Is it okay to vape with burnt coils?

That's an excellent and important question. The short and direct answer is:

No, it is not okay to vape with a burnt coil. You should stop immediately and replace the coil.

Here's a detailed breakdown of why it's a bad idea, covering both the experience and the potential health risks.

The Immediate Problems: Taste and Experience

First and foremost, you'll notice the experience becomes very unpleasant:

Awful Taste: The most immediate sign is a harsh, burnt, and bitter taste. This "burnt hit" is unmistakable and can make vaping feel disgusting.

Reduced Vapor Production: A burnt coil doesn't vaporize e-liquid efficiently, leading to significantly less vapor.

Harsh Throat Hit: The vapor becomes irritating and harsh on your throat, causing coughing and discomfort.

The Health and Safety Concerns

Beyond the bad experience, vaping on a burnt coil introduces several potential health risks:

Inhalation of Harmful Chemicals: The cotton wicking material inside the coil is charred and degraded. When you fire the device, you are no longer just vaporizing e-liquid. You are burning this material and potentially inhaling:

Acetaldehyde and Formaldehyde: These are known carcinogens that can form when organic materials (like cotton) are burned at high temperatures.

Carbon Monoxide: Incomplete combustion of the wicking material can produce carbon monoxide.

Other Toxic Compounds: Burning the cotton and any residual, caramelized sweeteners in the e-liquid can release a cocktail of unwanted chemicals that are not present in proper vapor.

Heavy Metal Exposure: As the coil itself degrades and breaks down from being overheated and dry, there is a potential for tiny metal particles to flake off and become aerosolized. Inhaling heavy metals like chromium, nickel, and kanthal is dangerous and can lead to respiratory issues.

"Dry Hits" and Increased Risk: A burnt coil often means the wicking is compromised. This leads to more frequent dry hits, where the coil is fired with no e-liquid to cool it, exponentially increasing the production of the harmful substances mentioned above.

Why Do Coils Burn Out?

Understanding the causes can help you prevent it in the future:

Natural Wear and Tear: Coils have a finite lifespan. Gunk from sweeteners and flavorings in the e-liquid builds up on the coil and wick over time, eventually causing it to burn out. This is normal.

Chain Vaping: Taking multiple puffs in quick succession doesn't give the wick enough time to re-saturate with e-liquid, leading to a dry burn.

High Wattage: Using a power setting that is too high for your specific coil will burn the cotton.

Using a Thick E-Liquid in a Pod System: Using a high VG liquid in a device designed for thinner (e.g., 50/50) e-liquids can cause wicking issues.

Priming Incorrectly: Not properly saturating a new coil with e-liquid before first use will cause it to burn instantly.

What to Do If Your Coil is Burnt

Stop Vaping Immediately. Do not try to "power through" the burnt taste.

Replace the Coil. This is the only real solution. Once the cotton is burnt, the damage is permanent and the bad taste and potential for harmful emissions will not go away.

Prime Your New Coil Properly. Before installing a new coil, saturate the cotton wicking ports with e-liquid. After installing it and filling your tank, let it sit for 5-10 minutes to ensure it's fully saturated.

Start at a Lower Wattage. When using a new coil, start at the low end of its recommended wattage range and gradually increase it to your preferred setting. This helps break in the coil gently.

In summary: Vaping with a burnt coil is not just unpleasant-it negates the primary reason many people switch from smoking, which is to find a less harmful alternative. It exposes you to a range of unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals. Your health and your taste buds will thank you for replacing it.