Often replaced too late, coils nevertheless need to be changed regularly. Between protecting your gear, improving flavor while vaping and optimizing the feel of the draw, we take stock in this article.
Back to basics: what is the role of coils?
Coils are made with resistive wire (in different materials depending on the model) and contain a cotton wick. When you fire your e-cigarette, the coil heats up, turning your e-liquid into the vapor you inhale.
Technical point: the value of your coil (in ohms) determines the amount of heat and energy needed, affecting vapor production, feel and flavor. Remember that the lower the ohm value of your coils, the higher the power you can vape at.
The importance of changing your coils regularly
We have all taken a puff on our pod system, box mod or mod and felt a very unpleasant burnt sensation. This burnt sensation can come from a lack of liquid in your pod or clearomizer, but also from an increasingly old coil.
Case 1:
- If your coil is new and you feel this sensation, either there is not enough liquid in your tank, or you did not let the cotton soak up enough liquid when swapping the old coil for the new one.
Method check:
If you are running low on liquid, add some to your tank and vape
- If you have just changed the coil and it is not soaked enough but you took a puff, change it. If you keep it, you risk keeping this burnt sensation because the cotton will already be too damaged.
Also note that some coils overheat as soon as they touch the battery. So remove your pod or clearomizer while filling, until the liquid has soaked into the cotton.
Case 2:
Your coil is old, and you keep vaping without changing it. Vaping this way, you will inevitably notice a drop in flavor or a burnt sensation at some point during a puff. Why? Your cotton does not have an unlimited lifespan. It gunks up and eventually no longer soaks up liquid properly, which causes overheating and therefore a burnt sensation when drawing. Changing your coil early enough is essential to avoid this kind of problem.
A few important things to keep in mind:
Indulgent and tobacco e-liquids are more viscous, so they gunk up your coils more easily
When to change a coil depends on the number of daily draws
Coil gunk depends on the viscosity of the e-liquid you vape (which depends on the e-liquid's PG/VG ratio). An e-liquid with a 30/70 PG/VG ratio such as Frozen Peach 50ml or 20/80 such as Low Rider V1 will tend to gunk up your coil faster.
Coil gunk depends on the gear you use. A pod system does not have the same power as a big 21700 box mod that delivers 80 to 100 watts! High power damages coils faster.
All these factors therefore affect how quickly your coil deteriorates. And since every vaper is unique, you have to run your own experiments to find out what suits your gear, your e-liquid and above all your own sensations.
A few pointers to help you know when to change your coils
Based on your ohm level:
Standard coil (1 ohm or more): 1 to 3 weeks.
Sub-ohm coil (less than 1 ohm): 1 to 2 weeks (under more strain for big clouds).
Intensive use (frequent vapers): replacement needed sooner, sometimes after 5 to 7 days.
Based on how often you vape:
Occasional vapers (a few puffs a day): replace the coil every 3 to 4 weeks.
Moderate vapers (daily use without excess): replace about every 2 weeks.
Heavy vapers (frequent use with high-VG e-liquids): replace every 5 to 10 days.
Changing your coils regularly is essential for an optimal vaping experience, by preserving flavor, avoiding burnt sensations and extending the life of your gear.
Whether you are an occasional or a heavy vaper, how often to replace depends on your vaping style, the quality of your e-liquid and the coil used. Adopt good practices and watch for signs of wear to fully enjoy every puff, without compromising on pleasure or safety.
