Table of Contents
- KEY TAKEAWAYS
- WHY IS MY VAPE LEAKING AND HOW TO FIX IT?
- INTRODUCTION
- HOW TO PREVENT VAPE LEAKING?
- FILL YOUR TANK UP PROPERLY
- CHECK YOUR SEAL
- COILS ARE SECURED TIGHTLY
- REMOVE E-JUICE FROM THE CHIMNEY
- CHECK THE COIL FOR DAMAGE
- KEEP YOUR TANK UPRIGHT
- USE CORRECT COILS
- CHECK THE O-RINGS
- CHECK THE WICKS
- TRY JUICES WITH A HIGHER VG RATIO
- INHALE SLOWLY AND SOFTLY
- REDUCE CONDENSATION
- LEAK-RESISTANT TANKS
- CHANGE THE COIL
- KEEP YOUR VAPE IN A COOL PLACE
- CHECK YOUR AIRFLOW
- CHECK FOR CRACKS
- INCREASE THE POWER
- EMPTY YOUR TANK WHEN FLYING
- WHAT IS SPITTING AND POPPING?
- PREVENT SPITTING AND POPPING
- CONCLUSION - A VAPER'S GUIDE TO WHY IS MY VAPE LEAKING AND HOW TO FIX IT
- WHY IS MY VAPE LEAKING AND HOW TO FIX IT FAQ
- REFERENCES
KEY TAKEAWAYS
-
Leaking Is Often Caused by Overfilling, Worn Seals, or Improper Coil Fit
Common issues like damaged O-rings, loose parts, or drawing too hard can all lead to e-liquid leaks. -
Proper Maintenance Prevents Most Leaks
Keeping your vape clean, storing it upright, and using the right e-liquid ratio helps reduce the risk of leaking. -
Disposables Shouldn’t Leak—Replace if They Do
If your disposable vape leaks, it’s likely defective. Stop using it and contact the retailer or manufacturer for support.
WHY IS MY VAPE LEAKING AND HOW TO FIX IT?
To stop your vape leaking:
- Fill your vape tank in an upright position and avoid dripping e-liquid into the central tube that runs through the vape tank to the coil.
- Once you have finished filling your tank, ensure your vape coil set-up is secure then screw the tank back onto your battery housing so it is secure.
- Check the seals between the coil, tank and battery housing and replace if necessary.
INTRODUCTION
Vaping is a popular alternative to smoking cigarettes. It has many benefits, such as helping people quit nicotine addiction and getting tar and carcinogens out of their lungs. According to Public Health England “e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than traditional cigarettes”. (1)
But vaping also comes with its own set of problems that aren’t experienced by smokers. For example, you may experience vape tank leaking - leaking e-liquid from your device, leading to a damp pocket!
Getting a little bit of vape juice in your mouth once in a while is normal with larger vape mods and devices. But if the small leak persists, you can have a bit of a mess on your hands - literally! And worse, a leak may start to damage your vape battery and diminish your overall vaping experience.
In this blog post, we will discuss some common symptoms of leaking vaporizers and how to fix them!
HOW TO PREVENT VAPE LEAKING?
There are a number of factors that can cause open system vape kits to start gurgling and leaking. Here are some great tips to help you to fix or prevent vape tank leaking.
FILL YOUR TANK UP PROPERLY
Filling your vape tank properly will help to eliminate any vape tank leaking. If you are using a sub-ohm vape, be sure to use the right type of e-liquid for your atomizer coils and wick setups. If you don't know what types of liquids can be used with certain coil setups - ask!
All vape kits and vape pens come with pretty clear instructions on how to fill vape juice properly. It is important to fill your vape tank in an upright position. This will help to prevent any vape tank leaking as you are filling it up with e-juice. This also prevents the vape coil from being flooded, which can lead to a short circuit and eventual leaking.
It is important to ensure that you do not fill any e-liquid into the central tube. This is the tube that runs down the centre of your vape tank to the coil. This tube is there to deliver the e-liquid onto the coil, so do not fill it with any vape juice.
