My First Time Getting a Dry Hit – What I Learned the Hard Way

The harsh, acrid taste hit my throat like sandpaper mixed with burnt rubber. My eyes watered, I doubled over coughing, and for a moment, I genuinely thought I'd broken my vape. That was my introduction to the dreaded "dry hit", and it happened right outside a pub in Manchester on a Friday night with all my mates watching.  Suppose you've ever experienced that terrible burnt flavour that makes you question every life choice that led to that moment. You know exactly what I'm talking about. That single experience taught me more about proper vaping technique than months of casual use ever could. After three years of helping fellow vapers at Vape Offers avoid the same painful mistakes I made, I'm sharing everything. 

I learned the hard way, so you don't have to suffer through what I did. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to prevent dry hits, fix them when they happen, and even avoid the leaking problems that often follow when you overcorrect.

What Exactly Is a Dry Hit? (My Painful Education)

Standing outside that Manchester pub, frantically gulping my pint to wash away the taste, I had no clue what had just happened to my vape. My mate Dave (who'd been vaping for years) took one look at my horrified expression and said, "Mate, you just got your first proper dry hit."

A dry hit occurs when your coil's cotton wick doesn't have enough e-liquid to vaporise. So instead of creating smooth vapour, it burns the cotton itself. Think of it like trying to fry an egg in a bone-dry pan; you're not cooking the egg, you're just burning the pan.

Dry Hit vs Burnt Coil: What's the Difference?

Here's what I wish someone had told me that night: a dry hit is your vape's way of screaming "Help me!" before permanent damage occurs. A burnt coil, on the other hand, is what happens when you ignore those screams. I learned this distinction the expensive way, by ruining three coils in my first month of vaping.

The science is actually quite simple: your cotton wick acts like a sponge, drawing e-liquid up to the coil where it gets heated into vapour. When that sponge goes dry, there's nothing left to vaporise except the cotton itself. The result? That awful taste that haunts your nightmares.

The Mistakes That Led to My First Dry Hit

Mistake #1: Not Priming My Coil Properly

The biggest rookie error I made was treating coil installation like changing a lightbulb; just screw it in and you're done. Wrong. So very wrong.

What does coil priming actually mean? It's the process of manually saturating your coil's cotton wick with e-liquid before you start vaping. Think of it as giving your wick a proper drink before asking it to work.

My proper coil priming process (learned through trial and error):

1. Drop Method: Place 5-10 drops of e-liquid directly onto the visible cotton ports of your new coil (larger mesh coils need more)
2. Wait Game: Let it sit for 5-10 minutes to absorb properly
3. Fill Tank: Add your e-liquid to the tank (but don't fill to the brim)
4. Patience Test: Wait another 10 minutes after filling – I know it's torture, but trust me
5. Primer Pulls: Take 2-3 unpowered draws to help wick saturation
6. Low Power Start: Begin with 50% of your usual wattage for the first few puffs
7. Gradual Increase: Slowly work up to your preferred power setting over 10-15 puffs

The first time I followed this process properly (after Dave showed me), the difference was night and day. No harsh hits, no burnt taste – just smooth, flavourful vapour from the very first puff.

Mistake #2: Chain Vaping Like There Was No Tomorrow

Picture this: Friday night at the pub, everyone's having a laugh, and I'm showing off my new vape like it's some sort of party trick. Puff after puff after puff, trying to blow the biggest clouds possible. Within ten minutes, I'd gone from hero to zero with that awful dry hit.

The chain vaping trap: Your cotton wick needs time to re-saturate between puffs. When you vape continuously without breaks, you're literally sucking the wick dry faster than it can refill itself. It's like trying to drink a thick milkshake through a straw – go too fast and you'll just get air.

What I learned about wick saturation timing:

• Standard coils need 10-30 seconds between puffs for full saturation
• Sub-ohm coils (my choice that fateful night) need even longer
• High VG e-liquids are thicker and take more time to wick
• Temperature affects wicking speed – cold weather slows it down

My current puff spacing guideline: I aim for 10-30 seconds between puffs (longer for thick high-VG liquids or cold weather). It sounds excessive, but it's saved me countless coils and that horrible burnt taste.

Mistake #3: Ignoring My Power Settings

Here's where I really showed my inexperience. I had a 0.2-ohm coil rated for 40-80 watts, and I was running it at 90 watts because "bigger number equals bigger clouds," right?

