Vaping – What Is a Dry Hit?

Mar 11, 2024Updated Oct 23, 20266 min readVape School

Almost every vaper gets a dry hit sooner or later, especially in the first few weeks. You take a puff and get a harsh, burnt taste instead of flavor, sometimes with a scratchy throat to go with it. It is unpleasant, but it is also easy to prevent once you know what causes it.

This guide explains what a dry hit is, the usual causes, how to prime a new coil, and what to do if you get one.

What a dry hit is

Inside your tank or pod, a coil sits in a cotton wick that soaks up e-liquid. When you fire the device, the coil heats the juice in the wick and turns it into vapor. If the wick does not have enough juice, the coil heats dry cotton instead, and you get a mouthful of burnt taste.

A dry hit is sharp and acrid, and it can make you cough. It is a sign that something in your setup needs attention, so stop and fix it rather than vaping through it. If throat irritation lingers, stop vaping and talk to a doctor.

We once filmed dry hits in slow motion to show just how bad they are, and you can see the results in our slow-motion dry hit video. Please do not try one on purpose. They feel even worse than they look.

What causes dry hits

Low e-liquid

The most common cause is simply running low. When the juice level drops below the wicking holes on the coil, the cotton cannot soak up enough to keep up. If your tank has a window, glance at it often and refill before it runs low. Keeping your tank at least half full is a good habit.

An unprimed coil

A new coil’s cotton starts out dry. If you fill the tank and start vaping right away, the coil can fire before the wick is soaked, and a brand-new coil can be scorched on the first puff. Priming, covered below, prevents this.

Too much power

Every coil has a recommended wattage range, usually printed on the coil or its box. Run it hotter than that and it can vaporize juice faster than the wick can replace it. Start at the low end of the range and work up.

Juice that is too thick

High-VG juice is thick and wicks slowly. In a pod or mouth-to-lung tank with small wicking holes, it may not keep up, especially when it is cold. If you get dry hits with thick juice, try a 50/50 blend. What Are PG and VG? explains the difference.

Chain vaping

Taking puff after puff without a break gives the wick no time to refill. Wait a few seconds between puffs, especially on smaller devices.

Wicking and airflow problems

In rebuildable atomizers, cotton packed too tightly can choke the juice flow, and wick tails that do not reach the juice will dry out. Some tanks have a juice-flow control that needs to be open. A very long, hard pull can also drain the wick faster than it refills. If you rebuild, our comparison of wicking cotton is worth a read.

A worn-out coil

Over time, residue builds up on the coil and clogs the cotton, especially with sweet juices. A gunked-up coil can taste burnt even when the tank is full. If a fresh fill does not fix the taste, it is time for a new coil. Read when to change your vape coils and why your vape tastes burnt for more.

How to prime a new coil

Priming means soaking the coil’s cotton with e-liquid before you vape. It takes a few minutes and saves you from wasting a new coil.

1. Before you install the coil, drip a few drops of juice onto the exposed cotton in each wicking hole.
2. Add a few drops down the center of the coil, onto the cotton inside. Do not flood it.
3. Install the coil and fill your tank.
4. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes so the juice can soak through.
5. If your device has a fire button, take a few gentle puffs without pressing it. These dry pulls draw juice into the wick.
6. Start at the low end of the coil’s wattage range, and raise it gradually if you like.

For pods with built-in coils, fill the pod and wait a few minutes before your first puff. For an RDA, wet the wicks thoroughly before you fire, and re-drip often.

Our Vape School video series covers priming too. Watch the videos on YouTube.

What to do after a dry hit

1. Stop firing the device.
2. Check the juice level and refill if needed.
3. Let the coil sit for a few minutes so the wick can soak up juice again.
4. Turn the wattage down a little.
5. Try a gentle puff. If the burnt taste is gone, you are good to go.
6. If it still tastes burnt, the cotton is scorched. Replace the coil, or rewick if you use a rebuildable.

Dry hit prevention checklist

• Keep your tank topped up, ideally at least half full
• Prime every new coil and give it time to soak
• Stay within the wattage range printed on the coil
• Use thinner juice in pods and mouth-to-lung tanks, and high-VG juice in sub-ohm tanks
• Wait a few seconds between puffs
• Replace coils when the flavor fades or turns burnt

Once your coil is primed and happy, give it something good to vape. Browse our vape juice by flavor, or let the Zamplebox Club pick bottles for your flavor profile every month.

Common questions

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+ only.