Disposable Vape Leaking? Causes, Fixes and When to Stop

A disposable that is leaking tends to be flooded rather than broken, since too much e-liquid has collected in the airflow channel, usually because the device has been puffed on too vigorously or stored mouthpiece-down. Use a rolled-up strip of paper towel to absorb the excess liquid, keep the device standing upright, and draw more gently. However, if liquid is escaping from the base or the charging port, you should stop using that device.

Three Different Leaks

The location where the liquid is found indicates the problem, and these problems are not equally serious.

• A slightly damp mouthpiece. Most of the time this is condensation rather than a leak. Wipe it and continue.
• Gurgling, or the sensation of droplets on the tongue. The coil chamber is flooded. This is fixable by following the steps below.
• Liquid around the seams, the base, or the charging port. This is a sign of hardware or seal failure. Stop using the device and do not charge it.

Fixing a Flooded Device

1. Stop drawing on it. Every further pull causes more liquid to enter the airflow pathway and get nearer to the sensor.
2. Absorb the excess. Roll a thin piece of paper towel and gently insert it into the mouthpiece. Allow it to stay for a few seconds so that it can absorb the collected liquid. Do not push it down firmly.
3. Flick the device downwards with the mouthpiece directed away from yourself, just as you would shake down an old glass thermometer. This clears the liquid from the chimney.
4. Keep it upright for a few minutes. Gravity will take care of the rest, and the wick will reabsorb what it can.
5. Draw more gently next time. Hard pulls draw more liquid into the coil chamber than the coil is able to vapourise, and a slow draw of two seconds prevents most flooding.
6. Store it upright, at room temperature. Storing the device mouthpiece-down floods the sensor, and heat thins the e-liquid, causing it to pass more easily through the wick.

When to Stop Using It

If you notice any liquid around the base or the charging port, or if the device feels hot, or if it looks swollen or distorted, then stop using it and don’t charge it.

If liquid gets into the internal sensor or circuit board, the device may fire on its own. That is the only disposable defect with any real safety significance, and our guide on a disposable vape firing on its own covers what to do. Do not open the case to check what is inside, since there is no serviceable component and opening it would expose the battery.

If the flooding is stopping the device firing at all, that overlaps with a disposable that won’t hit, which has a fuller set of airflow fixes.

Need a replacement? Our disposable vapes are here, and the complete disposable vapes guide covers what to look for.

FAQs

Why is my disposable vape leaking into my mouth?
The coil chamber has become flooded, typically because the device has been drawn on too hard or stored mouthpiece-down. Absorb the excess with a paper towel strip, flick the device downward, and draw more gently.

Is a leaking disposable vape dangerous?
A flooded mouthpiece is unpleasant but not dangerous. Liquid escaping from the base or charging port is different, since it can reach the battery or sensor, and the device should be taken out of use.

Why does my disposable gurgle?
Gurgling is the sound of e-liquid pooled in the airflow channel. It is the earliest sign of flooding, and clearing it at that stage prevents liquid reaching the sensor.