Vaping looks easy most of the time, but a handful of problems come up again and again, mostly for people who are new to it. The BBC has reported at least 35 million vapers worldwide, with the figure climbing each year, and more vapers means more people running into the same trouble. Below are 4 common mistakes and what to do about each one.
1. Running the coil dry
Dry vaping, or a dry hit, is something beginners meet early. It happens when you take a puff and the pen does not hold enough e-juice to feed the coil. What you get instead of vapor is a dry, burning feeling across the mouth and throat.
The fix is simple: keep the device topped up so the coil always has plenty of juice.
2. Inhaling too hard and vaping too often
New vapers often have no feel for how much to inhale. Drawing too heavily can irritate the throat and lungs and leave you coughing or struggling for breath, and it can be especially bad for anyone who has asthma.
Vaping too much is a separate issue. Its side effects include:
- A sore throat
- A dry mouth
- Coughing
When these show up, the easiest answer is a break. Put the device down, let your body rest and drink plenty of fluids.
3. Ignoring allergy season
Allergy season brings enough discomfort by itself, so it helps to know how vaping fits in. Vaping raises the chance of worsened allergy symptoms. Whether you carry on during those weeks is your call, but bear in mind that vaping can affect how well you breathe, and how well the people around you breathe too.
4. Buying the cheapest equipment
Once you start, you find there is more to vaping than you expected, and the costs add up. Cutting corners is tempting. With kits and e-juices, though, you get what you pay for.
Cheaply made hardware can malfunction, and replacing it costs more over time than buying well once. A malfunction can also be a hazard: poorly manufactured devices may catch fire.
The short version
Vape responsibly, keep juice in the tank, take breaks when your throat complains, and do not settle for cheap products. If you would like to vape but are unsure about nicotine, read our post on reasons to buy nicotine free vape juice.