FAQ Vape · UK vaping questions, answered directly
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A burnt taste almost always means the cotton wick inside your coil has dried out and is being scorched by the heating element. This usually happens when too little e-liquid is reaching the coil, when a new coil hasn't had time to soak, or when you're chain vaping faster than the wick can re-saturate.
MTL (mouth-to-lung) means drawing vapour into your mouth first, then inhaling it into your lungs, similar to smoking a cigarette. DTL (direct-to-lung) means pulling vapour straight into your lungs in one motion, similar to a deep breath. MTL kits use tighter airflow and higher-resistance coils; DTL kits use looser airflow and sub-ohm coils.
There's no fixed number of days that suits everyone. As a broad guide, many vapers find a coil lasts roughly one to two weeks of regular use, though sweeter e-liquids and heavy use can shorten that considerably. The clearest signal isn't the calendar, it's the taste: once flavour turns muted, harsh or faintly burnt, the coil needs replacing.
A slightly odd, metallic or plasticky taste from a brand-new coil is almost always residue from manufacturing burning off during the first few uses, not a fault. Priming the coil properly before you vape on it, and giving it a few puffs at a lower wattage, usually clears the taste within the first tank. If a harsh or chemical taste doesn't improve after a full tank, or is joined by gurgling or leaking, that points to a faulty coil rather than normal break-in.
Yes. UK aviation rules require vapes, e-cigarettes and any spare batteries to travel in hand luggage, never in the hold, because of the fire risk lithium batteries pose in the cargo hold. The device should be switched off (or locked, if it has a lock function) so it can't activate by accident, and must not be charged on board. E-liquid counts as a liquid, so it needs to fit within the liquid container limit that applies at your departure airport.
Terms worth knowing
Full glossary →Coil
The replaceable part inside a tank or pod that contains a length of resistance wire wrapped around (or through) a cotton wick. It heats the e-liquid to produce vapour and wears out over time.
DTL (direct-to-lung)
A vaping style where vapour is pulled straight into the lungs in one motion, similar to a deep breath. Typically used with sub-ohm coils, looser airflow and higher-VG e-liquid.
Dry hit
An unpleasant, scorched-tasting puff caused by the wick not having enough e-liquid on it when the coil fires. A sign to check e-liquid level, priming, or coil age.
MTL (mouth-to-lung)
A vaping style where vapour is drawn into the mouth first, then inhaled into the lungs, similar to smoking a cigarette. Typically used with higher-resistance coils and tighter airflow.
Nic salt
A form of nicotine (nicotine salt) that's smoother on the throat at higher strengths than freebase nicotine, which is why nic salt e-liquids are popular in the lower-power pod kits many ex-smokers start with.
Sub-ohm
A coil with resistance below 1.0 ohm. Sub-ohm coils need more power and higher-VG e-liquid, and are generally paired with DTL, looser-airflow devices rather than tight MTL pod kits.