Many people have experienced the unfortunate circumstance of a clogged vape pen. After many unbothered pulls, it suddenly feels like air will never flow through the device again. This is annoying, to say the least. Having a vape pen for a long day out or an event like a wedding can be a wonderful addition, but needing to pull from it like a too-thick milkshake is a bad look.
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GreenState spoke with technicians and experts at three leading vape brands to solve this issue. One of those was CCELL, who shared that, “This is a question with many answers, and some may occur simultaneously.”
Eevie Meacham, Director of Strategic Accounts and Hyper-Custom Development at ACTIVE®, dialed things in further.
“This build-up is caused by incomplete vaporization, the improper pairing of extract to hardware configuration, faulty hardware components, or improper handling by the end-user or manufacturer.”
A vape pen might develop a blockage for multiple reasons, and some easily learned user habits could deter the issue.
Why vapes clog and how to stop it
Temperature changes, oil viscosity, improper storage, and low-quality or improperly manufactured technology are often behind a clogged vape. Each creates a blockage in its own way and can be avoided with individual methods.
Temperature levels
Rapid temperature swings might lead to a clogged vape, whether it’s hot or cold. When the oil gets hot, it becomes more viscous. Viscous oil easily travels around different parts of the cartridge or pod. When this gets into the airway, it will lead to clogging.
On the other end of the thermometer, cold oil is thicker and harder to pull. Super thick extracts require more battery power, a power struggle that may lead to clogging. The dense viscosity also makes it more difficult to pull oil into the vape component that heats the oil.
How to fix it
For the longest-lasting hardware, keep all vape pens stored at a neutral temperature. For example, leaving the unit in the car overnight could be detrimental in summer or winter.
Proper use and storage
Long, multi-hit vape sessions could also lead to issues. After lots of use, condensation builds up, and as that buildup moves back into oil it can block the pathway. On the other hand, infrequent use might do the same. The oil could settle and change thickness as it ages, counting down on the block clock.
How to fix it
Avoid this type of blockage by metering use. Don’t suck on a vape pen constantly, let the thing cool down a bit. On the other hand, don’t let them sit for months and expect the hardware to work the same as it did out of the package.
As for storage, keep the pens upright, not on their sides or sitting in tote bags. VapeNProp, Blazy Susan, and other dab stations are made for the job.
Change of pressure
Taking a vape pen to a high altitude, whether a plane or a mountain summit, the outside pressure can flood the pen core.
How to fix it
Alexander Gordon, VP of R&D at ACTIVE®, had great advice in these situations. “Travel with your hardware upside down,” he said. “This will alleviate pressure on the oil hold.”
Manufacturer error
How a vape is made makes a difference. That goes for everything from the tech used to when it’s filled. Low-quality components may clog more often than better ones. This can come down to the materials used and the steps taken during manufacturing. Quality control should be the last guardrail in place to catch any issues that slip through the cracks. Clogging may be imminent if any of these corners are cut.
Luna Stower, head of impact at Ispire, shared that clogging comes down to how the tip is capped onto the hardware “90 percent of the time.”
Gordon elaborated on Stower’s sentiments.
“If incorrect filling temperatures, devices, or capping methods are not catered properly to hardware and oil types, it could flood cores from the start, leading to downstream clogging,” he explained.
There is another backend art of optimizing hardware for the oil inside. This delicate process of matching the electrical power being fed through the hardware to the oil viscosity is essential to having a good vape experience. This can impact flavor, clouds, and how long the pen lasts.
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How to fix it
Buying the best vape pen possible is the best way to avoid this problem. Check the brand website to learn what hardware they run. This is not often common knowledge for budtenders, but packaging may indicate what brand tech houses the oil. Oftentimes, shopping for the highest quality means a more expensive product, but some affordable brands use quality vape tech.
Incorrect temps
Vaping at temperatures that are too high or too low could incite clogs. Low-temperature vaping can sometimes disrupt the cycle of how oil flows into the hardware, and when oil is too hot, it may thin and travel into the hardware.
How to fix it
2.0V or below is considered too low. Alternatively, don’t vape over 4.0V, either. These settings are often represented by LED color indicators on the unit, read the manual for exact voltage settings.
Vape already clogged? Try this
These tips are all fine and dandy, but some may approach this article with a vape pen that’s already clogged. In those cases, it may work to suck their auto-draw battery so hard that the clog rights itself. But not everyone has that kind of capacity.
Certain vapes have a preheat function that could dissolve a clog. However, use this trick sparingly. Preheat too much, and it could go the other way and create blockages. Blowing on the bottom of the cart like it’s a Nintendo 64 game could work, too.
These tips may unclog the vape, but some blocks can not be reversed. The best bet is to avoid the interruption altogether.
No blockage is ideal, but that’s not always possible
Nobody wants their vape pen to clog. The situation is not ideal, but luckily, there are multiple ways to reduce the risk. Store these nifty gadgets correctly, use them at an ideal temperature, and buy quality hardware for the best results.
