When it comes to vaping one of the most irritating and prominent issues you may face is the cartridge clogging or just not working. These are very common problems in all vape cartridges so don’t worry if you are experiencing it. There are a few things you can try before determining if you need a new one or not.
You can determine if it is clogged by way the vaporized oil is coming out of the mouth piece, as it will often come out of the cartridge un-vaporized and you will be able to taste it on your lips. If this happens it is important that you don’t swallow it is as it consumption of this liquid can cause you serious harm.
There are a few things that you can try to ensure that your cartridge is still in fact working and that you do not need to replace it. Like mentioned there is no need to panic if you are unsure what to do when this starts to happen.
Things You Can Try:
1) The first thing that you need to do is check to see if you have screwed it on too tight. If you have done this it can be difficult for the wires to generate any heat to deliver it to the cartridge. Try loosening it up and seeing if that makes a difference.
2) Additionally, you should check if the actual mouthpiece is clogged. You can do this is by using a hair pin or any other clean object you can find. Bending out a paper clip so that it is straight may also work. You need to create a path for the air to travel through. If you notice anything blocking the airflow, that was more than likely the issue. If not, you can still try a few more things so don’t panic.
3) It may sound obvious at first but have you checked to see if the battery is charged? This may be the answer to all of your problems and it is easy to forget about, especially if you are new to vaping and the idea of charging something to smoke is new to you. Give this a go and see if it fixes your problem.
4) When taking a hit, pre-heat the oil for 3 seconds before pulling. This allows for the thick oil to become viscous enough to vaporize. If this works, perhaps nothing was wrong with your vape after all!
If none of the above issues have worked for you then it may unfortunately be time to replace your cartridge all together. This hopefully won’t be too expensive and is often easy to sort out if you take it to your local vape store.
One last thing to check:
Sometimes you may just need to check if the oil needs replacing because you have used it all. This will be noticeable if the cartridge begins to condensate. You will also be able to note this if you get the taste of the oil on your lips, very much like stated earlier for a clogged vape. You may be able to change the oil and not need to worry about any of the above mentioned issues as it could fix your problems. If you notice that after changing the oil that the problem still persists then it may be time to change your cartridge for a new one.
Are Cartridges Universal?
No. If you find that you need to replace the cartridge it is important to note that they are not universal and not all will fit your specific vape. Some cartridges come in specific shapes and sizes such as the Juul pen which you will only be able to fill up with specific Juul liquids. So no, not all Cartridges are universal but there are still a lot to offer for your vape that will be the right fit. If you are unsure, you can always take it back to the place that you got it from and they will guide you in the right direction to see which cartridge is the best for your specific vape. It will all depend on the thread of the cartridge and the battery to see if they match up correctly. Make sure you check for compatibility before purchasing!
In Summary
The clogging of a cartridge is something that is quite a common issue when it comes to vaping. So much so that there actually are a few tried and tested ways that you can do to improve your vaping experience. In summary, look into the following solutions:
- Have you screwed it on too tight?
- Try the hairpin method to unclog the mouthpiece.
- Ensure the battery is charged.
- Ensure you have adequate liquid in the cartridge.
Remember, cartridges aren't universal and you will need to ensure that if you have decide to replace your cartridge that it has a compatible thread with what you already have, if it doesn’t match you won’t be able to use it.