The power setting reality check: Every coil has a sweet spot. Go too low and you get weak vapour and poor flavour. Go too high (like I did) and you literally cook your cotton faster than it can stay saturated.

Power setting chart I wish I'd had back then:

Always follow the recommended wattage printed on your coil; the bands below are my real-world sweet spots for common ranges.

That night outside the pub, I was pushing nearly double the safe wattage. No wonder my poor coil gave up the ghost so dramatically.

How I Fixed My Dry Hit Problem (And You Can Too)

Immediate Fixes When You Get a Dry Hit

• Step 1. Stop vaping immediately: I cannot stress this enough. Your first instinct might be to take another puff to "clear it out," but that's like throwing petrol on a fire.
• Step 2. Check your e-liquid level: Nine times out of ten, you'll find your tank is lower than you thought. The cotton ports need to be completely submerged.
• Step 3. Re-prime if accessible: If you can access the coil, add a few drops directly onto visible cotton and wait 10 minutes. If not accessible, wait 10 minutes and take two unpowered primer pulls.
• Step 4. Lower your power: Drop your wattage by 20-30% for the next few puffs to let everything recover.

The taste test: Take a gentle puff at low power. If it still tastes burnt, your coil might be damaged beyond repair. If it tastes normal, you can gradually increase power back to your preferred setting.

Long-Term Prevention Strategies I Learned

• The quarter-tank rule: Don't let your e-liquid drop below the coil's wicking ports (roughly the bottom quarter of the tank). Running nearly empty is when dry hits happen.
• Puff spacing: I now count to 15 between puffs as a habit. It sounds obsessive, but it's become second nature, and I haven't had a dry hit in over two years.
• Power progression: Always start new coils at 50% power and work up gradually over the first day of use.
• Regular maintenance: I check my coil every 3-4 days, looking for signs of wear, and I replace it proactively rather than waiting for problems.

Device-Specific Lessons I Learned the Hard Way

Pod System Dry Hits (My Second Mistake)

Two months after the pub incident, I thought I'd mastered vaping. Then I bought a pod system for convenience and promptly made the same mistakes all over again – just in a smaller package.

Pod-specific challenges I discovered:

• Smaller wicks saturate faster but also dry out faster
• Less e-liquid capacity means more frequent refills
• Pre-filled pods can sit in warehouses for months before you buy them
• Temperature changes affect pods more dramatically than tanks

Pod system prevention tips:

• For pre-filled/closed pods, don't drip liquid in. Click the pod in, wait 5-10 minutes, take a few unpowered primer pulls, then start at lower power if adjustable
• Keep pods at room temperature – I learned this after leaving one in my car on a hot day
• Replace pods more frequently than you think you need to
• Use 50/50 or 60/40 PG/VG ratios for better wicking in small spaces

The pod reality check: I was expecting the same performance from a £15 pod as my £80 tank setup. Once I adjusted my expectations and technique, pod systems became incredibly convenient.

Sub-Ohm Tank Troubles

My main setup uses sub-ohm coils (0.2Ω), which produce fantastic clouds and flavour but come with their own challenges.

Sub-ohm specific considerations:

• Higher power means faster e-liquid consumption
• Cotton needs to be perfectly saturated before high-power vaping
• Airflow settings dramatically affect performance
• Coil lifespan is shorter due to higher heat

Airflow adjustment technique: For my 0.2 Ω coils, approximately 75% open gives me denser flavour. Fully open can feel cooler and airier; too restricted can overheat the coil.

My sub-ohm maintenance schedule:

• Check coil condition every 3 days
• Replace every 1-2 weeks, depending on usage
• Deep clean tank weekly
• Monitor for flavour changes (early warning of coil degradation)

E-Liquid Choices That Save Your Coils

The PG/VG Ratio Game-Changer

This was probably the most eye-opening discovery in my vaping journey. Not all e-liquids are created equal, and the PG/VG ratio makes a massive difference to dry hit frequency.

PG (Propylene Glycol):

• Thinner consistency = faster wicking
• Better flavour carry
• Less vapour production
• Can cause throat irritation at high percentages

VG (Vegetable Glycerine):

• Thicker consistency = slower wicking but bigger clouds
• Smoother throat hit
• Can struggle in smaller coils
• More prone to gunking up coils

My PG/VG ratio recommendations based on device:

The mistake I made: Using Max VG (thick) liquid in a small pod system. The cotton couldn't keep up, leading to constant dry hits. Switching to 50/50 solved the problem overnight.

