Vaping FAQs : Everything You Need To Know About Vaping

The world of vaping is as wide as it is deep, with numerous types of e-liquids, devices and accessories for you to enjoy. But as with many things that have nuance and variation, there's no guarantee you'll know everything. That's where we come in. We've compiled a handy FAQ on all things vaping to hopefully answer. 

A vape, or e-cigarette as they were initially known, is a device that creates nicotine-infused vapour by heating e-liquid in an atomiser using a battery, which is then inhaled through the mouth into the lungs and exhaled. Vapes come in many different forms, from disposable (although these will be banned in the UKfrom June 2025), big puff vapes, pod vape kits and sub-ohm vape kits, just to name a few. Which one you pick is entirely up to you, as different vaping devices provide different vaping experiences, as we'll see later on.

Compared to smoking, vaping is far less harmful and contains none of the health-harming chemicals found in cigarettes, such as tar. E-liquids only have three ingredients - nicotine, nicotine carriers, and flavouring, meaning by switching to vaping, you can enjoy far better health benefits than if you continued to smoke. 

As always, though, vape products are not free of risks, so we recommend not to start vaping if you don't smoke, and if you already vape, then please vape responsibly and within your limitations. 

Smoking cigarettes is notoriously harmful to your health. They're not only full of toxic chemicals like tar but can cause numerous ailments and diseases, the most catastrophic being cancer. Vaping was devised as a way to help smokers quit the habit. It removed the need for tobacco and all the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes while still providing the same hand-to-mouth familiarity as smoking, along with the nicotine hit that smoking provides.

This healthier alternative is beneficial in multiple ways - from helping smokers quit or reduce the amount they smoke to reducing the amount of money spent on cigarettes, as well as eliminating the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes. So, as you can see, vaping has benefits that far outweigh those of smoking. By switching over, you'll not only be able to save money but also give up a harmful habit and boil it down to just the nicotine you'll need to satisfy cravings.

This healthier alternative is beneficial in multiple ways - from helping smokers quit or reduce the amount they smoke to reducing the amount of money spent on cigarettes, as well as eliminating the harmful chemicals found in cigarettes. So, as you can see, vaping has benefits that far outweigh those of smoking. By switching over, you'll not only be able to save money but also give up a harmful habit and boil it down to just the nicotine you'll need to satisfy cravings.

While different vape kits and products can vary, starter kits can be bought for as little as £20. This is a little more than a pack of cigarettes, but after the initial investment, new e-liquids, coils and pods only cost a few pounds and last significantly longer.

Most vape products do indeed have nicotine in them, which is a highly addictive substance. However, due to the absence of all the harmful chemicals in cigarettes, you can consume nicotine in a far cleaner way. Because e-liquids come in a variety of different nicotine strengths, you can gradually reduce the amount of nicotine you're consuming and eventually stop using it altogether.

There isn't much evidence to say that vaping is safe to do while pregnant. While the majority of the adult smoking population agrees that it's more likely to be significantly less harmful than continuing to smoke while pregnant if you do decide to use a vape to help you stop smoking while pregnant, make sure you keep your doctor informed of your actions and listen to any advice they give you regarding the matter.

Atomisers come in many different forms nowadays. They sit on top of the vape battery and use heat to vaporise e-liquid. As mentioned, they come in many different forms, including self-contained and disposable. They can also use replaceable coils or be rebuilt, so veteran vapers can fine-tune their experience to their exact specifications.

Coils are the beating heart of your vape. They come in different resistances that allow for different vaping styles. A coil contains a wire wrapped around a wicking material such as cotton, which absorbs e-liquid, is then heated by the battery, and vaporises it. The aforementioned resistances of coils are measured in Ohms, which refers to the amount of electric current the coil allows to pass through it. 

Low resistance equals more heat, which produces more vapour and a far more intense flavour, while high resistance has the opposite effect. While low resistance sounds good on paper, it does mean that you'll go through e-liquid a lot quicker, so bear that in mind.

You'll often hear this expression banded about in the vaping community. Sub-Ohm vaping refers to vaping using a coil resistance of below 1.0 Ohm—hence the name. As mentioned above, a low resistance produces more heat, creating more dense vapour clouds and intense flavours at the cost of using more e-liquid. 

Sub-Ohm vaping was initially reserved for experienced vapers who built their own coils and modified their batteries. Still, these days, sub-Ohm kits, pre-built coils, and powerful batteries are readily available from all good vape retailers, making it much more accessible. 

Coils don't last forever. At some point, they'll need to be changed. At what point that is largely depends on the coil used and its use frequency. You'll know when it's time to replace the coil as the intensity of the taste will diminish significantly, or you'll start getting a burnt taste when drawing on the device.

