Vape batteries can be replaced, e-liquids
can be switched out and coils can be re-wicked, but a jammed vape tank isn’t
the simplest thing to fix. If you’ve
ever gone to refill your vape juice only to find that for whatever reason, you can’t
unscrew the tank for the life of you, you know what we mean. Of course, the fact that most tanks are made
with glass makes things even worse as we fear cracking that glass piece while
trying to open the tank with all our might.
Luckily, a jammed vape tank isn’t necessarily the end
of the world in terms of your vaping session.
You don’t necessarily have to run out and buy a new one. We’ve got some tips and tricks that will
probably be helpful if you’re dealing with a jammed tank.
You Went Overboard with the Tightening
Okay, this is the easiest culprit, and we’ve all been
guilty at some point. In an effort to
really secure that e-liquid, we screw the tank back together so tightly that we
can’t unscrew it later on. If you’ve
done this, you’re definitely not alone.
You’re Using Cheap Vape Juice
Believe it or not, the quality of your e-liquid’s
ingredients can have an impact. If your
vape juice is made with lots of low-quality sweetener, it might be leaking that
sticky, sugary liquid all over the connections of your tank. Over time, the heat of your tank burns that
sugar, making it even stickier. So,
unsurprisingly, you eventually reach a point where your tank is essentially
glued shut.
You’re Not Cleaning It Regularly
We’re not saying that not being able to open your tank
is a direct result of not cleaning it frequently enough, but we are saying that if you take it apart and
clean it weekly, you’re less likely to run into problems. Cleaning your tank, all components included,
removes any sticky vape juice residue that can build up over time.
Opening a Jammed Standard Vape Tank
Now that you know how it occurs, here’s how to fix it.
Electronic Cigarette Tanks vs Sub-Ohm Tanks
E-cigarette tanks and sub-ohm tanks are different in
terms of structure, but their causes for getting stuck are practically the
same, which means that the methods below apply to both types of tanks.
Heavy-Duty Pliers
Many vapers turn to Channellock pliers to open their
tank. These pliers sure do come in
handy, but we strongly recommend that you only use them if you’re already
experienced with this type of tool.
Otherwise, you could easily mess up your grip and crack the glass of
your tank, causing a potentially dangerous situation. Knowing how much force to use is absolutely
essential. But it’s worth pointing out
that this is probably the most effective solution as there are few things those
pliers can’t pry open.
Rubber Dishwashing Gloves
Rubber dishwashing gloves can be found in virtually
every household and man do they come in handy when you’re dealing with a jammed
tank. The little rubber indentations on
those gloves act as excellent grips that prevent your hand from slipping during
the unscrewing process. Give them a try
if you have a pair laying around.
Jar Openers
Those rubber jar openers that can be found in almost
every junk cabinet can be a great tool for opening your tank. They’re designed to open extremely
tough-to-open jars, so it’s no surprise that they can work wonders in terms of
getting that tank functioning again.
Make sure you don’t squeeze too tight and give it a few tries as
sometimes you have to play around with different grip styles.
Hot Water
If your tank is jammed because of sticky, sugary
e-liquid residue that’s turned into a crust, you can try the hot water
method. Just run your vape tank under
flowing hot water for a few minutes.
Now, when we say “hot,” we don’t mean boiling. That can crack your tank. You should still be able to run your hand
under the water without getting burned.
The water should, in theory, melt the sugar that’s
causing the tank to stay shut. After a
few minutes, you should be able to loosen it fairly easily. Now, if that doesn’t work, it’s safe to
assume that it’s not e-liquid residue that’s causing the jam, which means that
you’ll have to move onto another method.
A Quick Word of Caution
Keep in mind that when you’re trying to open a jammed
tank, you’re dealing with glass.
Therefore, you have to be very careful.
We do recommend wearing some sort of protective gloves just in case you
end up with a crack.
Also, if all of the methods above fail, you can always
take your tank to a vape shop to see if someone more experienced can give you a
hand. Using too much force to open it
yourself can result in a broken tank, not to mention broken skin.
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