Once you're done filling your tank up and screwing it back together - make sure that all parts are tight before vaping again. If leaks continue happening after this point, try changing coils or wicks in order.
CHECK YOUR SEAL
Once you have properly filled your e-liquid into the tank, you might also want to check the seal on the various parts of your vape kit. There are seals between the vape coil and tank, the tank and the mouthpiece and the tank and the battery unit.
Double check that each of these seals are intact and tight.
If you are vaping on a tank with an adjustable air flow valve, make sure the airflow is not set too high so that e-liquid can leak out but also keep in mind that more juice will be drawn into your vape when it's set too low or closed off. It might take some trial and error.
COILS ARE SECURED TIGHTLY
In order to avoid leaks, the coil must be screwed into place firmly and correctly or else it could come loose during use. If you notice that there is a vape leak then check your atomizer connections for any signs of looseness before using again. This will help ensure that they in the tank and can help prevent e-liquid from leaking out of the airflow holes of your tank.
REMOVE E-JUICE FROM THE CHIMNEY
If you have any vape juice in the chimney, you will need to remove this. Clean your chimney by using a piece of paper towel and remove any excess e-liquid.
CHECK THE COIL FOR DAMAGE
A small hole in a coil could result in e-juice seeping out during use and this will cause your vape device to leak so make sure you check that all coils are intact before using again. If there is a problem with your atomizer, it can be replaced easily by unscrewing.
KEEP YOUR TANK UPRIGHT
This might seem like an obvious suggestion, but it is important to keep your vape and tanks upright at all times. This will stop vape tank leaking out of the airflow holes that can result in leakage and also keeps your tank clean.
USE CORRECT COILS
Many vape tanks come with replaceable coils and atomizers, many of which are designed to be used at different voltages. If you are using a higher resistance coil above 1.0 Ohm, they are designed to give you a stronger throat hit and more realistic sensation. These are designed to be used with higher PG concentration e-liquids. If you are using a sub-ohm coil (with a resistance below 1.0 ohm), these will produce more vapour but will need a vape juice with a higher VG concentration. So it is worthwhile checking to see that your coil type works with your PG/VG ratio. If you find your tank is leaking, you may want to replace your coil for one better suited for your favourite e-liquid.
CHECK THE O-RINGS
The o-rings are the silicon or rubber rings that help to create a seal between your tank and your coils. O-rings can get damaged due to over-tightening and cross threading but they can also deteriorate over time. As well, if they are not positioned correctly, they may result in leaking. If they are damaged, replace them as quickly as possible.
CHECK THE WICKS
As your coil heats up, the liquid will evaporate into vapour. The wick helps ensure that enough juice is provided to keep it working properly for a long time. You can check whether or not you need to replace your wick by looking at how dark it has become on the outside of your tank (it should be light-coloured). When in doubt, just buy more!
TRY JUICES WITH A HIGHER VG RATIO
If you are using a sub-ohm coil with your vape mod, you may want to look at changing your e-liquid to a higher VG ratio. VG stands for Vegetable Glycerine, which is one of the main ingredients in most e-liquid. A higher VG e-liquid will be thicker and produce more vapour (2). The holes on a sub-ohm coil are larger, so if your e-liquid is not thick enough (has more PG than VG), you should look to change to a higher VG vape juice.
INHALE SLOWLY AND SOFTLY
If your vape still leaks and you are relatively new to vaping with a larger vape device, you may need to adjust your vaping technique. How you draw on a vape is different from smoking a normal cigarette. If you want more smoke with a cigarette, you would naturally take a sharp and harder draw.
This is not the way you want to vape. Try taking a longer, softer and slower pull on your device. This will allow for the battery to activate the coil and properly vapourize the e-liquid. Try to remember, the bigger the vape, the slower the draw.
