One of the reasons why people switch from pre-filled vaping devices to ones with replaceable coils is because they hope to save money on vaping. Bottled e-liquid is much less expensive than pre-filled pods or disposable vapes, and vape coils are quite inexpensive per unit as well. Naturally, then, you’re going to be pretty disappointed if you switch to a device with a replaceable coil and find that you’re actually spending more on vaping than you did previously. Why could that be?

If you’re spending more on vaping after switching to a refillable device, the most likely reason is that you’re replacing the coil more often than you really need to. Vape coils have the potential to cost significantly less than pods, but that’s only true if they last longer. If you’re installing a new coil every day or two, it’s not surprising that you’d start to become uncomfortable about the costs.

So, how often should you change your vape coil? The answer is that the expected life of a coil may range anywhere from a day or two to several weeks. The reason for the extreme variability is because the biggest factor that influences how long a vape coil lasts is how you use it. If you take care of a vape coil and use a coil-friendly e-liquid, you won’t be visiting Friske Drag or another vape shop quite as often.

You want your vape coils to last as long as they can – and in this article, we’ll explain exactly what you need to do. First, though, we’ll answer another question that might be on your mind. Why do coils go bad in the first place?

Why Do Vape Coils Go Bad?

Vape coils can burn out for two different reasons. The most common reason why a coil burns out is because it has been in use for a while, and residue from vape juice has begun to collect on the coil’s metal heating wire. The other reason why a vape coil can burn out is because the coil’s wick has been damaged.

The difference between these two situations is that residue buildup happens gradually and changes the coil’s flavor over time. If a coil’s wick is singed badly enough, on the other hand, the coil is ruined instantly. Either way, though, the result is the same: The coil begins to produce a burnt flavor. When the coil’s flavor quality reaches a point where it begins to reduce your enjoyment of vaping, it’s time to replace the coil.

Do You Have to Change a Vape Coil if You’re Happy with the Flavor?

Now that you have a better understanding of why and how vape coils burn out, you might have another question on your mind. Suppose you’ve been using the same coil for a while. If you’re still happy with the coil’s flavor, do you actually need to replace it? The answer is that you don’t. There’s no rule saying that you need to replace a vape coil within a given amount of time. There are some extremely coil-friendly e-liquids that leave almost no residue and allow a vape coil to last a very long time – and even if the vape juice that you use does leave residue behind, it’s possible that you aren’t very sensitive to the flavor. If you’re still happy with a coil’s performance, you can continue using it for as long as you like.

How Can You Prevent a Burnt Wick in a Vape Coil?

When a vape coil’s wick burns, it happens because the cotton is dry. The wick’s job is to transport e-liquid from the tank’s reservoir to the heating wire – and as long as the wick is wet, it can’t burn because the vape juice prevents it from overheating. If you’ve burned the wick in your vape coil, understanding why it happened can help you ensure that it won’t happen again in the future.

The wick in a vape coil typically burns due to one of these reasons.

• The wick can burn if you forget to refill your device and vape when the tank is out of e-liquid. Always monitor your device and top it up when the e-liquid is running low.
• The wick can burn if you set your device’s wattage too high, which can cause the coil to overheat. Make sure that you always vape at a wattage within your coil’s suggested power range.
• The wick can burn if you start vaping immediately after installing a new coil and don’t give the wick enough time to become fully saturated. After installing a new coil and refilling your tank, always wait at least five minutes before vaping.

How Can You Prevent Residue from Ruining a Vape Coil?

Almost all e-liquid flavors can leave residue that eventually causes a vape coil to burn out. The sweetener sucralose, however, is the main ingredient that shortens coil life – and this problem is particularly common today because a very large percentage of the e-liquids currently on the market are heavily sweetened. If you’ve ever removed a coil from your tank and noticed that the coil’s heating surface had changed from a shiny white color to dark brown, your coil burned out because of sweetener residue.

By far, heavily sweetened e-liquid is always the biggest reason why vape coils burn out more quickly than they should. Luckily for you, though, the solution in this case is very simple. If you want your coils to last as long as they can, you need to start using unsweetened vape juice. This one change can potentially increase the average life of a vape coil from a few days to several weeks, saving you a significant amount of money in the process.

Do Some Vape Coils Last Longer Than Others?

Along with making sure that you take care of your equipment and use coil-friendly e-liquid, the other thing that you can do to save money on vape coils is ensure that you’re using a tank with coils designed for maximum life. A coil with a mesh heating surface will last longer than one with spiral-wound wire because the mesh surface makes solid contact with the coil’s wick and ensures efficient transfer of e-liquid.

It's also worthwhile to check the materials used in a vape tank before buying that tank. Cotton is the most common material used for the wicks in vape coils, but cotton burns easily and isn’t especially durable. These days, manufacturers are experimenting with other materials such as bamboo fiber and wood pulp. If you choose a tank with coils made from more durable materials, you may find that you’ll spend less on replacement coils in the long run.