Dry Hits, Weak Flavour & Leaks: How to Fix the Most Common Vaping Problems

Published: March 2026 | Category: How-To / Troubleshooting | Read time: 8 min

Even if you've been vaping for years, chances are you've run into at least one of these problems: a sudden burnt, horrible hit out of nowhere, a tank that's decided to leak all over your pocket, or flavour that's gone suspiciously flat. The good news? Nearly every common vaping problem has a straightforward fix — and you don't need to be technical to sort it.

In this guide, we'll walk through the most frequent issues vapers face and exactly what to do about each one.

The Dry Hit: Why Does My Vape Taste Burnt?

If you've ever taken a drag and been hit with a harsh, acrid, almost charred taste, that's a dry hit — and it's one of the most unpleasant experiences in vaping. So what causes it?

What's actually happening

Your coil has an absorbent wicking material (usually cotton) that needs to be saturated with e-liquid before it's heated. When the cotton is dry or partially dry, the coil burns the material itself instead of vaporising the juice. That's the burnt taste you're getting.

The most common causes of dry hits

Your tank is running low. This is the number one cause. When e-liquid levels drop too low, the wicking ports on your coil can sit above the liquid line, starving the cotton. Keep your tank at least a quarter full.

You're chain vaping. Taking hit after hit doesn't give the wick time to re-saturate between draws. If you tend to vape heavily, try leaving 5–10 seconds between puffs.

Your wattage is too high. Running your coil above its rated wattage vaporises e-liquid faster than the wick can keep up. Always stay within the wattage range printed on your coil — and when breaking in a new coil, start at the lower end.

Your coil is burnt out. Coils don't last forever. If you've been using the same one for two to four weeks and the flavour has been gradually declining, it's probably just time for a replacement.

Your e-liquid is too thick. High-VG e-liquids (70%+ VG) are thicker and wick more slowly. If you're using a high-VG juice in a coil designed for 50/50, it may struggle to absorb quickly enough.

💡 Pro Tip: Always keep replacement coils on hand so you're never caught without a fresh one. Most coils last 1–3 weeks depending on usage and e-liquid type.

The fix

• Top up your tank before it gets too low
• Replace your coil if it's been in use for more than three weeks
• Reduce your wattage by a few watts and test from there
• When fitting a new coil, prime it first — drip a few drops of e-liquid directly onto the cotton wicking holes and the centre of the coil, then let it sit for 5–10 minutes before your first use

Weak or Muted Flavour: Why Does My Vape Taste Like Nothing?

You loaded up a flavour you love, but it's coming through flat, muted, or completely tasteless. This is frustrating, especially when you know the juice should taste great.

Vaper's tongue

First things first — it might not be your device at all. Vaper's tongue is a well-documented phenomenon where your taste receptors become temporarily desensitised to a particular flavour, especially one you vape constantly. It can happen suddenly and last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.

The fix: Switch to a different flavour for a few days, stay well hydrated, and your palate will usually reset on its own. Smelling freshly ground coffee beans is an old trick that some vapers swear by.

💡 Tip: Combat vaper's tongue by rotating between different e-liquid flavours. Keep 2–3 different profiles in rotation to keep your palate fresh.

Hardware reasons for weak flavour

Your coil needs replacing. As coils age, residue builds up on the cotton and the coil itself. This gunks up the flavour profile and mutes it significantly. A fresh coil almost always restores lost flavour immediately.

Your wattage is too low. Every coil has a sweet spot. If you're running well below the recommended wattage range, you're not fully vaporising the e-liquid, which means weaker, thinner flavour. Try nudging the wattage up incrementally.

Your airflow is too open. Wide-open airflow produces a cooler, airier vape — which dilutes flavour. Try tightening the airflow a little to concentrate the vapour.

Your tank needs a clean. Residue from old or strongly flavoured e-liquids can linger in the tank and contaminate new juice. Disassemble your tank, rinse the components with warm water, and allow everything to dry completely before reassembling.

You're using a high-nicotine salt. Nicotine salts at higher concentrations can sometimes mask flavour subtleties. If you're on a high-strength nic salt and flavour seems muted, it's worth trying a lower concentration.

