Electronic cigarette is bitter: what is the reason and what to do

What to do if your e-cigarette tastes bitter?

Among the main reasons are:

Low quality of the device or liquid. Why an e-cigarette tastes bitter will be indicated by a defective vape. This is a minimum of steam, a bitter, acrid taste. When choosing e-liquid, you should be careful: some batches with nicotine initially have a bitter aftertaste.
No slurry. If there is no liquid in the tank, the drip is bitter. This leads to the drying and burning of the cotton wool, which creates an unpleasant taste.
Improper smoking. Different devices and types of coils are designed for different types of smoking. These are frequent and long, short and rare puffs. Some models overheat when they get very hot.
Increased tension. Too high voltage is generated due to problems with the charging battery and coil configuration. This leads to too rapid heating and, as a result, burning of the cotton wool.
Carbon deposits on a spiral. Periodically, when changing the liquid, the atomizer needs to be cleaned. This can be done with ordinary water or special means. Carbon deposits on the element completely change the taste of the liquid.

eGo-T brand cigarettes

The market is represented by a huge selection of electronic cigarettes. There are well-known brands that have proven themselves well among smokers. Among them we can highlight the company eGo-T. The new feature of this product is the automizer. The quality of this brand of cigarettes is impeccable, but there are still complaints. They can often be read on smokers' forums.

The main question: “Why is the eGo electronic cigarette bitter?” It's all about the main device - the automizer. The cigarette may have expired. Everything tends to wear out. The design of electronic cigarettes is quite complex. Liquid inevitably leaks through special air holes, clogging the cracks. This results in an unpleasant rancid taste. Of course, this is not very good, because when buying such a product, you want to enjoy it, and not choke on every puff.

Now you know why the eGo-T electronic cigarette tastes bitter. But another question remained: “Can the situation be corrected?” Experts give a positive answer. To do this, the automizer must be purged. This must be done from the side where the cartridge is inserted. At the same time, do not forget to remove all leaking liquid with a napkin. If this procedure does not help, you will have to change the automizer.

“Why does an electronic cigarette taste bitter?” - perhaps the main question for smokers. There can be many reasons. We discussed the main ones in the article.

Author: tulpawka March 12, 2021 tulpawka March 12, 2016

How to remove carbon deposits?

Externally, carbon deposits on the spiral are invisible. The plaque can be detected only after complete disassembly of the electronic cigarette.

It’s easy to clean the atomizer with your own hands:

The device turns off and cools down. To do this, you can lightly moisten the vape under cold water. The main thing is to thoroughly wipe and dry the atomizer afterwards. The same procedure will help if the tank is leaking from below.
Next, the atomizer is disassembled. The spiral is pulled out and placed in a container with alcohol. This is the best and fastest way to prevent the vape from making the e-liquid bitter: after cleaning, the plaque does not come off, but dissolves.
Associated parts and ventilation holes are cleaned. The evaporator can only be wiped with a cloth without pellets: otherwise the debris and dust will burn out and also spoil the taste.

Why is overheating a cigarette dangerous?

To understand why the electronic cigarette overheated, you should pay attention to the instructions for use. Long-term operation of an overheating vape is fraught with problems:

Prolonged vaping at high temperatures wears out the coil more intensively. It’s easy to buy components at any vape shop, although winding an atomizer with your own hands is not so easy. To do this you will need a tool, special wire and patience.
A more serious problem is the loose wires inside the charging unit. Not every box mod is easy to disassemble and dismantle. Improper soldering is a threat of critical damage and final failure of the device.
The electronic cigarette heats up at elevated temperatures: the battery life is consumed more intensively. In the future, it will take several hours to charge the vape, and the cycle will not be enough for half a day.
The worst scenario when the atomizer gets too hot is a battery explosion. If the battery is constantly overheated, a short circuit occurs. The vape can catch fire while vaping, and this can cause injury to the vaper.