REDUCE CONDENSATION
Condensation occurs when you take a draw and some of it vaporizes inside the device before making its way out into visibility. The droplets cool down so quickly they turn back into liquid which can accumulate in the central tube. Removing condensation is as easy as cleaning out the central tube with a paper towel or "flicking" your vape. If you choose flicking, we would suggest you do this over a sink or outside, otherwise you may get more vape juice everywhere.
LEAK-RESISTANT TANKS
Many vapers who have switched to refillable vape pens or larger vape mods get frustrated with the persistent leaking that occurs. Switching to a smaller closed system vape device that uses leak-resistant tanks which are pre-filled generally do not leak at all. So if your leaking vape is driving you mad, you might want to try the SMOKO VAPE starter kit.
CHANGE THE COIL
Sub-ohm and higher resistance coils do need to be replaced on a frequent basis. The constant heating and vaporising of the e-liquid will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. Many high voltage devices will need a change of coil every 5 to 7 days. The quality of your e-liquid will also have an impact on the life of your coils. So using a cheaper vape juice may result in you spending a small fortune on replacement coils.
KEEP YOUR VAPE IN A COOL PLACE
Low temperatures will also have an effect on your coils. If you keep your vaping device in a place where it is exposed to extreme heat, this can cause the coil to wear out faster than normal and e-liquid may leak more quickly.
CHECK YOUR AIRFLOW
It is important to check that there is air at the top of your tank and that there is no blockage in the airflow holes. A limited airflow to your coil due to a blockage can also cause your vape to leak. As well, you may experience excess liquid in your coil if you are not getting enough air through. So it's important to clean your pipes!
CHECK FOR CRACKS
The challenge with many of the larger vape mods is the number of components they use. Over time and frequent use, you may notice a few cracks in the tank, mouthpiece and coil. These cracks can allow some of the e-liquid to leak out. A quick investigation of the different parts of your vape will be able to highlight if there are any cracks. If you find a crack in your tank, mouthpiece or coil, we would recommend you replace these.
INCREASE THE POWER
One of the other causes of leaking in a larger vape mod could be that your power setting is too low. Higher VG e-liquids and sub-ohm coils tend to operate when they are set to a higher power output. These "higher performance" devices will demand more battery power and output to properly heat the coil so it is vaporising all of the e-liquid. So if your battery is fully cranked up and you are still having issues with leaking, you may want to look at using a slightly higher PG ratio in your e-liquid.
EMPTY YOUR TANK WHEN FLYING
We are all looking forward to being able to go on vacation again soon! Most airlines will ask you to take your vape and e-liquids with you in your carry-on for safety reasons. But when you are flying, it is important to empty all of your e-liquid out of your tank before flying. The change in air pressure can cause the e-liquid to expand and force excess liquid into the wicking material and coil and may lead to leaking. This forced leaking may damage the battery and the rest of your device.
If you are using a SMOKO VAPE or E-Cigarette, you can simply unscrew the refill from the battery. Problem solved!
WHAT IS SPITTING AND POPPING?
When you are vaping, you may experience some spitting of the e-liquid and a popping noise. Spitting or Spitback as it is also known as, can happen when there is too much liquid in the centre of your coil. This excess e-liquid can't be vaporised quickly enough and ends up bubbling and popping like boiling water. You may get some of this unvaporised liquid shooting up the centre of the tube and into your mouth.
Spitback is not dangerous but it certainly isn't a pleasant experience. You can remedy this issue by flicking your tank over a sink to expel the excess liquid. Another quick fix is to stick a bit of rolled up paper towel down the central tube to absorb the liquid.
PREVENT SPITTING AND POPPING
You can avoid spitting back by always making sure that you have the right amount of e-liquid in your tank. If you don't, it could cause excess liquid to be left at the bottom of your coil which will lead to spitback and popping. Here are a few other trick to try:
DON’T OVER-PRIME YOUR COIL
Priming a new coil means adding a few extra drops to the wicking material of the coil to prevent dry hits and burning out the coil. Putting too much e liquid on the wick may cause it to over prime and flood which will lead to spitting.
