If you’ve ever experienced a burnt taste from your disposable vape, you know how unpleasant it can be. A dry hit or burnt taste often signals that something isn’t quite right with your vape. In this article, we’ll delve into the reasons behind this issue and provide practical tips to enhance your vaping experience, helping you avoid those undesirable hits in the future.

What Is A Disposable Vape Pen?

A disposable vape pen is a type of electronic cigarette that is designed for one-time use. It has a battery, a heating element, and a pod that contains e-liquid with nicotine, flavoring, or cannabis oil. You can use it without charging, refilling, or maintaining it. When the battery or e-liquid runs out, you can throw it away and get a new one. Disposable pens are convenient and easy to use, but they also have some drawbacks, such as being more expensive and wasteful than reusable vapes.

Related Reading: What Is a Disposable Vape? Comprehensive Guide and FAQs

What Does a Burnt Taste Like?

A burnt vape tastes harsh, acrid, and bitter. It is often described as tasting like burnt toast, charcoal, or chemicals. The taste can be very unpleasant and can ruin the vaping experience.

Burnt vapes can also produce a burnt smell or burnt hit. This smell is often described as being similar to the smell of burnt hair or plastic.

If you are experiencing a burnt taste or smell from your vape, it is important to stop using it immediately. Continuing to vape with a burnt hit can damage your device and may be harmful to your health.

Why Your Disposable Vape Tastes Burnt?

There are a few reasons you will experience a burnt taste from a disposable:

1. Dry Hits

A dry hit occurs when the wick inside the coil doesn’t have enough vape juice to vaporize. This can happen if:

  • The vape juice level is low.
  • You’re chain vaping (taking frequent puffs without pause).
  • The wick dries out (wick to dry) due to improper storage or usage.

2. Burnt Coil

The coil heats the vape juice to produce vapor. If it gets too hot or is overused, it can burn, resulting in a burnt hit. Causes include:

  • Vaping at too high a wattage.
  • Chain vaping.
  • Using thick or sweet e-liquids that caramelize on the coil.

3. Low-Quality E-Liquid

Poor-quality vape juice may contain impurities or be too thick, causing the wick to burn more quickly and cause a burnt taste.

4. Counterfeit Disposable Vapes

Counterfeit products often use inferior materials, leading to poor performance and also cause a burnt taste.

Why Does My Brand New Disposable Vape Taste Burnt?

It can be especially frustrating when a brand new disposable vape tastes burnt right out of the box. Here are some possible reasons:

1. Overprimed Coil

During manufacturing, some disposables may be over-saturated with vape juice, causing the first few puffs to taste burnt as excess liquid is vaporized.

2. Break-In Period

New coils and wicks often need a break-in period, where the materials adjust to heat. The first few hits might taste harsh but improve with use.

3. Low-Quality Materials

Some disposables use lower-quality wicks and coils, which can burn faster or unevenly.

4. High PG E-Liquid

High-propylene glycol (PG) ratios in vape juice can cause a harsher throat hit, which might feel burnt, especially in new devices.

5. Defective Product

Sometimes, manufacturing defects cause coils to burn out prematurely. If your brand-new device tastes burnt, it might be a defective unit.

Signs Your Disposable Vape Is Burnt

Here are some signals to indicate that your vape device is burnt：

  1. Taste: The most common sign of a burnt disposable vape is a burnt or charred taste. This taste is often described as being harsh, acrid, or bitter. It can be very unpleasant and can ruin the vaping experience.
  2. Smoke: Another sign of a burnt disposable vape is smoke. When a disposable vape is burnt, it will often produce smoke or vapor that is dark in color. This smoke or vapor can be very irritating to the lungs and can cause coughing or shortness of breath.
  3. Reduced Vapor Production: If your disposable vape is producing less vapor than usual, it could be a sign that the heating wick is burnt. The heating wick is responsible for heating the eliquid and producing vapor, so if it is burnt, it will not be able to do its job effectively.
  4. Gurgling Sounds: When you take a hit from your disposable vape, you may hear a gurgling sound. This sound is caused by the eliquid leaking into the airflow system. E-juice can leak into the airflow system if the heating wick is burnt, as the burnt heating wick will not be able to vaporize the e-juice properly.
  5. Increased Heat: If you notice that your disposable vape is getting hotter than usual, it could be a sign that the pen is burnt. The coil is responsible for heating the vape juice, so if it is burnt, it will generate more heat than usual. This can cause the disposable vape to become uncomfortably hot to hold.
  6. Short Battery Life: If your disposable vape’s battery is dying quickly, it could be a sign that the coil is burnt.

How to Fix a Burnt Disposable Vape

While there is no guaranteed way to completely fix a burnt disposable vape, there are a few methods you can try to improve its flavor and performance.:

  • Take shorter puffs: Taking shorter puffs will help to prevent the heating wick from overheating and burning.
  • Inhale more slowly: Inhaling more slowly will also help to prevent the heating wick from overheating.
  • Use a lower wattage setting: If your disposable vape has adjustable wattage settings, try using a lower wattage setting. This will help to reduce the amount of heat that is produced by the heating wick.
  • Let your disposable vape cool down: If your disposable vape is starting to taste burnt, let it cool down for a few minutes before using it again. This will help to prevent the heating wick from burning further.
  • Try a different e-liquid: If you are using a particularly thick or sweet e-liquid, it may be more likely to burn the coil. Try using a thinner or less sweet e-liquid to see if that helps.

If you have tried all of the above methods and your disposable vape is still burnt, it is unfortunately time to replace it with a new one.

