You go to draw a hit from your 510 threaded battery, expecting a nice, full cloud of flavorful vapor, but all you get is a weak, burnt hit, or even worse – a nasty spitback of hot e-liquids on your tongue. Unfortunately, clogged cartridges are one of the biggest problems for many vapers when using oil-based e-liquids and other types of vape liquids. However, before you throw away a perfectly good, potentially still full cartridge, breathe a sigh of relief. Most of the time, fixing a clogged cartridge is easy.
I have lost count how many times I had to deal with clogged cartridges. After going through this many times, I developed a quick and easy method to bring a clogged cartridge back to life. In addition to sharing the facts, this article will share with you the methods I used to save money and get my vaping session back on track.
Clogged Cartridges: What Is Going On?
It's a good idea to understand why your cart is clogging before you attempt a repair. A 510 cartridge clogs when the internal airflow is blocked. Typically, there are two ways this will happen:
- Condensed Vapor Build-up: This is the most common reason for clogs. When you inhale, vapor rapidly cools inside the mouth piece and chimney of the cartridge, rapidly turning back into a sticky liquid which builds up over time. It's as if the cartridge is essentially getting "breathless".
- Flooding the Chamber: This can occur when excessive amounts of oil saturate the heating element and wick, usually due to excessive usage, incorrect storage methods, or oil that is thinner than the recommended consistency for your equipment. You might hear a "gurgle" when flooding occurs.
The environment plays a significant role in whether or not your cartridge will clog. For example, cold temperatures are one of the worst enemies of a vape cartridge; they drastically thicken the oil inside the cartridge making it extremely difficult to vaporize and also affects the wicking process. Leave your cartridge in a cold car, or in a cool area, and it will probably clog.
How To Un-Clog Your Cart
This is the method I recommend most often since it requires no specialized equipment and uses a series of slow, gentle actions to avoid causing damage to the cartridge.
Materials Needed:
- Clogged 510 cartridge
- Paper Towel/Tissue
- Hair Dryer (or a mild heat source such as a radiator)
Step 1: The Pre-Flight Check
Remove the cartridge from your battery. Inspect the 510 connection at the base of the cartridge. Do you see any drips of oil? Use a paper towel and a very small amount of isopropyl alcohol to clean any sticky oil from the connection. Next, examine the cartridge through the small air intake holes at the base. Can you see light coming through the holes? If not, you have a physical blockage.
Step 2: Apply Gentle, External Heat
This is the single most important step that most people miss. Don’t try to draw harder on the cartridge. You’ll only waste your battery and patience.
Set your hair dryer to a moderate or low heat setting. Never use high heat settings as it can damage the quality and flavor of your oil.
Wave the hair dryer’s airflow gently around the center portion of the cartridge (where the oil reservoir is) for 30-60 seconds. The goal of this is to warm the oil, making it thinner and more capable of flowing to the coil.
Heat thins the oil. When you apply heat throughout the reservoir, you’re not only attacking the clog directly; you’re reducing the viscosity of the oil behind the clog, allowing it to pass through the coil properly and in many instances, to dissolve the condensed plug naturally.
Step 3: The "Dry Pull"
Still warm (not hot to the touch), place the mouthpiece against your lips and draw several long, strong pulls. This creates suction in the cartridge, helping to pull the warmed, thinned oil away from the clog and resaturate the coil.
When you do this correctly, you may hear a slight pop or feel the resistance disappear instantly — that is the sound of victory. You should also see tiny air bubbles rising from the coil’s intake holes, indicating that the oil is now passing through the wick into the coil.
Step 4: The Final Test
Allow the cartridge to rest for a minute to let the coil fully soak. Replace the cartridge on your battery. Begin with a short, gentle pulse at the lowest voltage setting (if adjustable) on your battery. If you receive a smooth hit, Congratulations! If it’s still stuck, Repeat Steps 2 & 3.
I can’t stress enough — ALWAYS USE THE LOWEST VOLTAGE ON YOUR BATTERY. Using high voltages (greater than 3.7v for most carts) is the leading cause of burning the oil, creating a permanent carbon char that will never be removable, and clogging your coil.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
Once you’ve un-clogged your cart, it’s a good idea to keep it that way.
- Store your cartridges upright. This keeps the oil from collecting in the chimney and reduces the likelihood of leaks.
- Take low voltage draws and take them slowly. You don’t want to win a cloud contest.
- Keep the 510 connection on the battery and cartridge clean. This will ensure a proper connection and prevent sticky buildup.
Know When To Give Up
There is no foolproof method to remove a clog. If you have attempted this method multiple times and continue to get a burnt taste or no airflow, the coil is either burned or completely gummed-up. It’s time to responsibly dispose of the cartridge and buy a new one.
Removing a clog from your 510 cartridge is a relatively easy procedure for any vaper. With a little heat and patience, you can restore your cartridge to its former glory and enjoy the flavorful clouds you were originally looking for. Good luck and happy vaping.