How long does a coil last?

Vaping works quite differently from a conventional cigarette, and it comes with constraints of its own. The main one is having to replace parts that wear out, and the coil is one of them. So how long does the coil of an electronic cigarette last? Here is a closer look.

What does the coil do in an electronic cigarette?

This part can be thought of as the engine of your e-cig. It is what heats the e-liquid and turns it into vapour. In other words, no coil, no vaping. Its working life therefore needs to be reasonably long, and yet it usually feels too short, because the more you vape, the faster it degrades.

To make it last as long as possible, you need to look after your e-cig and clean it as thoroughly and as regularly as you can. That will buy you a little extra time.

A working life of less than a month

With proper maintenance and moderate use, your coil should last two to three weeks. If you vape very regularly, you may need to change it roughly every ten days. Once the cotton has been overheated, you will no longer taste the aromas of your e-liquid the way you did: the flavour is spoilt.

DIY coils last longer and can hold up for several weeks or even several months. Because they are visible, you can also see straight away when the wire is damaged or the wadding burnt. DIY coils only need changing when they are too clogged, dirty or worn. If the cotton is burnt, you simply replace it. If it is the wire that is clogged, a quick clean is all it takes and you are back in business.

Why does my coil wear out?

Poor priming can wear a coil out early, since it can cause a dry hit and vaporisation with nothing to vaporise. Always soak the coil in e-liquid before fitting it, and wait a good ten minutes before starting to vape, to preserve it.

Pay attention to the e-liquid you buy, too. A liquid with vegetable glycerine will clog and damage the coil more quickly. The sugar content also plays a significant part in how fast the coil becomes unusable. Finally, high power settings consume more e-liquid and leave more deposits, so it is worth sticking to the recommended operating conditions for your e-cig.

How do I know it is time to change the coil on my e-cig?

The signs are easy to spot. When a coil is burnt out, the sensation while vaping is weaker, and you will also notice a drop in the amount of vapour produced.

You may also hear a louder noise when firing the device, and even see leaks around the atomiser. If your senses leave you in any doubt, those two extra signs will settle it: the coil needs changing. It is a good idea to keep a spare on you so you can swap it wherever you happen to be.

What happens if I do not change my coil?

Leaving the coil in place spoils the e-liquid, so vaping becomes far less enjoyable. That is not the only consequence, though: you may also get the notorious dry hit, an acrid taste caused by the burnt wick in the tank, which leaves a burnt flavour in the mouth.

All these unpleasant experiences can prompt vapers to give up the electronic cigarette and go back to conventional cigarettes. Yet there is only one small thing to do to avoid it: change the coil.