Coil burnout occurs when the wicking material in a coil hasn't been sufficiently saturated with e-liquid or the device is activated with little to no e-liquid in the pod/tanks. This causes the coil to 'burn' and creates dry hits and a bitter, burnt taste when vaping.

To avoid this, when filling up your pod/tank with a new coil, let the e-liquid sit for about 10 minutes, allowing the wick to become fully saturated. Also, ensure you're watching your e-liquid level and top it up before it runs out.

Vaping comes in three distinct styles: MTL (mouth-to-lung), RDL (Restricted Direct Lung), and DTL (direct-to-lung) vaping. We'll specifically be looking at MTL and DTL in this section, as RDL sits in the middle and can be utilised by both MTL devices and DTL devices.

MTL (mouth-to-lung) vaping closely mimics the draw of a traditional cigarette. Vapour is inhaled and held in the mouth before inhaling into the lungs. Most low-powered devices, such as pod kits, use this type of vaping style as they provide a tighter draw, require fewer power settings, and can handle higher nicotine and PG levels. MTL is recommended for new vapers who are making the switch from cigarettes to vaping. 

DTL (Direct to Lung) vaping is a style that draws vapour directly into the lungs, much like breathing normally. DTL Devices utilise much more advanced atomisers and have a far looser draw than MTL devices, which require the use of your lungs directly to inhale. You'll find DTL vaping accessible in the likes of Sub-Ohm kits, which require far more power and produce much denser vapour clouds and intense flavour. 

However, when choosing a DTL device, it's important to remember that it performs much better with a lower nicotine level (around 6 mg). Due to their high power output, DTL vapes are well equipped to deal with high-VG e-liquids, which help produce dense vapour clouds.

E-liquids are what we use in vape devices to produce inhaled vapour. E-liquids are comprised of three components: nicotine, VG and PG, and flavourings. 

Nicotine is what provides the 'hit' and comes in different strengths. 

VG and PG stand for Vegetable Glycerine and Propylene Glycol, and the ratios of each produce a different effect and can be used in other devices. For example, a 50VG/50PG ratio produces less vapour and smoother hit, requiring less power to vaporise, while a 70VG/30PG ratio produces much denser vapour clouds thanks to the high VG content and is best used in a high-powered device. 

Finally, flavouring is what you taste when vaping an e-liquid. There are many combinations of all three, so it's good to experiment and see which ones work best for you.

Nicotine strength is a very personal thing, and what you choose depends on your vaping needs. If you are a regular smoker who is just switching over to vaping, you'll need a higher nicotine-strength e-liquid compared to someone who is just a casual vaper. Here's a handy guide to help you figure out the right nicotine strength for you:

• 10+ regular cigarettes a day - 18 mg + strength

• 10 light cigarettes a day - 12 mg strength

• 10 ultra light cigarettes - 6 mg strength

• Occasional smokers - 3 mg strength

• Nicotine-free - 0 mg strength.

TPD regulations state that e-liquids can have no more than 20 mg/ml of nicotine per 10 ml bottle, so most e-liquids will contain 20 mg or less of nicotine, as stated on the bottle or packaging. It's important that you don't go overboard on nicotine strength and only consume what your body needs and is used to, as too much can cause nausea, headaches, and dizziness, among other symptoms.

VG and PG, as mentioned above, stand for Vegetable Glycerine and Propylene Glycol and are essential ingredients in vaping. PG is a colourless, tasteless liquid derived from plants and is predominantly used in baked goods, medicines and cosmetics. It creates more of a throat hit that is similar to that of a cigarette, is better used in low-powered devices and can carry more nicotine.

VG has a very slight sweet taste, although it is too faint for people to taste. It is commonly used in food products. VG is thicker than PG and requires more power to vaporise, which is why higher VG e-liquids are best for high-power devices. They also produce much denser vapour clouds and provide a much more intense taste.

As you can see, both VG and PG are crucial ingredients in e-liquid and vaping, and you can alter the ratio to your liking by changing the result.

While smoking and vaping at the same time is okay to do, it's pretty counterintuitive. You won't feel the benefits of quitting smoking and vaping instead if you're doing both together, which goes without saying. Plus, you're still allowing the toxic chemicals of cigarettes to enter your body. So, while you can do both, it's better just to quit the habit and stick to vaping.

And there you have it. Hopefully, we've answered some of your questions about vaping and what it entails. If, however, you still have some unanswered vaping questions, then feel free to contact us via the live chat on our website, by phone on 01246 260010, or by heading to the 'Contact Us' section of the website. However you get in touch, we'll always aim to get back to you as soon as possible!