Why Does Your Vape Autofire?
From time to time, you could find that your vape appears to have developed a life of its own and is firing without you so much as touching it. This is called auto-firing and it can be incredibly disconcerting.
The phenomenon mainly affects devices that can be inhale activated such as MTL pod kits. Of course, disposables are also inhale activated. But disposables rarely auto-fire as they won’t be used for long enough to develop most of the issues that cause the problem.
Is auto-firing dangerous, what causes it and how can you prevent it?
Is auto-firing dangerous?
Auto-firing can be worrying and is certainly a sign that there is an issue with your hardware.
But most rechargeable and refillable vape kits have safety features built in that will detect any problems and then shut down the device. Those safety features tend to include an automatic cut off function which shuts down a device if it is fired for longer than a specified time. That time is usually eight or ten seconds.
So, even if your vape does randomly fire all by itself, it will switch off after a few seconds. This won’t save your embarrassment when strange noises are emanating from your pocket but the automatic cut off will ensure that auto-firing does not present any safety implications.
Does auto-firing damage your e cig?
While auto-firing is unlikely to be dangerous, it is very annoying, and it wastes e liquid. To make matters worse, auto-firing can damage the coils in your pods as your e cig might fire for long enough to burn the wicking.
It’s definitely worth finding out why your e cig is auto-firing and then doing whatever you can to attend to the issue and to prevent it from reoccurring.
What causes auto-firing?
There are a number of factors that can cause auto-firing, and most are related to the sensors in vaping devices:
- The accumulation of dust or debris inside the device
- A build-up of residue inside the device
- Condensation in a tank or pod
- A poor connection between the battery and the coil
- A faulty coil
- Damage to the e cig resulting from it being dropped, knocked or becoming wet
- Extreme temperatures
- Faulty chip
What should you do if your e cig auto-fires?
If your device does auto-fire, you should turn it off immediately and disconnect the pod or tank from the battery. You might find that your e cig is hot and so it is worth protecting your hands before touching it.
Don’t attempt to reconnect your pod until you have let it rest for a few hours and you have followed the steps below to identify and fix the problem.
As mentioned previously, it is rare for disposables to auto-fire but if your disposable vape does develop an issue, you clearly can’t disconnect the pod from the battery. It is best to place the device in a fire-proof container and leave it there until the battery has died. Do not attempt to continue vaping with an auto-firing disposable.
How can you prevent auto-firing?
The best way to prevent your device from auto-firing is to keep it switched off when you are not using it. No e cig can fire without power from the battery being sent to the coil. Cleaning your device regularly will help to prevent firing issues as will ensuring you don’t chain vape or leave your device exposed to direct sunlight.
How can you fix problems with auto-firing?
Should your device auto-fire, act immediately to identify the cause. Do not continue to vape using what could be a faulty device.
Dust, debris, residue and condensation
Clean your pod and connections using a cotton bud to remove any dirt, debris, e liquid residue and condensation that may have accumulated.
Poor connection
If you have cleaned your connections and the issue persists, check that your coil is properly installed and that there is a firm connection to the device’s sensors. Always ensure that push-fit coils are pushed in firmly and that they are sitting flush to the base of the pod.
Faulty coil
Coils that are nearing the end of their lives can cause auto-firing and occasionally a faulty coil could be causing your device to malfunction. Change your coil to see if this solves the problem. In any case, a coil change will give you the opportunity to clean your pod.
Damaged device
Every vaper will eventually drop their device. A hard knock or repeated knocks can result in damage to an e cig’s circuitry and that can mean the chip and the sensor can no longer communicate properly. If such damage has occurred, you will need to discard your device. Shock-proof devices such as the GeekVape L200 Aegis Legend 2 and Innokin Adept Zlide would be great choices if you suffer from a bad case of butter fingers.
Extreme temperatures
If e cigs get too hot their sensors can malfunction and this could lead to auto-firing. Devices can overheat as a result of chain vaping and so if you experience auto-firing, you could be puffing too frequently. Devices will also overheat if they are left on tables in the sun. If your vape is auto-firing and it feels hot, find somewhere cooler to leave it until its temperature returns to normal.
Faulty chip
If you have eliminated all the above issues as being the cause or causes of the auto-firing, it could be that the chip inside your e cig is faulty. You will need to invest in a new device. Always keep your kit’s box and warranty card in case you need to return your e cig.
The vast majority of vape kits will serve you well and won’t develop any issues with auto-firing. But as with everything in life, there will always be the odd device that plays up. You might be able to cure the problem yourself but there will be a small number of devices that for one reason or another, cannot be fixed.