A New Wave of Severe Cold Is Approaching: Are You Taking Proper Care of Your E-Cigarette?

A new wave of severe cold air has already brought Beijing its first snowfall of 2016. Starting on the 23rd, the average temperature in Shenzhen will also drop sharply by more than 10°C, accompanied by heavy rain.

A quick reminder for everyone: this temperature drop is very different from the previous mild cold spells. There will be no transition period and no gradual time to adapt. The clothes you wore one day could leave you freezing the next. So take these couple of days to bring out your winter clothing.

But while we have warm clothes to keep ourselves comfortable, what about your beloved e-cigarette? Does it need “long johns” too?

Some e-cigarette users worry that the e-liquid inside their device might freeze in cold weather and crack the tank. I’d say this concern is completely unnecessary, because the freezing point of VG (propylene glycol) in e-liquid is around -60°C. In other words, even if you live in Tibet, Xinjiang, or Mohe, you do not need to worry about your e-liquid freezing while using your e-cigarette.

Some e-cigarettes with fingerprint unlocking do need a bit of attention, however. In very cold weather, the response may become less sensitive. If that happens, rub your hands together to warm them up a little, and once your fingertips have some warmth, it should work fine. Low temperatures can also cause the battery to drain faster than usual, so make sure to fully charge the device before use, or even carry a charger with you. That way, when you want to use your e-cigarette, you will not find that the battery is already running low.

In addition to the above, there are also some maintenance tips for e-cigarettes that everyone should pay attention to:

1. Storing your e-cigarette

There is one basic rule for storing an e-cigarette: when there is e-liquid in the atomizer, store it with the mouthpiece facing upward. When there is no e-liquid inside, placement is more flexible, but it is still best not to store it upside down, to prevent any remaining e-liquid in the atomizer from leaking out.

2. Battery care

Battery care is especially important because the battery is a key component of the e-cigarette. Try to recharge the battery after it has been mostly used up, and charge it fully in one go without interrupting the charging process. Remove it within half an hour after it is fully charged. If the device will not be used for a long time, turn off the power. Most e-cigarettes are powered on or off by pressing the switch 5 times within 2 seconds. Also, each puff should not be too long, to prevent the battery from overheating and affecting its lifespan.

3. Atomizer 

The core of the atomizer lies in the coil head, which is made up of a resistance coil, a wicking cord, and some other components. The most common problem with atomizers is a burnt taste. This happens when the resistance coil heats up and burns the wick. Therefore, during use, pay attention to the remaining amount of e-liquid and avoid dry burning. For adjustable-voltage devices, set the voltage appropriately. There is no need to chase excessively high voltage; a suitable taste is enough. If you want bigger vapor production, you must pay close attention to the e-liquid level. Generally speaking, when the e-liquid remains above two-thirds full, using 5-6V is less likely to produce a burnt taste. As the e-liquid level drops, you should gradually lower the voltage.

4. Handling leaks and e-liquid inside the atomizer

Standard atomizers usually have an airflow hole at the bottom for air intake. Over time, a small amount of e-liquid may seep out there (though it usually will not leak into the device body or be noticeable from the outside). This is normal. It is recommended that each time you refill e-liquid, you separate the battery from the atomizer and wipe it with a tissue. Since e-liquid is usually refilled about once a day, wiping it once daily is enough.

When there is e-liquid in the atomizer, there are mainly two situations:

First: there is e-liquid where the mouthpiece contacts the lips. This may be caused by accidentally filling e-liquid into the vapor outlet. In this case, simply wipe it with a tissue;

Second: there are droplets in the vapor, but no e-liquid on the mouthpiece. This means there is e-liquid in the vapor outlet. To handle this, wipe the coil head, twist a tissue into a thin strip, and insert it into the vapor outlet hole to absorb the e-liquid.

E-cigarette maintenance is something that is easy to overlook in daily use. As long as you follow the above methods, you can help maintain product quality and extend the service life of your e-cigarette.