If replacing the coil and rewinding does not solve the problem, it is rational to give the electronic cigarette to the specialists. On serviced mods, replacing the battery will not break your pocket, and will take a minimum of time for professionals.

Why does the slurry taste bitter in other cases?

If express rinsing does not help to prevent the device from becoming bitter, it is worthwhile to thoroughly clean and service the vape.

To do this, the evaporator is washed under running tap water for 20-30 seconds. Next, wipe it dry and connect it to the battery. In this case, only the atomizer is switched, and not the entire cigarette with the tank.

When the button is pressed, the atomizer is purged 5-6 times. This will help to completely clean the spiral of plaque, remove dust and remaining cotton wool (which is previously removed).

The evaporator did not wet after installation in the tank

Some people don’t know or forget that they need to wet the new vaporizer first, and only then turn on the vape device. If this is your first use or you have installed a new evaporator, then you definitely need to drip liquid into this evaporator.

Unsuitable liquid for iJust

By unsuitable liquid, I mean liquid with a high glycerol (VG) content. Due to the thick consistency of the liquid, it does not have time to wet the cotton wool well. Therefore, when you try to make a pull on dry cotton wool, it will immediately begin to burn. Make sure that the ratio of glycerin (VG) to propylene glycol (PG) does not exceed 70%. The optimal base would be 65 (VG)/40 (PG) or 55 (VG)/45 (PG), but the propylene glycol (PG) should not be more than 50%. (Read here how to choose the right liquid for electronic cigarettes).

Too intense puffs

If you puff too intensely and frequently without a break, the vaporizer will not have time to absorb the liquid. You will start vaping dry cotton wool and the evaporator will burn. Take 7-10 seconds between puffs to give the vaporizer time to absorb the liquid.

Forgot to turn off the mod

Another reason for the evaporator to burn is when you may have forgotten to lock your mod. My friend now uses iJast S, and recently it turned on right in his bag on the subway. He caught the smell late and didn’t have time to pull it out of his bag in time. The evaporator burned out “to hell”, even the cutoff did not help, apparently because there was not enough liquid. So, don’t forget to lock your vape device. To lock it against accidental activation, you need to quickly press the button 5 times. (How to use iJust correctly so as not to spit, read here)

Service life expired

All vaporizers are not durable. Over time, each evaporator begins to wear out and a burning taste appears. If you are wondering how long your vaporizer can “live,” then we have an article on the vapeobzor.ru website that will help you: “How long does the vaporizer last on the ijust s?”

Fake or defective

When purchasing a low-quality vaporizer, it often happens that it burns out very quickly. Or you got a marriage. Try changing seller.

What to do if a burning taste has already begun to appear?

If you sometimes feel a burning taste or your evaporator is already burnt, try carefully using a needle to poke a couple of holes in the evaporator hole where the cotton wool is peeking out. If you feel an emphasis on the piece of iron, then there is no need to pierce it further. Of the four holes, only two are covered with a piece of iron; you need to pierce those without a piece of iron. 2-3 holes won't go all the way through. This should help remove some of the burnt taste if the evaporator has just started to burn. If it doesn’t help, then you’ll have to install a new evaporator.

Preventive measures

Everyone experiences a bitter taste sooner or later. In most cases, the reason for this lies in the inattention and carelessness of the user. Periodic technical monitoring and care of your vape will help you avoid problems during daily vaping.

Watch the filter. If the cotton wool is burnt even a little, replacement is required. On latest generation devices this procedure is simple and quick.
Do not use up the liquid to the maximum. If the liquid level does not hide the cotton wool or at the bottom, it is rational to add the batch to the maximum. With this volume, the filter will last longer.
Moderate smoking. Even branded vapes are not adapted to extreme loads. Frequent and deep puffs overheat the battery and negatively affect the taste.
Maintain hygiene. Carrying your vape in your pocket or bag in a case is a smart move. This will prevent the ingress of pellets, debris, papers and dust that settles on the spiral and components. The vaping hole will be protected by a special cap.

What does an evaporator consist of and how does it work?

