Tips for Properly Maintaining Your Vaporizer
What started as a mere vision, the electronic cigarette and vaping industry has blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise. As the world has embraced this revolutionary technology, usership has skyrocketed to unprecedented heights in very short order. On the heels of its relentless popularity and progression, some of the world’s most productive manufacturers have capitalized on this advancement by introducing remarkably innovative and ground-breaking products. The rudimentary products of the past have given way to the cutting-edge vaporizers we enjoy today.
However, as is the case with all technologies, these electronic devices are not without flaws and imperfections. Despite the vast resources the industry’s leading manufacturers have at their disposal, quality assurance is always an uphill battle. With an immense quantity of products being consistently developed and shipped across the globe, some aspects of modern-day vaporizers are still prone to hitches and complications. Moreover, more often than not, user error proves to be the culprit of improperly-functioning vaporizer devices.
In line with all gadgets, there are simple measures that you can take to protect your beloved vaporizer, and therefore, your investment. Proper cleaning and routine maintenance are your first lines of defense to ensure your device remains in optimal operating condition. To help direct you through these steps, we have created this simple guide that you can reference at your convenience.
Tip 1: Thoroughly Inspect Your Device
The first step in properly maintaining your vaporizer is by conducting a thorough inspection of it. Similar to appropriate car upkeep, a mechanic must first scrupulously and comprehensively scrutinize the vehicle in order to suitably evaluate the situation. Look for areas that can use some improvement—from its exterior aesthetics to the vaporizer’s internal functionality. Although rather simplistic, this is central to ensure a better experience and prolonged life of your device.
Tip 2: Clean Your Vaporizer
Once you have inspected your device, the next step is to give it a good wipe down. Rubbing alcohol on a cloth or a disinfecting wipe seems to work very well in this regard. Rubbing alcohol tends to evaporate swiftly, thereby minimizing the likelihood that moisture can damage the electrical components of the device. Focus on the areas that you notice has the most build-up and ensure that you have removed as much of the crud as possible. For the tighter nooks and crannies, try dipping a Q-Tip in rubbing alcohol and using this as a tool to access those hard-to-reach areas. Once complete, use a microfiber cloth to polish the device to reveal its brilliant shine and remove any excess alcohol. It is absolutely critical to note that you must make sure the alcohol is entirely evaporated and/or removed prior to using your vaporizer to prevent any sort of combustion once the battery is engaged.
Tip 3: Pay Particular Attention to Connection Points
The connection points of your device are the most critical to keep clean, and it’s also one of the most common places for excess build-up of dirt and grime to accumulate. Since the tank sits above the device’s connector, slight leaks and evaporated e-juice can leave behind residual build-up of material. An accrual of debris on the connector will hinder the electrical conductivity of your device, resulting in a malfunctioning device.
Once your connectors have been comprehensively cleaned, check their positioning to make sure that they are situated as intended. For example, most devices, including tanks, contain adjustable spring-loaded contact pins. Sometimes these pins will stick in a contacted position, thereby preventing it from contacting one another. If you notice this, use a small flat-head screwdriver and carefully re-position the contact pin upward.
Tip 4: Shift Focus onto Your Battery
First and foremost, it is essential to ensure that your batteries always maintain a charge above 50%. The reason for this is that a depleted battery may not deliver adequate power to your atomizer coil, thus dramatically diminishing your vaping experience. If you have charged your battery, but still feel as though your vaporizer isn’t operating optimally, it may be time to purchase new ones.
Contrary to what many believe, all rechargeable batteries, irrespective of their chemistry, maintain a limited lifecycle. That is, after a certain amount of time, the battery will be unable to hold a charge. At this point, you must dispose of the old batteries and purchase new ones. This is absolutely essential to proper device maintenance and a step that is often overlooked or ignored by vapers.
Tip 5: Check Your Atomizer Coil
In addition to the steps mentioned above, another critical element in effective device maintenance is atomizer coil replacement. Many vapers are under the false assumption that so long as the coil is vaporizing the e-liquid, then it is still appropriate to use. However, this is inaccurate and can not only result in a poor vaping experience, but can also be unhealthy as well.
The vast majority of atomizer coils are furnished with a wicking material, generally cotton, which absorbs the e-juice and feeds it to the atomizer coil to be vaporized. After a week or so, this cotton will begin to amass build-up from the liquid. Moreover, the rapid heating and cooling of the coil will also char the cotton. Both of these occurrences will result in a drastic reduction in the cotton’s ability to absorb the e-juice, thereby lessening your vaporizer’s ability to deliver a satisfactory hit. In addition, the scorched cotton may release carcinogens that may be harmful to inhale.
Proper vaporizer maintenance includes regularly changing your atomizer coil, even if it appears to be functioning sufficiently. How often the coil should be changed depends in large part on your vaping habits as well as the type of e-liquids you are using; however, a solid rule of thumb is 7 to 10 days.