Are you vaping correctly? Avoid the most common mistakes!

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The most common mistakes when vaping liquids

Vaporizers can be divided according to the material they heat. The most common vaporizers are those designed for liquids, so we will start with the most common mistakes when vaping liquids.

Incorrect inhalation

If you experience a burnt taste, insufficient vapour production or your device overheats when vaping, you are probably making a mistake in the way you inhale or the frequency of inhalation.

There are two ways to vape:

  • MTL (mouth-to-lungs) vaping style: This corresponds to the style of smoking traditional cigarettes. The user first draws the vapour into their mouth and then inhales it into their lungs. Devices with lower power and higher coil resistance are suitable for MTL vaping, as they create a stronger ‘throat hit’ effect.
  • DTL (direct-to-lung) vaping style: Similar to smoking a hookah, the vapour is drawn directly into the lungs. DTL vaping requires a more powerful device with low coil resistance, which ensures more intense evaporation of the liquid and therefore a more pronounced flavour and thicker vapour.

Make sure you vape in a style that suits the type and settings of your vaporiser and take breaks between puffs. The length of each puff should not exceed 2 seconds and you should wait about 20 seconds between puffs to allow the cotton in the heating head to soak up the liquid again and prevent it from burning.

Because vaporizers allow more puffs than a traditional cigarette, are discreet, and liquids have a pleasant taste, many users are tempted to overuse them. In one session, you should not take more than 20 puffs, then allow your lungs and vaporizer to rest for at least 30 minutes.

 

A man vaping e-liquid, next to him an illustration of vapour, bottles with flavours and a vape device, with the Canatura logo at the bottom right

Incorrect settings

Are you inhaling correctly, but the liquid still burns or bubbles, spits and produces little vapour? This is probably due to incorrect settings.

The power of the device should correspond to the type of heating head. Each heating head has a recommended power range at which it works best. If overheating occurs, try reducing the power. If, on the other hand, there is little vapour and the liquid is not evaporating sufficiently, increase the power.

Settings for mouth-to-lung vaping:

Higher coil resistance, lower power and narrower airflow will ensure a stronger ‘throat hit’.

What is a ‘throat hit’? A throat hit is a sudden irritating sensation in the throat that is typical of smoking traditional cigarettes. For many smokers, this effect is important for an authentic vaping experience.

Settings for lung hits:

Lower coil resistance, higher power and more open airflow result in a more pronounced flavour and more vapour.

Bad liquid

If, despite correct inhalation and settings, you are experiencing a weak or burnt taste, an unpleasant irritating sensation in your throat, bubbling liquid or weak vapour, you may be using the wrong liquid for your vape pen. Not every liquid is suitable for every device or vaping style.

The main ingredients of liquids are propylene glycol (PG) and/or vegetable glycerine (VG). PG is thinner, ensures flavour transfer and is responsible for the ‘throat hit’. VG is thicker and, on the contrary, softens the draw and creates clouds of vapour.

If you vape as if you were smoking a traditional cigarette and use a liquid with a high VG content, the cotton wool in the device may be more difficult to absorb and the liquid will evaporate poorly. This leads to a weak draw, burning cotton wool and a bland or burnt taste.

If you use a liquid with a high PG content for direct lung inhalation, the vapour may irritate your throat, the liquid may bubble and you will probably get less vapour than you expected.

Use liquids with a higher PG content if you prefer mouth-to-lung vaping. Liquids with a higher VG content, on the other hand, are ideal for inhaling vapour directly into the lungs.

Incorrect handling and storage of the device

Do you still feel a burnt taste, or does it seem like you are inhaling liquid instead of vapour? The problem may be incorrect handling or improper storage of the device.

Storing the device horizontally can cause the liquid to saturate the cotton, accumulate in the airways and then enter your mouth when you inhale.

Incorrect angle when inhaling can result in insufficient liquid reaching the cotton wool and causing it to burn.

When vaping, make sure the heating head is always submerged — hold the vape at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to ensure the correct flow of liquid. Do not turn the device upside down, as this will saturate the cotton wool.

