7 tips to avoid burnt coils

A freshly installed coil tastes burnt after just a few draws? That is annoying and happens more often than you might think. Almost always, the cause is that the cotton in the coil had too little liquid. With a few habits this can be avoided in most cases. Here are the seven tips we pass on most often in the shop.

Why does a coil burn at all?

The cotton is heated without containing enough liquid. Then no more liquid vaporises; instead the cotton itself scorches.

In every coil, a cotton wick draws up the liquid and holds it at the heating element. As long as the cotton is wet, the liquid vaporises. If it dries out, the temperature rises sharply and the cotton is damaged. This damage is permanent: a burnt coil won’t recover even if you refill. We explain what a coil is in the guide What is a coil in the atomizer?.

Tip 1: Do you let new coils soak?

Before the first draw let the liquid soak in for a few minutes.

Vaporesso recommends saturating new coils before use and then waiting about five minutes. With coil heads with visible cotton you can put a few drops of liquid directly onto the openings. Then fill the tank and wait. With pods with a built-in coil, it is enough to fill the pod and let it rest.

Tip 2: Is the tank filled enough?

Never vape it empty. The fill level should always be above the liquid openings of the coil .

If the liquid drops below the side openings of the coil, the cotton no longer gets a supply. So refill in good time, not only when the tank is empty.

Tip 3: Do you stay within the recommended wattage range?

Don’t set the power above the range that is printed on the coil .

Too much power vaporises the liquid faster than the cotton can resupply it. Start at the lower end of the range and increase slowly. How to proceed is shown in the guide How many watts at how many ohms?.

Tip 4: Do you take breaks between draws?

Avoid chain vaping. The cotton needs a few secondsto soak up more liquid.

Many draws in quick succession leave the cotton no time. Especially at high power it then dries out quickly. A short moment between draws is often enough.

Tip 5: Does your liquid suit the coil?

Thick liquids with a high glycerin (VG) content soak into the cotton more slowly.

Vaporesso explicitly names thick liquid with a high VG content as a possible cause of burnt coils. Coils with small liquid openings and high resistance, as found in many MTL pods, often cope better with thinner liquids. Which blend suits your atomizer is often stated in the product description.

Tip 6: Do you watch out for sweet liquids?

Heavily sweetened liquids leave residue on the heating element.

These deposits gunk up the coil over time. The flavour becomes dull and the coil burns more easily. If you like vaping sweet liquids, expect to change the coil sooner.

Tip 7: Can you tell when the coil is used up?

Every coil is a wear part. Replace it when flavour and vapour fade.

Even with correct use, a coil eventually reaches the end of its life. Vaporesso names reaching the end of its lifespan as the most common cause of a burnt taste. Typical signs:

• The flavour becomes flat or slightly burnt.
• The amount of vapour decreases.
• The coil gurgles even though the tank is filled correctly.

Suitable spare parts for your device can be found in the overview of pods and coils.

Which questions do we hear most often in the shop?

Can a burnt coil be saved?

No. Once the cotton is burnt, the taste remains. Cleaning can at most help with gunked-up coils, not burnt ones. Replace the coil or the pod.

What is the difference between a dry hit and a burnt hit?

Vaporesso distinguishes two cases: with a dry hit, the cotton is just a little too dry; you taste less and get less vapour. With a burnt hit, the cotton is already burnt, the draw tastes clearly burnt and is harsh. A dry hit is a warning sign: let the coil rest briefly and check the fill level.

Why does my new coil burn immediately?

Usually it was not soaked long enough or the power was too high from the start. See tip 1 and tip 3.

Note: This guide is intended exclusively for adults. We sell all products only to persons aged 18 and over. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. This article does not replace medical advice. If you want to quit smoking, you can find free help on the rauchfrei portal of the German Federal Institute for Public Health.

About the authors – Team Dampfstelle Freiburg: We are an owner-managed specialist shop in Freiburg-Zähringen and have been advising customers in our shop every day since August 2022. Our team has been vaping for over 10 years and knows the devices, liquids and typical problems from personal experience.

Last updated: 14.10.2026

Which sources is this article based on?

1. Vaporesso: Vapes FAQ – “What should I do if it tastes burnt?” (manufacturer FAQ, in English). https://www.vaporesso.com/vapes-faq
2. Vaporesso Store Blog: How to Prime a Vape Coil (manufacturer, in English). https://store.vaporesso.com/blogs/news/how-to-prime-vape-coil
3. Vaporesso Blog: Why does my vape taste burnt? (manufacturer, in English). https://www.vaporesso.com/blog/guide-to-vaping/why-does-my-vape-taste-burnt
4. German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): E-cigarettes: anything but harmless – questions and answers, as of 08.04.2025 (in German). https://www.bfr.bund.de/fragen-und-antworten/thema/e-zigaretten-alles-andere-als-harmlos/
5. German Federal Institute for Public Health: rauchfrei portal (in German). https://www.rauchfrei-info.de/