The evaporator is a heating element consisting of a wire twisted into a spiral through which cotton is inserted. The wire is made from several types of stainless metal - nickel, titanium, nichrome. Why stainless steel? The thing is that the evaporator, in addition to producing steam, is also responsible for the quality of the taste of the liquid. If the metal oxidizes, it will negatively affect the taste of the liquid. In addition, rust particles may get into the liquid. To prevent this, the wire is made from expensive metals that have high protection against oxidation. Plus, the heating rate of the coil, as well as the transfer of the taste of the liquid, depends on the type of metal.

The taste in the evaporator is also influenced by the cotton, which acts as a wick. In most cases, various brands of Japanese and Chinese cotton are used. Japanese cotton is usually sold separately and is used to create drip coils and serviceable atomizers due to its high quality. Conventional replacement evaporators use Chinese cotton.

What else do you need to know about proper vaping?

Too thick liquid can cause bitterness. As a rule, these are compound ones, with a large number of ingredients and a volume fraction of nicotine. You can get rid of the density using distilled water.

Buying cheap cartridges for electronic cigarettes, budget atomizers and assembled vapes also does not bode well. The bulk of cheap configurations are designed for light vaping, and not for daily use.

This leads to intense wear and overheating of spare parts.

The choice of additional equipment is of decisive importance. Special cotton wool is designed for servicing electronic cigarettes. These are fibers that do not contain foreign and synthetic components that distort the taste and are felt when burning. Regular cotton wool from a pharmacy or cotton pads will not work for vaping services.

There are several mechanical reasons why a vape tastes bitter and causes discomfort to its owner. However, such factors may not always justify the appearance of unpleasant sensations when tightening. A lot depends on liquids for electronic cigarettes - their composition and proportions. The vaping process and its intensity also affect the appearance of bitterness.

Recommendations for proper use of a vape

To virtually eliminate the possibility of bitterness, you should do regular maintenance of the device and use it correctly. To do this you need:

monitor the condition of the filter, replace it if necessary;
do not hover until the liquid is completely consumed;
maintain pauses between puffs, or better yet, vape less often;
inspect and clean the electronic cigarette once a week;
store the device in an upright position, in a dry and clean place;
cover the vaping hole with a cap;
use high-quality liquid and devices from well-known brands;
When replacing the wick yourself, you should use special cotton wool.

Advice! In order for the electronic cigarette to work properly, the causes of the problems should be eliminated, and not their consequence - carbon deposits. Only if there is a serious defect, the product will need to be replaced. Periodic cleaning and compliance with the operating rules set out in the instructions is a practical guarantee of the durability of the device.

An electronic cigarette, created to replace conventional tobacco products, is not immune to breakdowns. Unpleasant taste sensations can occur when using low-quality vaping liquid, even when using branded products, new electronic cigarettes. But, basically, problems appear over time due to the formation of deposits on the filament coil. The reasons for this phenomenon are various, but regular cleaning will help get rid of bitterness. It is best to minimize the nicotine content in the e-liquid - this will have a beneficial effect on your health.

Why bitterness may occur

Among the reasons why an electronic cigarette tastes bitter, the characteristics of the vaping liquid come first:

The slurry is too thick - a similar problem often occurs when using self-mixes. On a hot coil, a burnt wick begins to emit smoke due to slow impregnation with the substance.
Low-quality nicotine - cheap liquids use a substance that is not good enough.
Low water content is a common problem in Chinese e-liquids. They do not use distilled water, and the wick dries very quickly.

Finding the reason

If bitterness occurs during smoking, the first thing to consider is the characteristics of the liquid.

The composition is too thick - this most often happens if the liquid is made independently. Due to its consistency, it does not have time to evaporate and burns to the coil.
Poor quality of nicotine - if the liquid is cheap, then the substances included in its composition are not of high quality and can burn.
If the composition does not contain distilled water, or there is not enough of it (typical of Chinese compositions), then the wick dries out too quickly and provokes bitterness.