Always store the vaporiser in an upright position and empty the tank if you are not using it for a long time. Do not expose the vape to extreme temperatures to prevent liquid degradation and battery damage.

Lack of or excess liquid

A burnt taste, bubbling, spitting and weak draw can also be caused by too little or too much liquid in the tank.

Do not try to use up every last drop of liquid — if there is too little liquid in the tank, the cotton wool will not absorb enough and will burn when you take a draw. Replace the cartridge or refill the liquid before it reaches the bottom.

If you refill the tank yourself, do not overfill it — too much liquid will lead to cotton saturation and insufficient evaporation of the liquid, resulting in bubbling, spitting, weak flavour and vapour.

Weak battery and insufficient maintenance

No throat hit, bland taste and the device barely produces any vapour? This may be due to reduced battery capacity and insufficient maintenance of the device.

For reusable devices, a sufficiently charged battery and proper maintenance are key to a smooth and high-quality vaping experience. Always follow the manufacturer’s manual and recommendations.

You should regularly:

Tips for vaping liquids

  • Choose the right device: To get the experience you want, first consider how you want to vape and choose your vape accordingly:
    • If you plan to vape only occasionally, a disposable vape pen, which requires no setup or maintenance, may be sufficient.
    • If you plan to vape regularly, it is worth investing in a reusable device.
  • If you are buying replacement parts, make sure they are compatible with your vaporiser. For example, if you use a wider mouthpiece than the one the vape is designed for, each puff will draw more air and more liquid into the heating head, which will saturate the cotton wool and cause the vape to bubble and spit unpleasantly.
  • Start with lower concentrations and smaller liquid packages until you find the ones that suit you best.

Mistakes when vaping herbal blends

Vaping herbs is a popular way to get the most out of plant material without burning it—it is gentler on the body and more effective at releasing active substances.

 

Illustration of the most common mistakes when vaping – a woman vaping herbs, next to her a vaporiser, a grinder and a package of dried mixtures, with the Canatura logo at the bottom right

However, if you prepare the herbs incorrectly or inhale them the wrong way, this can lead to a weak effect, an unpleasant taste or even damage to the device. The most common mistakes include:

Sudden inhalation

Do you feel that the taste and vapour are weak and you are not experiencing the expected effects? You may be pulling too hard – the herbs are not heating up properly and fewer active substances are being released.

Pull slowly to give the hot air enough time to create a full vapour and extract the maximum from the herbs.

Too coarse or fine mixture

Is the vapour thin or does it taste bad? Do you notice that your device is clogging up? Then you are probably using herbs that have been ground incorrectly.

For proper vaporisation of herbs:

Find out what mixture coarseness is optimal for your device. You should find this information in the manual for your vaporiser.

  • In general, however, finer grinding is more suitable for conduction heating vaporisers, while coarser grinding is more suitable for convection heating vaporisers.
  • Use a high-quality grinder.

If you use too coarse a mixture, the hot air does not flow evenly, resulting in little vapour and weak effects.

Powder from herbs that have been ground too finely can clog the airways of the vaporiser, causing complications such as increased resistance when inhaling, poorer taste, reduced effectiveness and damage to the device.

Overdried or old herbs

Is the taste weak, unpleasant, or do you notice no effects other than an unpleasantly sharp ‘throat hit’? You may be using herbs that are too dry and old.

For the right experience:

  • Do not use old herbs that have lost their aroma and effectiveness. If they are dark and crumble into dust, they are probably no longer suitable for use.
  • Store herbs in sealable containers to maintain the right moisture and freshness and prevent them from burning during vaping.

Too little or too much filling

If the vapour is weak, the herbs are burning and your device is overheating, it is likely that the herb chamber is poorly filled.

Fill the device so that the mixture is lightly compacted and leave a little space for air.

If you overfill the chamber:

  • Hot air cannot flow smoothly, which reduces the efficiency of vaping.
  • The draw resistance increases, making it difficult to inhale and potentially leading to overheating and burning.