How to Prevent a Burnt Taste in Your Disposable Vape

Here are some additional tips to help prevent your disposable vape from burning in the first place:

  • Prime the Coil: Take a few dry puffs (without inhaling) to saturate the coil before use.
  • Avoid Chain Vaping: Give the device a break between puffs to allow the wick to re-saturate.
  • Store Properly: Keep your vape in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
  • Use Quality Products: Opt for reputable brands that use high-quality materials.
  • Monitor E-Liquid Levels: Stop using the device when the vape juice is low to avoid dry hits.

FAQs

Why does my disposable vape taste burnt when I take long puffs?

Taking long puffs on a disposable vape can cause a burnt taste for a few reasons:

  • Dry hits: When you take a long puff, you are more likely to take in more air than e-liquid. This can cause the coil to overheat and burn the wick, which will produce a burnt taste.
  • Overheating: Taking long puffs can also cause the coil to overheat, even if you are not taking in more air than e-liquid. This is because the coil has to work harder to vaporize the e-liquid for a longer period.
  • Flooding: Taking long puffs can also lead to flooding, which is when too much e-liquid is drawn into the coil. This can cause the coil to spit back hot e-liquid, which can burn your mouth and throat.

To avoid getting a burnt taste from taking long puffs, try to take shorter puffs and inhale more slowly. You may also want to try using a lower wattage setting, if your disposable vape has adjustable wattage settings.

Why does my disposable vape taste burnt when it’s low on e-liquid?

When a disposable vape is low on e-liquid, the coil is more likely to overheat and burn. This is because the e-liquid helps to cool the coil and prevent it from getting too hot. When there is not enough e-liquid, the coil can heat up too much and start to burn the wick, which will produce a burnt taste.

In addition, when a disposable vape is low on e-liquid, the wick may not be able to properly absorb the e-liquid and deliver it to the coil. This can also cause the coil to overheat and burn.

Why does my disposable vape taste burnt when it’s new?

There are a few potential reasons why a new disposable vape might taste burnt:

  • Overpriming of the coil/wick – Sometimes the manufacturers over-saturate the coil and wick with e-liquid during production. This can cause a burning taste as the excess e-liquid is vaporized.
  • Low quality coil/wick materials – Cheaper coils and wicking materials may break down faster, especially when new, producing a harsh burnt flavor.
  • High PG (propylene glycol) ratio in the e-liquid – Higher PG e-liquids can taste harsher and more chemical-like when the device is new as the wick becomes saturated.
  • Normal break-in period – Similar to new electric heating coils, the initial use of a new disposable vape coil/wick may have a temporary burnt flavor as the materials break in.
  • Defective product – In some cases, manufacturing defects could cause coils to burn out quickly.

Why does my disposable vape taste burnt when I use it in cold weather?

There are a few reasons why your disposable vape might taste burnt when you use it in cold weather:

  • Increased viscosity of e-liquid: In cold weather, the e-liquid in your disposable vape becomes more viscous, or thicker. This makes it more difficult for the coil to wick the e-liquid and vaporize it properly. As a result, you may experience a burnt taste.
  • Condensation: When you use your disposable vape in cold weather, the vapor can condense inside the device. This condensation can then mix with the e-liquid and create a burnt taste.
  • Battery performance: Cold weather can also affect the performance of your disposable vape’s battery. Batteries tend to perform less efficiently in cold weather, which can lead to a decrease in power output. This can also result in a burnt taste, as the coil will not be able to heat up properly.

What should I do if my disposable vape tastes burnt and I can’t fix it?

If you have tried all of the troubleshooting methods mentioned above and your disposable vape still tastes burnt, it is unfortunately time to replace it with a new one.

Here are some tips for choosing a new disposable vape to avoid getting a burnt taste:

  • Choose a reputable brand: There are many different brands of disposable vapes on the market, but not all of them are created equal. Do some research to find a reputable brand that uses high-quality materials and components.
  • Read reviews: Before you buy a new disposable vape, read reviews from other users to see what they have to say about the taste and performance of the device.
  • Avoid counterfeit vapes: Counterfeit disposables are often made with inferior materials and components, which can lead to a burnt taste. Only buy disposable pens from authorized retailers.
  • Prime your coil: Before using a new disposable vape, prime the coil by taking a few dry puffs without inhaling. This will help to saturate the coil with e-liquid and prevent it from burning.
  • Don’t chain vape: Chain vaping is when you take multiple puffs in a row without giving the coil a chance to cool down. This can easily lead to a burnt coil. Try to take a few seconds between puffs to give the coil time to cool down.
  • Use a lower wattage setting: If your disposable vape has adjustable wattage settings, try using a lower wattage setting. This will help to reduce the amount of heat that is produced by the coil and make it less likely to burn.
  • Use high-quality e-liquid: Using high-quality e-liquid can also help to prevent a burnt taste. Low-quality e-liquids may contain impurities that can damage the coil or maybe too thick or sweet, which can cause the coil to burn out more quickly.

Where can I buy a new disposable vape?

You can buy disposable pens at a variety of places, including:

  • Online Retailers: Platforms like Amazon, Element Vape, and VaporDNA.
  • Vape Shops: Specialty stores catering to e-cigarettes and related products.
  • Convenience Stores: Some stock disposable vapes, especially in vaping-friendly areas.
  • Gas Stations: Limited selection, but some gas stations carry disposables.

Conclusion

A burnt taste in a disposable vape can be frustrating, but understanding the causes and solutions can help you prevent it. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can enjoy a smoother, more enjoyable vaping experience. Remember to choose high-quality products and practice good vaping habits to avoid burnt hits in the future.