Nothing beats scoring that new disposable vape that everyone is talking about and the anticipation that comes from knowing you’re getting a new flavor, a new aesthetic, and a new quality of vapor. But, sometimes, that new disposable just isn’t working. Is it that you have a dud, or could it be that you’re missing out on some basic troubleshooting to get it up and running again? Since nobody likes the idea of wasting money or even having to go back to the store for a new one, we’re going to discuss why that disposable might not work and what you can do about it.
What is a Disposable Vape, and How Do They Work?
First, let’s cover the basics of a disposable vape, as this will help you better understand what can go wrong that could lead to a faulty product. A disposable vape refers to an all-in-one vaping system that is, by nature, disposable. The cartridge is not refillable, which means that when the e-liquid runs out, the entire device is replaced.
A disposable vape has two key components: the cartridge and the battery. Unlike other vaping systems, these two components are permanently attached to one another. Nothing about a disposable vape is replaceable, and it features an internal battery, which may or may not be rechargeable based on how much e-liquid is in the cartridge.
Some disposables feature adjustable airflow controls, allowing users to customize the tightness of the draw. This feature can mimic the experience of smoking a traditional cigarette or provide a more open, airy vape.
High-capacity disposables are designed with larger e-liquid capacities and batteries, offering a higher number of puffs (often 1000 puffs or more) before disposal. They are ideal for users who want a longer-lasting disposable option without the need for frequent replacements.
Finally, disposable vapes with screens represent an evolution in the design and functionality of electronic vaping devices. These devices are typically tailored for single use and come equipped with a small screen that can display various types of information to the user, such as battery life, puff count, wattage, etc.
Now, disposable vapes come in loads of flavors and, again, even have different puff counts/e-liquid amounts. What they all share in common is that they consist of a battery, which sends power to the coil when a hit is fired. The coil then heats up, vaporizing the e-liquid, saturating the coil’s wick. From there, the vapor goes through the mouthpiece and into the mouth of the vaper.
That sounds simple enough. Well, sometimes, things can go wrong during this process, and so you end up with a vape that does nothing when you pull on the mouthpiece.
Are Disposable Vapes Safe?
Disposable vapes are generally safe. They are designed to be safe enough for anyone to use without taking any safety precautions. It’s possible that once in a blue moon, someone buys a low-quality, poorly made disposable that malfunctions in a way that could be potentially hazardous, but this is extremely rare.
Why is My New Disposable Not Working?
Now, let’s get to the most important part of this article: the reasons why a freshly purchased disposable vape just isn’t doing its job. Let’s go ahead and list the most common culprits based on the actual faulty component.
Battery
First up, let’s cover the most common issues that can affect the battery.
- The Battery is Poorly Connected: Sometimes, the battery is out of alignment with the cartridge's connections, and so there’s no connection that allows the vape battery to send power to the coil inside the cartridge. If this is the case, there’s nothing you can do to fix it.
- The Battery is a Dud: Sometimes, the battery itself is just a dud. So, if the issue is a poor battery, you can’t replace it – you need a new disposable.
- The Battery Encountered an Error: Poorly made vapes can encounter malfunctions like short-circuiting when you go to fire your first hit. In this event, you need to replace the disposable.
Coil
The coil is sort of the middleman between the cartridge containing the e-liquid and the device's battery. Therefore, it’s not surprising that so many common vaping problems stem from an issue with the coil.
- The Coil is Installed Poorly: If the coil isn’t installed properly, it can’t align with the battery, and use the battery’s power to produce vapor. The result? Nothing happens when you pull on the mouthpiece. If this is the problem, you’ll need a new disposable.
- The Coil’s Wick Never Got Properly Saturated: Sometimes, the issue is that the wick didn’t get saturated with e-liquid. If that happens, you may get some vapor, but it tastes burnt and feels harsh on the throat. Again, this is usually a manufacturing error, which requires a replacement.
- The Coil is Cheaply Made: You could be using a disposable that contains a poorly made coil, which is constructed from materials or features a design that simply can’t enable a proper vaping experience. In this event, you’ll need a replacement.
- The Coil Can’t Handle the Output of the Device: In rarer cases, the manufacturer is using a vape coil configuration that wasn’t meant to handle the wattage output of the device. This would show that the brand shouldn’t be producing disposables since they don’t understand the basics of Ohm’s law.
Cartridge
Finally, let’s talk about issues pertaining to the cartridge.
- The E-Liquid Leaked Out of the Cartridge: In rare cases, you may have a disposable vape that contains a cartridge that has fully leaked out all of its e-liquid at some stage, and so there just isn’t any vape juice left in there. Because you can’t just refill a disposable cartridge, you’ll need to buy a new one.
- The Cartridge isn’t Connected to the Battery Properly: The bottom of the cartridge has invisible connections that attach it to the battery so that the entire vaporization process can be completed, from the battery’s power being fired to the vapor flowing through the mouthpiece. Now, if the connection is faulty, you won’t get any vapor, and the result is that nothing happens when you pull on the mouthpiece, in which case a replacement is in order.
- The Cartridge is Clogged: One of the few things you may be able to remedy is a clogged cartridge – specifically the mouthpiece. Sometimes, debris gets in there, and you have to dislodge it yourself with a small, thin object like a paper clip. If this is the case, you may be able to keep using your disposable once you remove the debris.
What Should I Do if My Disposable Vape is a Dud?
Maybe you’re now wondering how to fix a vape that doesn’t work. But, as you can see from above, the majority of issues that lead to a failure to vape from your new disposable all go back to the manufacturer – more specifically, a manufacturing error that basically means you got a dud. So, what then?
First off, know that most manufacturers of disposable vapes have some sort of guarantee. So, we recommend that you call them and tell them the issue and ask for your money back. In most cases, that will be honored, or you’ll be given a replacement.
But we also recommend that you be choosier about the disposable vape brand you buy from next time. Some brands just don’t use high-quality manufacturing, and you’re very likely to end up disappointed.
Duds are Rare But Can Still Be Avoid Most of the Time
At Vape Juice Depot, the chance of ending up with a brand new disposable that doesn’t work is incredibly low. That’s because we work with only the most trusted brands out there, who aren’t known to produce low-quality, malfunctioning products. By sticking with our selection of disposable vapes, you’re extremely unlikely ever to be disappointed with a product that fails to work properly.