Disposable Vape Considerations

I used to think disposables were foolproof – no coils to change, no tanks to fill, just vape until it's done. Then I started getting dry hits from £8 disposables.

Why do disposables get dry hits?

• Fixed power output with no adjustment capability
• E-liquid level invisible until it's too late
• Quality control varies wildly between brands
• Cotton degradation over the device's lifespan

Disposable dry hit prevention:

• Don't chain vape (even more important than refillables)
• Store upright to prevent air bubbles
• Tap the device gently if flavour starts to fade
• If flavour turns papery or dry, stop – it's usually the wick near end of life, even if the LED still lights
• Accept that the last 10% of battery life often comes with diminished performance

Bonus Lesson: Preventing Leaks Too (Double Trouble Avoided)

Why I Started Getting Leaks After Fixing Dry Hits

In my enthusiasm to prevent dry hits, I overcorrected spectacularly. I started over-priming coils, overfilling tanks, and basically drowning my poor wicks. The result? E-liquid leaking everywhere.

The over-priming trap: Too much e-liquid on the coil floods the chamber, causing leaks through the airflow. I learned this when my vape started gurgling like a blocked drain.

Signs you've over-primed:

• Gurgling sounds when you vape
• Reduced vapour production
• E-liquid spitting into your mouth
• Leaks from the airflow holes

Quick Leak Prevention Tips I Wish I'd Known

Proper filling technique:

1. Close airflow completely
2. Fill to just below the maximum line (not right up to it)
3. Replace top cap firmly,, but don't overtighten
4. Open airflow gradually
5. Take a few gentle puffs to establish proper pressure

O-ring maintenance: Inspect O-rings at every clean and replace when worn – a 50p seal can save a £15 bottle of premium e-liquid. Check these small rubber seals every time you clean your tank. Replace them when they look flattened, cut, brittle, or if leaking occurs.

The storage rule: Store upright and avoid hot cars or windowsills. Heat thins e-liquid and can push it through airflow holes. Cold weather thickens it, potentially causing dry hits. Store your vape at room temperature when possible.

Temperature considerations: Hot weather thins e-liquid, making leaks more likely. Cold weather thickens it, potentially causing dry hits. The practical action: adjust your PG/VG ratio seasonally or modify puff spacing in extreme temperatures.

Advanced Troubleshooting (What the Pros Don't Tell You)

When to Replace vs. Fix Your Coil

Coil replacement indicators:

• Persistent burnt taste even after re-priming
• Significantly reduced flavour quality
• Dark, gunky residue on the cotton
• More than 2 weeks of regular use (sub-ohm)
• More than 3-4 weeks for higher resistance coils

The £2 rule: If you've spent more than 15 minutes trying to revive a coil, just replace it. Your time is worth more than the £2-4 coil cost.

Coil life extension tips:

• Use clear or light-coloured e-liquids (dark liquids gunk up coils faster)
• Avoid overly sweet e-liquids
• Clean your tank weekly
• Prime properly from day one

Maintenance Schedule I Follow Now

Daily:

• Quick visual check of e-liquid level
• Wipe down exterior if needed

Weekly:

• Full tank disassembly and cleaning
• Check O-rings for wear – inspect for flattening, cuts, or brittleness
• Clean drip tip thoroughly
• I check coils weekly and typically replace sub-ohm coils every 1-2 weeks (MTL and pods last longer)

Monthly:

• Deep clean tank with warm water
• Check for any threading damage
• Replace consumables (spare O-rings, coils) as needed

The time investment: This routine takes about 10 minutes per week. But I saved hundreds of pounds in replacement parts and wasted e-liquid.

Red Flags to Watch For

Early warning signs I've learned to spot:

• Slight flavour muting (first sign of coil degradation)
• Requiring higher power for the same vapour production
• Occasional slight harshness
• Longer time to heat up to temperature
• Subtle colour change in the coil cotton

The flavour test: I know my favourite e-liquids intimately. When they start tasting "off" or muted, it's coil replacement time, not time to increase the wattage.