REDUCE AIRFLOW
Reducing the airflow in your vape and taking slower draws may help reduce the amount of spitting. If you have the air holes open too wide, you could inadvertently draw too much e-liquid into the coil. So close the air holes slightly after you flick out the excess and your spitting vape should start to settle down.
USE THICKER E-JUICE
Spitting and popping caused by excess juice in your coil may be a result of using a thinner vape juice. Vegetable Glycerine (VG) is a thicker liquid compared to Propylene Glycol (PG). If you are using a higher PG concentrate in your e liquid and have issues with a lot of spitting, you may want to try a higher VG liquid.
CLEAN THE CHIMNEY
The central tube, or chimney, is how the vapour that is produced by your coil gets into your mouth and lungs. If you have excess liquid in the coil and condensation in the central tube, it may be time to call in the chimney sweep. Give it a clean out by either flicking your vape or using a piece of paper towel to remove any excess from the chimney.
AVOID EXOTIC COILS
A phrase I never thought I would ever say in life but we would advise that you avoid exotic coils... A vape mod is designed to be used with a specific set of coils that have been made to work within the device's performance specifications. You may be tempted to try the news fandango coils that someone on Reddit is raving about, but they have not been made to the manufacturer's stringent specifications. Using exotic coils (still cracks me up) could cause permanent damage to your device and your battery as well as cause excess liquid leaking and spitting.
So stick with the components that are designed for your device.
CONCLUSION - A VAPER'S GUIDE TO WHY IS MY VAPE LEAKING AND HOW TO FIX IT
In this guide, we have addressed a number of the reasons why you might get vape tank leakage and outlined many of the ways that you can try and fix it on your own. A leaking vape is something many vapers may experience when they are using larger Direct To Lung open systems. These systems inherently require a lot more care and maintenance to use. For many, the hassle is not worth it, and there is some evidence these more powerful devices produce more harmful compounds than low powered vapes (3).
Over the last few years, we have had many people using larger vape kits switch to the SMOKO VAPE starter kit because it is so much easier to use but still delivers a great vaping experience.
So if you want to try the UK's best vape starter kit, check out some of our great e-cigarette and vape bundles.
WHY IS MY VAPE LEAKING AND HOW TO FIX IT FAQ
Q1: Why is my vape leaking e-liquid?
A: Vapes can leak for several reasons, including:
-
Overfilling the tank or pod
-
Damaged or worn-out O-rings
-
Cracked tank or loose seals
-
Improper coil installation
-
Inhaling too forcefully, drawing excess liquid into the coil
A: Occasional condensation is normal, but constant or excessive leaking is not. It usually indicates a maintenance issue or user error that can be corrected
Q3: How can I stop my vape from leaking?
A:
-
Fill your tank below the max line and avoid over-tightening components
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Check and replace O-rings or damaged parts
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Install coils properly and make sure they’re compatible with your device
-
Store your vape upright, especially when not in use
-
Use the correct PG/VG ratio for your coil and device
A: Disposable vapes shouldn’t leak—if they do, it’s likely a manufacturing defect. Wipe it clean, and if leaking continues, safely dispose of it and contact the retailer or manufacturer.
Q5: Can e-liquid leaks damage my vape?
A: Yes. Excessive leaking can damage the internal electronics of your device or create a messy vaping experience. Cleaning your device regularly and checking for worn parts can help prevent this.
A: Yes. Excessive leaking can damage the internal electronics of your device or create a messy vaping experience. Cleaning your device regularly and checking for worn parts can help prevent this.
REFERENCES
(1) E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco estimates landmark review
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Written by Dan Overgage
Dan Overgage is a former smoker of 10 years until he became a client of SMOKO E-Cigarettes. Dan started working with SMOKO 5 years ago after successfully quitting using our e-cigarettes and works across our Customer Service and heads up our content creation and research with a strong focus on all things quitting smoking. During his tenure with SMOKO, Dan has written countless blogs and consults with countless clients every day to help them to stay smoke-free.
Last updated 31/07/2025