Conversely, if you use too little, your vaporiser will not produce enough vapour.

The most common mistakes when dabbing

Dabbing is a style of vaping that uses concentrated extracts heated to a high temperature, which ensures a more intense effect and purer taste. Incorrect dabbing technique or poor preparation can significantly reduce the effect or ruin the entire experience.

What are the most common mistakes you can make when dabbing?

Too strong and fast inhalation

The concentrate disappears, but you don’t feel any effects? You are probably inhaling too sharply or too quickly and drawing in unevaporated concentrate.

Mastering the correct dabbing technique requires patience and control, which can be challenging for beginners. Always inhale slowly and smoothly.

Unsuitable filling

Is the concentrate burning or, conversely, is the device not producing enough vapour? You may not be using the right filling for your device.

For your first dabbing experience, it is best to use soft and less concentrated fillings such as wax, rosin or live resin. Softer concentrates are generally more suitable for glass tools.

If you already have experience with dabbing or use metal tools, you will probably prefer harder and/or more concentrated extracts, such as shatter or distillate.

Incorrect temperature

If you have chosen a suitable concentrate but still experience a burnt taste or, conversely, a bland taste, weak vapour and no effects, make sure you are heating it to the correct temperature.

Too high a temperature can cause the concentrate to burn, while too low a temperature can lead to ineffective vaporisation, so heat the filling carefully.

  • Dab rig: Heat the nail and let it cool for several tens of seconds before taking a puff.
  • Pen: Dab pens offer different temperature settings. Refer to the manual for your device to select the optimal setting based on the type of concentrate and the desired effect. If you are unsure, always start with a lower temperature to avoid spoiling the filling, and gradually increase the temperature.

Insufficient maintenance

Do you smell burnt residue? Do you feel that the device heats up slowly, that the temperature fluctuates and that you have to pull hard, yet the taste is bland and the vapour is thin? Your device may need to be cleaned. One of the most serious mistakes you can make when dabbing is neglecting regular maintenance.

If you don’t remove the concentrate residue after each use, burnt residue can build up, which will affect the taste and functionality and may even damage your device.

  • After each dabbing session, clean the nail or atomizer with a cotton swab, preferably while it is still slightly warm.
  • Clean the device thoroughly on a regular basis:
    • Rig: Immerse the removable parts of the rig in isopropyl alcohol, leave to soak, then rinse thoroughly with hot water and dry.
    • Pen: Clean the atomizer and airways with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
  • Depending on wear and tear, replace the components of your dab pen.

A few general tips

To avoid complications when vaping:

  • Do not allow the battery in your device to become completely discharged, do not charge it longer than necessary, and recharge it regularly. Use the charger recommended by the manufacturer. If your device has replaceable batteries, monitor their condition and replace them with new ones in good time if their capacity decreases.
  • Only buy from trusted manufacturers and suppliers. The quality of the device and refills affects not only the vaping experience, but above all safety!
  • Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and manuals.

Conclusion

Vaping can be a great alternative to traditional smoking, but remember that the key to a good experience is choosing the right device, using the right refills and following basic rules for use and maintenance.

When vaping liquids, take regular breaks between puffs to prevent damage to the device and health problems. Choose whether you want to inhale into your mouth or directly into your lungs — adjust your device accordingly and choose a suitable liquid.

Hold the vape at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, do not turn it upside down, do not expose it to extreme temperatures and store it in an upright position. Make sure there is always enough liquid in the tank and do not underestimate maintenance for reusable devices.

When vaping herbs, inhale slowly and smoothly so that the mixture has time to heat up properly. Make sure the mixture is properly ground and that you are not using dried-out or old herbs. When refilling, lightly press down the mixture and leave room for air.

When dabbing, always inhale slowly. Keep in mind that the concentrate must be compatible with your device and properly heated. Thorough cleaning is essential.

If you follow these recommendations, you should achieve the optimal experience!

 

Author: Natálie Kubíčková

 

 

Photo: AI

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