The “wrong” liquid is a common cause of a bitter taste when vaping.

If you inhale steam too often, this can also cause burning. The reason is simple - the wick does not have time to become saturated with liquid and begins to burn.

According to experienced vapers, taking a puff more than once every 10 seconds is wrong.

There are also constructive reasons for the appearance of bitterness during smoking.

Old wick. If it is used for a long time without replacement, then over time it becomes disheveled and is not properly saturated.
There is debris on the coil.
The evaporator operates with low resistance, which leads to overheating of the coil - you need to either replace the element or adjust it.
There is dirt on the coil - this is caused by smoking for too long without a break.
Winding is done incorrectly - this often causes burning and the appearance of an aftertaste.

Winding the coil by a beginner can be done incorrectly, and the vape will taste bitter

What to do if the device is bitter

The appearance of an unpleasant aftertaste interferes with the pleasure that the vaper receives while using a vape. What to do if your e-cigarette tastes bitter:

rinse the atomizer with cold water - this will help get rid of residue in the electronic cigarette with small accumulations of plaque;
then it should be shaken and wiped well with a lint-free cloth to remove carbon deposits on the spiral;
connect the atomizer to the battery of an electronic cigarette without a cartridge;
blow until automatic shutdown, repeat several times;
add vaping liquid;
Carry out a repeat test for the burnt taste in an electronic cigarette.

If the vape starts to taste bitter again, then you need to carry out a comprehensive procedure for removing soot.

The atomizer produces smoke. What to do?

First you need to find tweezers. Everything in an electronic cigarette is very tiny and sometimes it is not possible to reach the desired element with your fingers. First you need to unscrew the atomizer from the battery. This is the very first and simplest thing that can happen during repairs.

It is best to disassemble the device on a flat table surface with a bright light on.

Again, due to the small size of the parts, a person needs to be able to clearly see what they are doing.

Once the atomizer is opened, you will notice thin threads inside. They look like fishing line. All this is located under the so-called bridge, which looks like steel wool. This part will need to be removed.

This is where tweezers come in very handy. They need to grab the twisted part of the wick and pull it. This should help pull it out from under the atomizer. When the wick is removed, you can see that it is a bunch of threads that are fastened on one side. Throughout the entire process you need to be extremely careful and careful so as not to damage anything. There is no need to be afraid that pulling out the wick may require some effort; it simply sits very tightly inside the electronic cigarette, and the strings are sometimes very tightly soldered.

In order to no longer experience the feeling of a burning taste when smoking, you will need to remove all the wick threads from the e-cigarette. After this, you can begin washing and cleaning the atomizer. This can be done under running water, after which it should be dried well. It's safer and best to just leave it upside down and open overnight. This will definitely ensure that the electronic cigarette is dry.

Now the atomizer no longer gives off a burning smell, since the main source of this unpleasant taste is no longer present. That is, the electronic cigarette was left without a wick. When smoking it will no longer give off a burning and burning taste. After further use, you may notice that the steam produced has decreased, but this will not affect its quality.

Removing carbon deposits

You can get rid of the unpleasant smell of the steam mixture if you clean the structural elements from carbon deposits. Follow all steps carefully and take your time:

First, the device must be completely cooled.
Then prepare a solution of alcohol and water, disassemble the atomizer and place the coil in the liquid for 2-3 hours.
Now you can remove the carbon deposits using a small needle.
When the plaque is cleared, the atomizer should be blown out.
The heating element and atomizer are wiped from the inside with a lint-free cloth.

When the structure is completely dry, it is assembled to its original state. Then you need to conduct a test using a smoking mixture. If the problem persists, you should think about changing your e-liquid.

Experienced vapers recommend regularly taking care of the condition of your vape. To do this, you need to clean it from plaque at least once a month. The more powerful the structure, the more attention it requires in terms of maintenance.

An unpleasant bitter taste is a problem that vapers often encounter. A high-quality vape should not taste bitter if used correctly, let's take a little look at the reasons for this situation.