My Ultimate Dry Hit Prevention Checklist

Pre-Vaping Checklist

✅ E-liquid level check: Above cotton ports
✅ Coil condition: No dark residue visible
✅ Power setting: Appropriate for coil resistance
✅ Airflow setting: 75% open for sub-ohm, adjust for preference
✅ Last puff timing: Minimum 15 seconds ago
✅ Tank integrity: No loose connections or damaged O-rings

Daily Maintenance Tips

• Start each day with a visual inspection
• Count puffs if you're a heavy vaper (I aim for under 200 per day)
• Rotate between two setups to give each one rest time
• Keep spare coils handy (nothing worse than a burnt coil on Sunday evening)

Weekly Deep-Clean Schedule

Sunday evening routine (15 minutes):

1. Disassemble tank completely
2. Rinse all parts in warm water
3. Check coil condition and replace if needed
4. Dry thoroughly and reassemble
5. Prime new coil if installed
6. Refill with fresh e-liquid

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a dry hit feel like?

Like inhaling hot, acrid smoke mixed with the taste of burnt cotton wool. Your throat will burn, your eyes might water, and you'll immediately know something is very wrong. It's unmistakable once you've experienced it.

Can dry hits damage your lungs?

While unpleasant, occasional dry hits aren't likely to cause serious lung damage. However, the burnt cotton particles and aldehydes produced aren't good for you. The bigger concern is that repeated dry hits indicate you're not maintaining your device properly.

How long should I wait between puffs?

For sub-ohm vaping, I wait 15-30 seconds between puffs. For higher resistance coils or pods, 10-15 seconds is usually sufficient. If you're chain vaping, you're probably not waiting long enough.

Why does my new coil taste burnt immediately?

This usually means inadequate priming. Even if you've added e-liquid to the coil, you might not have waited long enough for full saturation (aim for 10 minutes). Or your power setting might be too high for initial use.

Can you fix a burnt coil, or do you need to replace it?

If the cotton is visibly charred or dark brown/black, replacement is necessary. If you caught it early (slight harsh taste), proper re-priming and lower power might salvage it, but replacement is often the better option.

What's the difference between a dry hit and a burnt coil?

A dry hit is temporary – the wick is dry but not permanently damaged. A burnt coil has permanently damaged cotton that will continue to taste burnt even when properly saturated.

How do I know if my coil is properly primed?

Take gentle test puffs at 50% power. If the flavour is clean and there's no harshness, your coil is properly primed. If it tastes dry or harsh, wait longer or add more e-liquid.

What PG/VG ratio prevents dry hits best?

Higher PG ratios (50/50 or 60/40 PG/VG) wick faster and reduce dry hit risk, but produce less vapour. For sub-ohm tanks, 70/30 VG/PG is usually the sweet spot between cloud production and wicking speed.

Why do I get dry hits after refilling?

This often happens due to trapped air bubbles or vacuum imbalance. Solution: "burp" the tank by slightly loosening the top cap to release trapped air, check the top cap seal, and take a few unpowered primer pulls.

What I'd Tell My Past Self

The Top 3 Things Every Beginner Should Know

1. Always prime your coils properly – those extra 10 minutes of waiting will save you money and misery.
2. Don't chain vape – your wick needs time to breathe between puffs
3. Match your power to your coil – more watts doesn't always mean better performance

If I could go back to that Friday night outside the Manchester pub, I'd tell myself that patience is a vaper's best friend. The technology works brilliantly when you work with it, not against it.

Resources for Continued Learning

The vaping community in the UK is incredibly supportive. Join forums, watch YouTube reviews, and don't be afraid to ask questions at your local vape shop. Everyone has their dry hit horror story; you're definitely not alone.

At Vape Offers, we're always happy to help fellow vapers avoid the mistakes we've made. Whether you're just starting or you're an experienced vaper facing new challenges. Proper technique and maintenance will always serve you better than expensive gear.

Remember: Every expert was once a beginner who learned the hard way. The difference is that you now have the knowledge to avoid the worst of those painful lessons.

Need more vaping advice or looking for quality devices and e-liquids? Visit Vape Offers for expert recommendations and competitive prices across the UK.

 

Disclaimer: This guide is based on personal experience and general vaping knowledge. Always follow manufacturer's instructions for your specific device. Consult healthcare professionals if you have concerns about vaping.