How Long Should you Wait to Refill E-juice in Vapes?

If you’ve just started vaping, you might be wondering how long you should wait after refilling your e-juice before taking a puff. This is an important question, as vaping too soon after a refill can result in a poor experience or even damage to your device. 

Here, we’ll walk you through the best practices when it comes to refilling your e-juice and how long you should wait before using your vape.

Why Is Waiting Important?

When you refill your vape tank with e-juice, the liquid needs time to properly saturate the wick (the material inside the coil that absorbs the e-juice). If you don't give the wick enough time to soak up the liquid, you could end up with what's known as a “dry hit.” A dry hit happens when the wick is still dry, and it burns instead of vaporizing the e-juice. This leads to a burnt taste and can ruin your coil.

How Long Should You Wait?

The amount of time you need to wait depends on the type of device you're using. However, a general rule of thumb is to wait at least 5-10 minutes after refilling your vape. This allows the wick enough time to soak up the e-juice, ensuring a smooth and flavorful vape.

Here’s a more detailed look at how different devices might require different wait times:

1. Basic Vape Pens

If you're using a basic vape pen, which typically has a smaller coil and wick, you should wait around 5 minutes after refilling. These devices usually have a simple design and don't require much time for the e-juice to saturate the wick.

2. Pod Systems

Pod systems are similar to vape pens but often have a slightly larger wick. In this case, waiting for about 5-10 minutes after refilling is recommended. The wicking material in pod systems may take a bit longer to absorb the liquid.

3. Sub-Ohm Tanks

If you're using a sub-ohm tank (commonly used for more advanced vaping), the coil and wick are usually much larger. These require more time for the e-juice to fully saturate. For these devices, it’s a good idea to wait 10 minutes or even a little longer to be sure the wick is soaked.

Tips to Speed Up the Saturation Process

If you're in a rush and don't want to wait too long after refilling your vape, here are a few tips that can help speed up the saturation process:

1. Prime Your Coil

One of the best ways to ensure your wick gets saturated quickly is by priming your coil. Priming involves manually adding a few drops of e-juice directly onto the wick inside the coil before you fill the tank. This gives the wick a head start, and you won’t have to wait as long after filling the tank.

2. Gently Inhale Without Firing

Another trick is to take a few gentle puffs on your vape without pressing the fire button. This helps pull the e-juice into the wick and speeds up the absorption process. Be careful not to overdo it, though—you don't want to flood the coil with too much liquid.

3. Use Higher PG E-Juice

Propylene Glycol (PG) is one of the two main ingredients in e-juice, the other being Vegetable Glycerin (VG). E-liquids with a higher PG content are thinner and will soak into the wick faster than those with a higher VG content. If you're using an e-juice that's mostly VG (which is thicker), it may take longer for your wick to absorb the liquid.

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What Happens If You Vape Too Soon?

Vaping too soon after refilling your e-juice can lead to several issues:

1. Dry Hits

As mentioned earlier, a dry hit occurs when you try to vape, but the wick hasn’t fully absorbed the e-juice. This can result in a harsh, burnt taste that can be unpleasant and might even damage the coil.

2. Burnt Coils

If you frequently vape before your coil is fully saturated, you may burn out your coil faster than normal. A burnt coil produces a bad taste and will need to be replaced more often, which can be inconvenient and costly.

3. Leaking

In some cases, vaping too soon after refilling can cause e-juice to leak from your device. This is because the wick isn’t ready to absorb all the liquid, leading to excess e-juice that has nowhere to go.

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How Often Should You Refill Your Vape?

It depends on several factors, including how frequently you use it and the size of your tank or pod. For most people, refilling a vape can range from once a day to a couple of times a week.

If you find yourself needing to refill your vape very frequently, it may be a sign that you’re vaping at a high wattage or using an e-juice that burns faster. In this case, you might want to adjust your settings or switch to a higher-capacity tank.