How to Fix a Burnt Disposable: Elf Bars and More

This guide lays out the reasons your disposable vape tastes burnt and the ways that you might be able to fix it.

Identifying the problem with your disposable

The three reasons your disposable vape tastes burnt:

• Not enough liquid is getting to the heating coil quickly enough (liquid levels might be low though not empty)
• A coil that gets too hot (maybe you just took the device off the charger and the battery voltage is at its highest for a brief period, or maybe you took too many puffs in quick succession)
• A product dud that shouldn’t have passed quality control (it tasted burnt the second you opened the package)

Steps to fix a burnt disposable vape

Note: this could get a little messy. Bring out a paper towel or a clean rag to work on. Latex gloves are advisable.

Step 1: Clean the mouthpiece

Look closely inside your mouthpiece and swab it with a rolled-up tissue or napkin. You might be surprised what you pull out.

Okay, this might be more about hygiene than a burnt hit. Still. It’s step one.

Step 2: Remove the internals (if you can)

Notice how the pieces are assembled so you can reassemble it properly. Do NOT detach any wires. Pull out the internals as a single unit. Lay it on the work surface.

Step 3: Check the levels of eliquid

Step 4: Add your favorite vape juice (if it feels dry inside)

Step 5: Let the cotton soak

Step 6: Reassemble the disposable

Step 7: Take primer puffs

Tips on preventing burnt hits

• Slow down. It’s easy to vape more and faster than you realize. Try to take shorter puffs and give just a little more time in between the next.
• Be wary of puff counts. Puff counts are based on very short puffs. Some vapers take really long drags. The puff counter for the liquid is more based on the total time the coil has fired. If you want to get more puffs, take shorter ones.
• Don’t overcharge. Sometimes a disposable vape can give a burnt taste because the battery is pumping out too much voltage for the coil. The nominal voltage for these devices is 3.7V, but a freshly charged lithium-ion battery will charge to 4.2V for a brief period before going back down toward 3.7V. If it tastes burnt after a charge, take light puffs for a period without fully inhaling. This will start to deplete the battery enough to bring the total power output down. Try a full inhale when the taste feels right.
• Don’t chase a bad purchase. If you bought a device that tasted burnt from the beginning, it was a dud. But sometimes, those duds can be indicative of a batch issue. Try buying again, but from a different retailer or brand.

Conclusion