Your vape undoubtedly spends a lot of time in your hand. When it’s not in your hand, though, it’s an accident waiting to happen. If you drop your vape on a sidewalk, there’s a decent chance that it’s going to be toast. Some people have even left their vapes in their driveways and backed their vehicles over them. Sometimes, vapes actually survive these accidents. Dropping your vape in water, though, is one thing that can potentially kill your device instantly.
Here's the good news. Many people get nervous after dropping their vapes in water because they’re afraid the devices will explode. That’s actually very unlikely. Nevertheless, a short circuit may occur if water gets inside your device – so the most important thing you can take away from this guide is that you should never use your vape if it’s wet. Although it’s unlikely that a wet vape will start a fire, using your device if it has a short circuit is likely to fry it permanently.
So, you’ve dropped your vape in water. What should you do next? We’ll walk you through it.
How to Get Water Out of a Vape
If you drop your vape in water, your first priority is to disable the device if possible to prevent damage from a potential short circuit. Your next priority is to remove the water, which will hopefully allow you to continue using the device. Here’s what you need to do.
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Turn your device off or disable it immediately.
- If has a removable battery, take the battery out and set it aside.
- If it’s a pod system, remove the pod. This disables most pod vapes.
- If it has a power switch, switch the device off. The Geek Bar Pulse and Geek Bar Pulse X both have power switches.
- If it has a fire button, press the button five times. If you're worried that pressing the fire button would cause the device to activate, skip this step.
- If it doesn’t turn off, don’t use it at all until you’re certain it’s completely dry.
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Set the non-electronic components aside.
- If your vape has a removable tank, pod or cartridge, remove it and set it aside to air dry. Water may get inside these components and alter the flavor of your e-liquid, but that’s not a safety issue.
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Dry your device’s exterior.
- Use a paper towel to dry the outside of your device as thoroughly as possible. Don’t forget to dry the inside of the battery compartment if your vape has a removable battery.
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Remove the excess water from your device’s interior.
- If your device is a pod system or disposable vape with an airflow channel that runs through the device, water has probably gotten inside your vape. Hold a paper towel over the top of the vape while blowing hard through the airflow hole. This will force most of the water out of the device.
- If you’re using a box mod without an airflow opening, tap the device over a paper towel – with the battery door open, if the device has a removable battery – to remove some of the excess water.
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Dry your device’s interior completely.
- The best way to do this is by sealing your vape in a plastic bag with a few desiccant packets for at least a day. These are the little packets marked “do not eat” that are included with shoes and certain other types of products. This is exactly why it’s a good idea to save desiccant packets in case of an emergency. If you don’t have any desiccant packets, you can also use unscented cat litter.
- If your device has a removable battery, seal it with desiccant in a separate bag.
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Try using your device.
- After you’ve sealed your vape with desiccant for at least a day, it should be ready to use. Try vaping. If your device works, it’s safe to continue using it. If it doesn’t work, it’s likely that the water caused permanent damage. You can try returning the device to the bag for another day, but it’s likely that you will need to replace it.
Can I Fix a Wet Vape with Rice?
The idea that you can fix a wet gadget by sealing it in a bag with rice has been repeated by journalists and forum users so many times over the years that many people basically treat it as gospel nowadays. We strongly suggest, though, that you don’t try fixing a wet vape with rice. Rice isn’t as absorbent as desiccant or cat litter, so it may not actually fix the problem. In addition, you’ll have a big mess on your hands because the rice that does absorb water will dissolve into a sludge that will be difficult to remove from the device. You can use rice if you don’t have anything else, but the result probably won’t be what you’re hoping for.
Dropped a Disposable Vape in Water? That Could Be a Problem
If you dropped a disposable vape in water, it might be possible to get it working again – but it’s important to understand that the flavor probably won’t be the same as it was before the accident. A disposable vape doesn’t store its e-liquid in a sealed container, so if water gets inside the device, it’ll dilute the vape juice. You can still use the device, but you’ll probably want to replace it soon anyway.
Accident Prone? Try These Simple Vapes
If you’re the type of person who tends to drop your vape or leave it in spots where it could be knocked over, the ideal vape for you is one that’s light and simple. A vape that has fewer internal components is one that has fewer potential points of failure. Try one of these simple vapes today.
Juice Head Flex Freeze
One of the best ways to keep your vaping experience as simple as possible is by switching to disposable vapes. They’re light and unlikely to be damaged in most types of falls – and if you do happen to damage a disposable vape by dropping it in water, at least you haven’t lost a huge investment.
With a device like the Juice Head Flex Freeze, though, keeping your experience simple definitely doesn’t mean that you need to sacrifice the quality of your experience. The Flex Freeze contains 24 ml of vape juice and lasts up to 50,000 puffs, and it also has a feature that you won’t get with any refillable vape: adjustable ice. With the click of a button, you can customize the device’s coolness to your exact specification. The Flex Freeze also has a power adjustment that lets you change the overall vapor production.
Vaporesso XROS 4
If you prefer the refillable end of the vaping spectrum, the Vaporesso XROS 4 is a great choice for the accident prone. The XROS 4 keeps things very simple with a straightforward three-level power adjustment mechanism instead of the complex screens and buttons that you’ll find on most vape mods.
Although the XROS 4 may be a small vape, that definitely doesn’t mean you won’t have a satisfying experience with it. This device works with all Vaporesso XROS pods. They’re available in resistances as low as 0.4 ohm, which means that this stealthy little vape can actually compete with some full-sized vape mods when it comes to satisfaction and vapor production.