Is it all about the liquid?

So what should you do if your e-cigarette tastes bitter? Let's look at all the problems in order. If an electronic cigarette tastes bitter immediately after purchasing it, but there cannot be soot there yet, then it’s all about the liquid.

Things go like this with her:

You decided to save money, forgetting that the stingy pays twice and purchased the vaping liquid on some dubious site, but for a meager price. Congratulations - one of the cunning Chinese has profited from you! As a result, you received a bottle of something like a fragrant but bitter liquid, which we do not recommend vaping. The most correct decision would be to order vaping liquid on specialized branded websites, or buy it at a specialized vape shop. And the previous bottle can be used instead of an air freshener, for example, in a car.
When the liquid level in the tank is too low, and you are trying with all your might to pull the thickest cloud of vapor out of your e-cigarette, don’t flatter yourself - nothing will work. After all, that’s what an evaporator is for, to evaporate. But what to evaporate if there is no liquid? In vain attempts to soar, the coil only overheats and the wick burns out. And if he wasn’t bitter before, now that’s the reason. Add liquid to the tank and vape to your health, do not torture your device!
If your electronic device is new, it may taste bitter due to the fact that the filter is not sufficiently saturated, the cotton will burn out and give an unpleasant aftertaste. Therefore, before you start vaping, you should make sure that the filter is sufficiently wet and suitable for use. Leave the evaporator for ten minutes after replacing, and if possible, drip some liquid through the side holes.

Yes, one more thing about liquid. The most optimal ratio of propylene glycol and glycerin in it is 50/50. But it can be different - 30/70, for example.

Every self-respecting vaper selects an individual ratio of liquid components, taking into account his own preferences, and knows that glycerin gives the vapor softness and richness, and propylene glycol provides the famous “throat hit”.

This particular “throat hit” can also give a feeling of bitterness, but still, it’s more of a sore throat.

What causes a burnt taste in the first place?

The most common reasons are:

Excessive power

If you apply a current charge of 150 watts to the microcoil, then the cotton on the evaporator, no matter how well it is wetted, will begin to burn before the liquid turns into steam. The result is logical - you will catch the “garik”. To avoid this, just start vaping with low power, slowly increasing the indicator to comfortable values. In the case of replaceable evaporators, everything is much simpler - the manufacturer indicates the power range directly on them. Just follow the recommendations.

The wick is not wet

This situation most often happens in winter. Low temperatures cause the juice to thicken and cannot properly saturate the evaporator. Therefore, for the cold season, it is better to select e-liquids with a higher content of propylene glycol (PG). It increases the flow rate and the liquid is evenly absorbed.

Incorrect placement of cotton wool

This is a common occurrence with serviceable atomizers. If you pack the cotton very tightly, it will prevent the liquid from being absorbed. If you are greedy and thread too thin a piece of cotton into the coils, the liquid from it will evaporate in a split second and the cotton wool itself will begin to burn. To avoid this, pinch off a good piece of cotton wool, which will be threaded into the spiral slightly resting, and after laying, try to fluff the cotton a little. To do this, you can use tweezers or a needle.

Rush

Some vapers are eager to start vaping immediately after filling the tank. It is better not to do this, since the liquid should have time to completely saturate the wick. Wait 3-5 minutes, and no bitterness will bother you. By the way, there is one life hack: as soon as you install a fresh evaporator and fill the tank with liquid, we recommend waiting 15-20 minutes. Then the taste will subsequently be brighter, and the evaporator itself will last much longer.

Neglect of coil hygiene

This is also true mainly for serviceable atomizers. Some vapers regularly change the cotton wool, but do nothing with the coils, and deposits also accumulate on them. Sometimes you can see coils that are completely black with soot. To prevent this from happening, you need to do the following from time to time: remove the cotton wool from the coils and thoroughly heat the coil, then dip it in a glass of water. Don’t be afraid, nothing bad will happen (unless, of course, you drown the entire mod), repeat the procedure 2-3 times - this will save you from soot.