Leaks, gurgles, e-liquid which rises… lifesaving steps and gestures !

You have already had to deal with a drop of e liquid which rises and comes to sting your tongue. Or still incessant projections? It is unpleasant, but that happens alas from time to time. Just like the untimely gurgles, or still the small drops which evacuate themselves slowly and discreetly by the airflows, being able to go back down on the screw thread and dirty your box.

That can become very annoying, and for certain, discourage them and make them return toward the classic cigarette. To avoid the worst, you will find below some points of particular attention. These points do not necessitate great knowledge and complicated actions.

1. Cleaning:

The cleaning of the material is an important thing. It allows to eliminate the deposits of clogged liquids which could make it an obstacle for the perfect tightness of the joints, or still prevent a bad closure by screwing by the screw threads. Very often, the leaks and gurgles are due to condensation which forms in the drip tip (evaporation of the liquid which returned to the ambient temperature transforms itself into droplets) or still, a little of liquid which has flowed at the bottom of the coil (too much liquid put onto the coil during the priming).

The solution is within reach of hand: 

The solution to this worry is the use of absorbent paper in order to clean the screw thread of the battery as well as that of the clearomiser.

You can equally “sweep” the chimney of the clearomiser by twisting the absorbent paper and by passing it through the drip tip.

For the pods with automatic draw and their cartridges, the liquid can infiltrate itself through the aeration of the cartridge when the pod is not used. The risk is to have liquid on the connectors of the battery. In the long term, if the battery is not cleaned, there is a possible breakdown of the pod which is to fear long term.

Points to verify:

• The assembly: check that everything is correctly assembled, you must not force on the threads at the risk of damaging them.

• The joints: disassemble them and check the general state. A worn or badly positioned seal can be a source of leaks.

• The tightening: The seals are there to assure a perfect tightness. It must not force too much during this tightening. Firstly, that would tear the joints, or crush them too much which would compromise their efficiency. Second, you would experience difficulties disassembling your clearomiser for the replacement of the coil or the cleaning.

The ideal maintenance of your clearomiser is once it is disassembled for cleaning, rinse it with hot water and dish liquid (a toothbrush can help you to clean in depth the difficult accessible places). Then, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the elements with clear water and then to completely dry them.

You can equally have the use of an ultrasonic bath. Put into the tank lukewarm water, two tablespoons of white vinegar and one teaspoon of baking soda. Take care to not put the seals in the bath, because they will not appreciate this detonating mixture and risk degrading themselves.

Warning, the coil does not clean itself! Water will prematurely degrade the cotton found inside.

2. The coils:

Check the general state of it. If it starts to blacken or if the taste is altered, it is time to change it.

• You will have less risks of leaks with a coil of weak impedance. The coils called sub-ohm, heat more and provoke more evaporation, therefore more condensation.

• A bad quality coil will not prime itself correctly, and will have occasional flows of liquid.

The adjustment of the correct power is primordial: If the power is too low for the coil, the liquid is going to boil instead of spontaneously evaporating, which will cause a crackling noise and projection of e liquid droplets.

3. The e liquid :

The viscosity of the liquid is defined by the proportion of Propylene Glycol (PG) and of Vegetable Glycerine (VG). A liquid at 80/20 will be more fluid than a liquid at 60/40. Therefore the e-liquid will be thick and less, there will be no risks of leaks. (Warning, however all the coils are not compatible with liquids rich in VG).

4. Use: The draw:

Do not aspire too hard and too long. If you aspire more than what the clearomiser furnishes in vapour, you risk provoking a rise of liquid.

Level of liquid:

Respect the levels of the reservoir, never fill higher than the maximum level and never use the clearomiser below the minimal level.

Inhaling:

Release the “start” button a little before stopping to aspire. This will allow you to aspire the vapour remaining in the chimney and thus, limit the rise of e liquid.

5. Still leaking ?

If after having verified and applied all the previous points and there are leaks and rises present it is time to change the coil.

If despite everything, the leaks or rises are still frequent, unfortunately it may be that you have drawn a bad number (gotten a dud). It is probable that a defect of manufacture is at the origin of the problems encountered. It will then necessitate you to purchase a  new electronic cigarette.