What is Preheat Mode and Do I Actually Need It? A Vaper's Guide

If you've ever used a contemporary vape pen, you have most likely experienced the mysterious function of “Preheat Mode.” Typically double-click activated, the device emits a pulsating, usually differently colored light, and sometimes hums for several seconds before you take a puff. As a seasoned cannabis user that has spent countless grams of live resin, distillate, and the occasional clog-prone cartridge, I find that preheat is not a novelty or a frill – it's a key tool in producing a good session.

Below we'll explain what it does, how it works, and when you should -- and shouldn't -- use preheat mode.

What Is Preheat Mode? The Basic Explanation

Preheat mode is simply the slow-warming process that occurs when you press the double-click activation on your vape pen.

Preheat mode activates your vape pen's atomizer (the heating element in your cartridge) with low-voltage power, usually between 1 and 2 seconds, for 5-10 seconds. This preheats the oil to the point of being perfectly liquid. Think of your THC oil like a frozen steak. You wouldn't toss it on a scorching hot grill. Instead, you would thaw it so it could cook evenly. The same logic applies to your THC oil. If your THC oil has the consistency of honey at room temperature, preheat is the gentle thaw that prepares the oil to vaporize smoothly and consistently.

Why We Have Preheat Mode

THC oil becomes thick in colder temperatures. Leaving your THC oil in a cold car, a cold room, or even just letting it sit in an air-conditioned house, can thicken the oil to the point where it doesn't wick properly into the atomizer's small cotton or ceramic coils.

If the oil is not wicking, you are pulling air. Air pulls will result in either a clogged cartridge or what is referred to as a "dry hit." A dry hit happens when the coil gets hot and there is no oil to vaporize resulting in a burnt taste and permanently ruining the coil. Once a coil is burned, you will never get the full flavor of the THC oil from your cartridge again.

I remember distinctly the time I lost one of my cherished Raw Garden Live Resin cartridges in my car on a cold night. The next morning, the cartridge was completely clogged. I pulled hard and didn't get anything. I pressed the button and got a little bit of bad tasting burnt vapor. I was devastated. Then I remembered preheat. I double-clicked my Yocan Uni Pro, and after it went through the preheat cycle, I gently pulled. The clog came loose with a soft "pop," and I was rewarded with the rich full-bodied terpene flavor I paid for. I thought I had super powers.

How to Use Preheat

Using preheat is relatively easy. Strategy is everything.

Use It:

• Before your first hit of the day, especially if your vape pen has been sitting in a cold place.
• Preheat your cartridge before you go for a winter walk.
• Re-liquefy the oil that has sunk and hardened.
• This is a sign of clogging. Preheat is your first and best defense.
• Live Rosin and Cured Resin Badder carts are notoriously thick. Most all require preheat to work optimally.

Steps to Engage the Preheat Function:

1. Double-click the power button on your vape pen. (Always review your devices user manual to determine the proper method of engaging the preheat function.)
2. Allow the pen to complete the cycle. The light on your vape pen will start to pulse and emit a faint humming noise. Do NOT attempt to pull while the pen is cycling.
3. Wait for a minimum of 5-10 seconds for the heat generated from the preheat cycle to dissipate throughout the oil.
4. After waiting the additional 5-10 seconds, pull on the pen, or if it is set to auto-draw, allow it to automatically pull. You will now receive a smooth and flavorful hit.

Caveats and The "Don'ts"

While preheat is a valuable tool, it is not foolproof and should be used judiciously.

• Repeatedly using the preheat function can begin to degrade your oil. Volatile compounds in your oil, such as terpenes, can also evaporate quickly due to excessive heat. If your cart is warm and firing well, you do not need to use the preheat function.
• If your cartridge is reaching the end of its life, or the coil has previously burned from repeated dry hits, the preheat function cannot bring back your dead cartridge.
• Frequent use of the preheat function will rapidly deplete your battery.

I made this mistake myself with a Select Elite distillate cart. Distillate is generally less viscous than live resin. Due to habit, I preheated it every time I used it. A few days later, the oil had darkened significantly and the flavor had mellowed. I had essentially been “cooking” my terpenes away.

Conclusion: Do You Really Need It?

Yes, you do. However, you need to utilize it wisely. It is not about using preheat for each and every hit, but rather using it when you really need it.

For the casual vaper using a typical distillate cartridge, the preheat function can provide an occasional solution to a clogged cartridge. For the serious connoisseur investing in premium, full-spectrum products like Friendly Farms, or Alien Labs live resin cartridges, understanding and utilizing the preheat function correctly is crucial. It is the difference between experiencing the complex and harmonious array of flavors and effects intended by the extractor, versus receiving a subpar, harsh experience.

In the realm of THC vaping, the ultimate objective is perfect vaporization. Utilizing the preheat function is the simple yet often overlooked key to achieving the perfect balance between the functionality of your hardware and the characteristics of your concentrate. Next time you pick up your vape pen, give that double-click a try. Both your taste buds and your cartridge will thank you for it.