wrong.

There are two main vaping styles:

• Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) – This is how most people smoke cigarettes. You draw vapor into your mouth first, then inhale it into your lungs. Best for pod systems and smaller vapes with higher nicotine levels.
• Direct-to-Lung (DTL) – This is used with bigger vapes (like box mods). You inhale straight into your lungs, like taking a deep breath. Best for low-nicotine, high-vapor devices.

Mistake: Inhaling too sharply or using the wrong method for your device.
Fix: Start with slow, controlled pulls and match your inhale style to your vape type.

2. Choosing the Wrong Nicotine Strength

Picking the wrong nicotine strength is one of the biggest reasons people don’t enjoy vaping.

• Too much nicotine? You might get dizzy, nauseous, or experience a harsh throat hit.
• Too little nicotine? It might not feel satisfying, and you’ll end up taking more puffs than necessary.

How to Choose the Right Nicotine Strength:

• If you’re a heavy smoker (a pack a day or more) → Go for 20mg+ nicotine salts for a strong but smooth hit.
• If you’re a light smoker or social smoker → Stick to 6mg-12mg for a balanced experience.
• If you just want the vaping experience without much nicotine → 3mg or nicotine-free options work best.

Mistake: Choosing nicotine that’s too strong or too weak.
Fix: Start low and work your way up until you find what feels right.

3. Not Priming the Coil (Burnt Hits!)

Ever taken a hit from your vape and immediately tasted something burnt? That’s because the coil wasn’t primed properly before use.

A coil is a small heating element inside your vape that turns liquid into vapor. If it’s dry when you fire it, the cotton inside burns instantly. Once it’s burnt, there’s no saving it—you’ll have to replace it.

How to Prime Your Coil Properly:

• Add a few drops of vape juice directly onto the coil’s cotton before installing it.
• Fill the tank and let it sit for at least 5-10 minutes before vaping.
• Take a few dry pulls (inhale without pressing the button) to pull liquid into the coil faster.

Mistake: Vaping too soon after installing a new coil.
Fix: Always prime your coil first to avoid nasty burnt hits.

4. Chain Vaping (Overheating the Coil)

Vaping is smooth and enjoyable—until you start chain-vaping and suddenly everything tastes weird. Taking back-to-back puffs too quickly overheats the coil, making it dry out and burn faster.

• Signs of overheating: Harsh throat hits, weak flavor, or a burnt taste.
• Why it happens: Coils need a second or two to reabsorb e-liquid after each puff.

How to Avoid Overheating Your Coil:

• Wait at least 5-10 seconds between hits to let the coil soak up more liquid.
• If your vape has adjustable wattage, don’t set it too high—higher wattage = faster coil burnout.
• If your device has airflow control, open it up a bit to keep the coil cool.

Mistake: Taking too many hits too fast, not giving the coil time to recover.
Fix: Slow down! Let your vape cool down between puffs.

5. Storing Your Vape the Wrong Way

How you store your vape affects how well it works. If you just throw it in your pocket or leave it in a hot car, you might run into problems.

Common Vape Storage Mistakes:

• Leaving your vape in a hot car – Heat can damage the battery and thin out your e-liquid.
• Storing it upside down – E-liquid can leak out, making a mess in your bag or pocket.
• Not turning it off before carrying it – Pocket-firing can burn out your coil.

How to Store Your Vape Properly:

• Keep it upright in a cool, dry place.
• Turn it off before putting it in your pocket or bag.
• If you’re not using it for a while, remove the pod/tank to prevent leaks.

Mistake: Letting your vape overheat, leak, or fire accidentally.
Fix: Store it correctly to keep it working smoothly.

6. Using the Wrong Vape Juice for Your Device

Not all e-liquids work in every vape. Using the wrong juice can lead to weak hits, leaks, or burnt coils.

How to Choose the Right Vape Juice:

• Small pod vapes? Use nicotine salts (higher nicotine, thinner liquid, 50/50 PG/VG).
• Big box mods? Use freebase nicotine (lower nicotine, thicker liquid, 70/30 VG/PG).

Mistake: Using high-VG juice in a small device or high-PG juice in a powerful mod.
Fix: Match your e-liquid type to your vape.

7. Ignoring Vape Maintenance

If you never clean your vape, it will eventually taste weird, leak, or stop working properly.

Basic Vape Maintenance Tips:

• Wipe down your vape regularly—especially the mouthpiece and battery contacts.
• Clean your tank every 1-2 weeks with warm water and let it dry completely.
• Replace your coil every 1-2 weeks (or when flavor starts tasting off).

Mistake: Letting gunk build up inside your vape.
Fix: Clean your vape regularly for better performance.

Final Thoughts – Vape Like a Pro!

Vaping should be smooth, enjoyable, and hassle-free, but these beginner mistakes can ruin the experience. Avoid these common errors, and you’ll enjoy:

Better flavor from your vape juice.
Longer-lasting coils that don’t burn out too fast.
A smoother, more satisfying vape experience.