So, you’ve dropped your disposable vape in water. It’s more common than you might think; around 1 in 20 Americans use vape devices, so there are bound to be a few accidents.
The good news is that most disposable vapes can withstand a bit of water and, even better, you can do a number of things to remove excess water and correct the problem.
How Water Impacts Your Vape Pen
Regardless of whether or not an e-cigarette is water-resistant, any contact with water is not ideal. E-cigarettes are comprised of a few main components, including a battery, an atomizer, and a cartridge or an e-liquid tank. Whereas the external body is designed to withstand water, the internal electronics are not.
Here are some of the ways that water droplets can impact the electronic components inside your vape pen.
Short-Circuiting
You have probably heard the phrase ‘short-circuit’, but what does it actually mean? A short circuit happens when an electronic device malfunctions or fails.
Water can cause your disposable vape to malfunction. It interrupts the flow of electricity, which means that it doesn’t get to the intended place and trigger functions inside your vape pen.
Corrosion
Coils are an essential part of any kind of vape pen. When water comes into contact with the metal coils, it can cause severe damage in the form of rust.
Rust can cause e-liquid to congeal and your disposable vape to stop working. It’s also a leading cause of burnt vape hits, which are very unpleasant.
Chipset Fails
A lot of disposable vape devices contain chipsets. Chipsets have lots of different purposes, from improving vapor production to enforcing safety controls.
Chipsets are small, delicate pieces of tech. When water seeps into them, they stop working. In the worst-case scenario, a wet chipset could spark a fire.
E-liquid
If water seeps into the e-liquid compartment inside your device, it can compromise the quality of your vape experience. Warm water can cause e-juice to congeal, meaning you’ll have to take longer puffs, and eventually your disposable will stop working altogether.
Clean water is bad enough, but if you’ve dropped your disposable vape into a puddle of water the outcome will be far worse. Bacteria could enter your tank and make you ill.
Battery Failure
All disposables have an inbuilt battery. It’s no secret that water is not compatible with batteries.
When water enters the battery compartment inside your vape, it could be disastrous. No matter how much liquid enters your battery, you need to stop using the device. More often than not, the water will disrupt the current and cause the disposable to shut down.
If your device contains a lithium-ion battery (which is the most common type of vape battery) it can withstand short contact with water. Long exposure to water will cause corrosion and electrical faults.
Signs That Your Disposable Vape Is Dead
Corrosion and compromised chipsets are difficult to spot with the naked eye, which is why it’s important to be aware of the more obvious signs.
When your disposable vape falls into a puddle, you need to ask yourself a few questions.
- Is my vape overheating?
- Does my e-liquid taste strange?
- Has my vape pen stopped producing vapor?
If your disposable vape falls into a puddle, cup, or even the toilet, you need to stop using it and assess the situation.
Are Disposable Vape Pens Water Resistant?
By nature, disposable vapes are not made to withstand water. However, the exterior is usually made from water-resistant materials. This means that you have a good chance of water not touching the internal mechanisms. This chance is even greater with disposables, which usually feature a sleek, seamless plastic exterior with minimal seams.
Dropped Disposable Vape in Water, and It Isn’t Working
More often than not, electronic devices that come into contact with water stop working. This is the most common outcome, and although it’s annoying, the best thing to do is to throw it away and buy a new one.
Dropped Disposable Vape in Water, But It Still Works
Accidents happen, but luckily, your vape pen is still working. Now, you need to act fast to solve the problem and save your vape pen.
How to Dry Your Disposable Vape Device
If your vape pen is completely submerged in water for a long time, the chances are that you won’t be able to save it. But if your pen has only been in contact with water for a few seconds, you can try these effective methods.
Remove the Power Source
The first thing that you need to do is remove the power source. This can be tricky, especially with disposables. Look for the seam on the exterior of the device and gently pry it open, then remove all the components and lay them out.
By removing the power source and disassembling the device, you are eliminating the chance of sparks, fires, and other dangers.
We recommend wearing thick safety gloves and other protective equipment for this stage.
Dry the Components
For this stage of the process, you can try a few different methods.
The Manual Method
Use a paper towel to dry the battery and all the other electronic components. Double-check that all the components are dry; even a few drops of water can compromise your entire device.
Once you’ve manually dried your vape device with paper towels, let all the components sit for a few hours. This should eliminate any final beads of moisture. Of course, you should avoid putting the components in a very hot spot.
The Rice Method
This age-old technique has helped vapers from all over the world. In simple terms, it involves putting a wet electronic device into a bowl of uncooked rice. The rice should absorb the water in the device within a few hours, but you can leave it for 24 hours to ensure that the method is as effective as possible.
For this method to work, your device needs to be completely submerged in the rice. It might be easier to grab a tall, wide bowl instead of a cup.
The Professional Method
Millions of vapers have dropped their devices in water, so it’s no surprise that there are professionals who dedicate their time to solving the problem.
If you have a particularly expensive vape mod or just a device that you love, you can send it to a professional. They have specialist chemicals and methods which are sure to be more effective than any DIY method.
Fire Your Disposable Vape Pen
Now that all the individual parts are dry, you can fire your disposable vape. Start by reassembling the device, and make sure that you’re putting everything back in the right place. If you’re unsure, look for a video online. Vapers are an innovative bunch, and someone is bound to have created a how-to video.
If you’ve used the rice method, you don’t have to reassemble the device and you can go straight to firing.
Take a tentative puff on your device or press the fire button, and see what happens. Does your disposable vape react as it used to? Does it taste like your e-liquid, or does it taste diluted? Ultimately, you’re the only person who can decide whether your vape is back to normal.
Final Thoughts
Disposable vapes are an integral part of our lives, so it’s only right that we know what to do when accidents happen. If you’ve dropped your disposable in water, don’t beat yourself up about it. We’ve all been there, the important thing is to stay safe while you find a solution.
