A Geek Vape coil typically lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and how long a coil lasts depends mostly on how well you take care of it. If you use the coil properly and make the right choices when it comes to the vape juice flavors that you buy, you can expect the longest coil life possible.
More than anything else, getting the best possible life from a Geek Vape coil – or any vape coil, for that matter – means that you’ll need to make a choice between using sweet flavors and replacing your coils more often or using unsweetened flavors and enjoying better coil life.
That, however, is just the first step – it’s also possible to make a vape coil burn out almost instantly if you make a mistake when installing or using it, and we’ll discuss those scenarios in this guide as well.
So, how long can you make a Geek Vape coil last if you do everything right? We’ll explain why vape coils burn out and what you can do to delay that tell-tale burnt flavor for as long as possible.
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Why Do Geek Vape Coils Burn Out?
A vape coil doesn’t exactly burn when you use it, but it does undergo changes over time due to e-liquid residue and heat-related stress. Eventually, those changes cause the coil to produce a burnt flavor, which is what compels you to replace it.
There are two reasons why a Geek Vape coil burns out. We’ll discuss those scenarios and what they taste like, so you can understand what’s happening when you need to replace your coil.
- E-Liquid Residue: Also known as “coil gunk.” This is the most common reason why any vape coil burns out. The primary root cause is sucralose, the sweetener that’s used in the vast majority of mainstream vape juices today. Sucralose tastes great, but it causes residue to form on a coil because it melts and caramelizes when it’s heated instead of vaporizing cleanly. You can tell that residue is what’s causing your coil to burn out because the coil will produce a flavor that actually tastes a bit like burnt sugar or caramel. Almost all e-liquid flavors – with the exception of menthol – cause at least a little residue to form on a coil, but sucralose is the biggest cause by far.
- Burnt Wick: A Geek Vape coil can also burn out because of heat-related damage or stress to the cotton wick. This can happen almost without warning if you make a mistake when installing or using the coil, manifesting itself as an extremely harsh “dry hit” that makes you cough. A wick can also wear out gradually from heat stress, eventually producing a flavor that tastes a bit like a burnt t-shirt. No vape coil lasts forever. Even if you use a completely coil-friendly unsweetened and unflavored e-liquid, the wick will eventually degrade from repeated heat-related stress.
Now that you understand the two reasons why a Geek Vape coil can burn out, let’s discuss why those things happen and what you can do to prevent or delay them.
Why Does a Geek Vape Coil Get Residue, and How Can You Prevent It?
If you’re like most vapers, you don’t have to worry about burnt wicks at all because your Geek Vape coils burn out due to e-liquid residue long before they get to that point. That’s because almost all vape juice is very sweet. As you now understand if you clicked the “melts and caramelizes” link above, sucralose doesn’t vaporize cleanly when it’s heated – it forms a dark layer of sludge and crust.
Here's how to prevent coil residue.
Avoid Sweeteners and Try Unflavored E-Liquid
Although sucralose is the biggest reason why gunk forms on a coil, almost all e-liquid flavors with the exception of menthol can generate residue. The gunk will form much more slowly, though, if you avoid sweetened vape juice. It’s also possible to buy vape juice that’s unflavored except for a little menthol in some cases. Just look for flavor names like “Clear” and “Pure.”
Switch to a Smaller Vaping Device
The rate at which residue forms on a coil is mainly a function of two things: how sweet your e-liquid is and how much vape juice you use. Your Geek Vape coils will last longer – even if you’re using sweetened e-liquid – if you use a vaping device that doesn’t produce enormous clouds. Take a look at our list of the best refillable vapes on the market to get some recommendations.
Note that if you’re currently using a larger vape mod, it’s likely that the nicotine strength of your e-liquid is fairly low. You may need to use a higher-strength nicotine salt e-liquid if you switch to a smaller vape and want to maintain the same level of satisfaction.
Why Does a Geek Vape Coil Get a Burnt Wick, and How Can You Prevent It?
The wick in a Geek Vape coil burns because of heat-related stress – and it can happen gradually or suddenly depending on how well you care for the coil. Here’s why a coil’s wick burns and what you can do to prevent or delay it.
- Always make sure that new coils are fully primed before you begin using them. When you install a new coil or begin using a new pod, don’t vape until after you’ve waited at least five minutes for the coil’s wick to become completely soaked through with e-liquid.
- If you have a vaping device with adjustable wattage, keep the power at a reasonable level. Big clouds may be fun, but they’re a lot less fun if they cause your coils to burn out early.
- Keep your vape full of e-liquid. If you look at the side of the tank or pod, you’ll see the white wick openings on the side of the coil assembly. As soon as the level of vape juice gets below those openings, you need to refill your device.
It’s important to remember that even if you follow all of the suggestions in this article – including using unsweetened e-liquid – your coil’s wick will degrade from heat eventually. The maximum amount of time that you can expect a Geek Vape coil to last is around three or four weeks even under the best of circumstances. By that point, you’ll almost certainly detect a change in the coil’s flavor quality.
Recap: How to Make Your Geek Vape Coils Last as Long as Possible
Let’s recap the things that you’ve learned in this article. If you want your Geek Vape coils to last as long as possible, you should always do these things.
- Use unsweetened e-liquid. For even better coil life, give unflavored e-liquid a try.
- If you love sweet e-liquids and can’t bear to stop using them, you can make the residue form more slowly by using a smaller and less powerful vaping device. Using less e-liquid will cause residue to form more slowly.
- When you’re using a new pod or coil, always wait at least five minutes before vaping. This helps to ensure that when you do start using your vape, the coil will be fully saturated.
- Always refill your tank or pod when the level gets low. If the coil is allowed to get completely dry, you could get a “dry hit” that damages the coil’s wick.
- If your vape has adjustable power, avoid pushing the wattage too high. If you’re too aggressive with the power level, your coil could overheat.
Tired of Replacing Coils? Try Geek Bar Disposables Instead
As you’ve learned from reading this guide, it’s possible to make a Geek Vape coil last upwards of a month if you care for it properly. Even if your coil life is that good, though, you may still get tired of messy coil replacements eventually. Also, if you enjoy sweet e-liquids, your Geek Vape coils won’t last incredibly long regardless of what you do.
So, what’s the alternative if you can’t stand replacing your coil? Try disposable vapes instead! Geek Vape doesn’t just make the world’s most popular refillable vapes; they also make the most popular disposables under the Geek Bar brand. With 100 delicious Geek Bar flavors on offer, you definitely won’t have to worry that you’re compromising your experience from a flavor standpoint.
Another great feature of Geek Bar disposable vapes is that they have a unique dual-coil design that helps to preserve the flavor quality of your device. When you use the device in the standard single-coil vaping mode, the device switches from one coil to the other each time you puff on it. This divides the residue between the two coils, allowing you to enjoy sweet flavors to your heart’s content. By the time the flavor quality might have begun to decrease, the device will be out of e-liquid and ready for replacement.