Vape Leaking: How to Stop Your Tank From Leaking

Few things are more annoying than pulling your vape out of your pocket only to find it's coated in e-liquid. Leaking is common, but it's almost always fixable.

Why vapes leak

The coil isn't seated properly. This is the most common cause. If your coil is cross-threaded or not fully tightened, e-liquid will find its way through the gap. Remove the coil, clean the threads, and screw it back in firmly — but don't overtighten.

A seal or O-ring is damaged. O-rings are the small rubber rings that create a watertight seal between components. Over time, they can crack, flatten, or perish. Inspect them whenever you clean your tank. Most replacement coil packs or tanks come with spare O-rings — keep them.

The tank wasn't filled correctly. When filling, make sure you're pouring e-liquid down the side of the fill port, not directly into the central airflow chimney. Flooding the chimney is a fast way to get e-liquid in places it shouldn't be.

Temperature changes. Taking your vape from a cold environment into a warm one (or vice versa) can cause the e-liquid to thin and expand, pushing it through seals. If this happens frequently, try keeping less liquid in the tank when you're moving between environments.

Your tank is stored on its side or upside down. Always store your device upright when not in use. Horizontal or inverted storage allows gravity to pull e-liquid through airflow slots.

The coil is flooded. Sometimes e-liquid gets into the coil's chimney. If you notice gurgling sounds and some leaking, the coil may be flooded. Remove the tank, take the coil out, and blow gently through the top of the tank into a tissue to clear excess liquid.

The fix checklist

• Reassemble everything carefully and ensure all components are tightened securely
• Replace any O-rings that look worn, stretched, or discoloured
• Fill slowly and avoid overfilling — stop just below the max fill line
• Store your device upright
• If flooding is frequent, try reducing your airflow or lowering your wattage slightly

💡 Tip: If you're constantly dealing with leaks, it might be time to upgrade to a more reliable device. Modern pod systems feature improved leak-resistant designs.

Spitting and Gurgling: Why Is My Vape Popping?

If you're getting small hot droplets of e-liquid in your mouth or hearing a loud, wet gurgling when you draw, your coil is most likely flooded or the wattage is too low to properly vaporise the liquid.

The fix

• Flick the device downward (with the mouthpiece pointing down) a couple of times to clear pooled liquid, then blow through the mouthpiece into a tissue
• Increase your wattage slightly to ensure the coil is burning off liquid effectively
• If the problem persists, replace the coil — some coils develop flooding issues once their wicking deteriorates

Device Not Firing: Why Won't My Vape Work?

You press the button and nothing happens. Before you assume the worst, run through these checks:

• Five-click lock: Most devices require five rapid clicks to unlock/lock. Try five quick presses and see if the device responds
• Battery level: Charge the device fully before assuming there's a fault
• Connection issues: Remove the tank or pod, clean the connection points at the base with a cotton bud, and reattach
• Atomiser error message: If you're seeing "no atomiser" or "check atomiser" on a screen, the coil connection is the likely culprit — reinstall the coil, ensuring it's properly seated

Quick Troubleshooting Reference

When to Replace Your Coil

As a general guide, most coils last between one and three weeks depending on how heavily you vape and what e-liquids you use. Sweetened e-liquids and dark, heavily flavoured juices gunk up coils much faster than lighter, simpler blends.

Signs you need a new coil:

• Persistent burnt taste even with a full tank
• Noticeably reduced vapour production
• Flavour that's flat or off-tasting despite clean hardware
• Visible dark residue or discolouration on the cotton

Keeping a small stock of replacement coils means you're never caught out.

💡 Pro Tip: Buy your replacement coils in multi-packs to save money and ensure you always have spares ready when you need them.

Final Thoughts

Most vaping problems come down to a few key variables: coil condition, wattage settings, liquid levels, and how well the device is maintained. Getting into the habit of checking these basics regularly will save you from the majority of issues before they start.

If you've worked through all of the above and something still isn't right, it may be time to look at upgrading your hardware. Our team is always happy to help you find the right setup — browse our full range or get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.

Got a vaping problem we haven't covered? Drop a comment below or reach out to us directly — we read everything.