Ecigone

How to Maintain and Look After Your Vape Kit: An Ecigone Guide

By shane margereson

Right, let's talk about something most people get wrong - looking after their Vape Kit. I've been in this game for over ten years, and I still see people making the same basic mistakes that kill their devices way too early.

Here's the thing - your Vape Kit isn't like a disposable. You can't just use it until it breaks and chuck it away. A bit of care goes a long way, and I'm talking about simple stuff that takes seconds, not complicated maintenance routines.

Whether you've got a Pod Vape Kit, Sub-Ohm Vape Kit, or AIO Vape device, the basics are the same. Look after it, and it'll look after you.

What You're Actually Maintaining

Most people don't even know what the different bits of their vape kit do, so let's start there.

Your Pod Vape Kit has a battery bit and a pod that holds the E-liquid. Simple. The pod usually has a built-in coil that you can't change - when it's done, you replace the whole pod.

Sub-Ohm Vape Kits are a bit different. You've got the battery/mod, a tank that screws on top, and coils that you can change yourself. More bits to think about, but also more control.

AIO vape devices (All-In-One) are somewhere in the middle. Everything's built into one unit, but you can usually change the coils. Think of them as Pod Vape Kits that you can service yourself.

The coil is what heats up your E-liquid and turns it into vapour. It's also the bit that breaks first if you don't look after it.

Daily Stuff That Actually Matters

I'm not going to give you some massive daily routine because nobody's got time for that. Just three things:

Don't let it run dry. Seriously, this kills more coils than anything else. The moment you can't see E-liquid covering the coil holes, stop vaping and top up. Running a coil dry destroys it instantly and tastes horrible.

Wipe it down. E-liquid is sticky. It gets everywhere. A quick wipe with a tissue after you've been vaping stops it building up into a mess.

Keep it upright. Gravity is your friend. Store your vape kit standing up and it's less likely to leak all over your pocket.

That's it. Three things. Takes about 30 seconds total.

 

Weekly Maintenance (The Important Bit)

Once a week, spend five minutes checking your kit over. I usually do this on Sunday evening whilst watching TV.

Pod Vape Kit Users

Clean the contacts where your pod connects to the battery. Use a cotton bud - nothing fancy. E-liquid builds up here and causes connection problems.

Check your vape pod for cracks, especially around the mouthpiece. Cracked pods leak, and leaky pods are annoying.

Make sure the airflow holes aren't blocked. A toothpick sorts this out.

AIO Vape Device Users

Check your coil through the tank - if it's looking dark or gunked up, it's time for a change.

Clean around the fill port and mouthpiece. AIO devices can be tricky to get completely clean, so regular light cleaning beats occasional deep cleaning.

Wipe down the airflow adjustment if your AIO has one. These get sticky and stop working smoothly.

Sub-Ohm Vape Kit Users

Take your coil out and have a look at it. If it's black or the cotton looks burnt, change it. If it looks okay, put it back.

Rinse your tank with warm water. Not the coil - just the tank bits. Dry it before putting it back together.

Check those little rubber O-rings. They stop your tank leaking, but they wear out. Most tanks come with spares.

Weekly pod vape maintenance guide with checklist for battery, pod, and airflow cleaning, plus charging test; time needed is 3–4 minutes
Illustrated AIO vape device with weekly maintenance checklist and estimated time of 4–5 minutes, including cleaning coil and mouthpiece
Weekly sub-ohm vape maintenance graphic with checklist for coil, tank, and thread cleaning; includes O-ring inspection and 5–6 minute time estimate.

When to Change Your Coil

This is where most people go wrong. They either change coils too early (wasting money) or too late (ruining their vaping experience).

Here's when you actually need a new coil:

Burnt taste that doesn't go away when you refill. That's your coil telling you it's done.

Flavour just isn't there anymore. You're vaping but it tastes weak or weird.

It's making strange noises - gurgling, crackling, or popping more than usual.

You can see the coil is gunked up with dark residue.

Changing coils isn't rocket science . For Sub-Ohm Vape Kits and AIO devices, unscrew the old one, screw in the new one finger-tight (don't overdo it), add a few drops of E-liquid to the cotton bits, fill up your tank, and wait ten minutes before vaping. Pod Vape Kits just need a new pod when the coil's done.

Cleaning Your Kit

Every month or so, give everything a wash. Not the battery bit - that'll electrocute you. Just the tank, pod, or AIO top section.

Warm water and a bit of washing up liquid works fine. Rinse it well and dry it completely before putting it back together.

AIO devices can be tricky because you can't always take everything apart. Do what you can - clean the mouthpiece, wipe around the tank area, and make sure the fill port's clear.

For any battery section, just wipe it down with a damp cloth. Clean the charging port with a dry toothbrush to get rid of pocket fluff.

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

Weak flavour? Usually means your coil's getting old or you're using the wrong wattage. AIO devices often have wattage settings you can adjust.

Harsh throat hit? Could be too much nicotine, a burnt coil, or the wrong E-liquid for your kit .

Not much vapour? Check your battery's charged and your coil isn't ancient. AIO devices sometimes have airflow settings that affect vapour production.

Won't turn on? Try charging it. If it's charged, check if you've accidentally locked it. Most AIO Vapes have button combinations to unlock them.

Leaking everywhere? Usually means you've overfilled it or something's not screwed together right. AIO devices are particularly prone to leaking if you overfill them.

Storage and Battery Care

Don't leave your vape kit in a hot car. Heat kills batteries and makes Vape juice taste weird.

If you've got external batteries (mainly Sub-Ohm Vape Kits), don't carry them loose in your pocket with keys and coins. They make cases for a reason.

Charge your kit before it's completely flat. Batteries last longer that way. AIO devices and Pod Vape Kits usually have built-in batteries, so this is especially important.

When to Give Up and Buy New Stuff

Coils - Change every week or two, depending how much you vape. Same for all types.

Pods - When the built-in coil is done, the pod's done.

AIO devices - When the built-in tank starts leaking constantly or the battery won't hold charge.

Batteries - External ones last about a year if you look after them.

The whole kit - If it's not holding charge, buttons don't work, or it's held together with tape, it's time for an upgrade.

What Poor Maintenance Actually Costs You

I see customers spending £20+ every month on coils because they're burning them out in days instead of weeks. Others buying new Pod Vape Kits or AIO devices every few months because they never clean them.

A £25 Pod Vape Kit that's looked after lasts 12-18 months. An AIO device with good care easily does the same. One that's neglected might last three months. The maths isn't complicated.

Same with coils. Look after them and they last 10-14 days. Treat them badly and you're changing them every 3-4 days.

Building Better Habits

Start small. Just remember to check your E-liquid level and wipe your kit down after use. Everything else can wait until you're in the habit.

Set a phone reminder for weekly cleaning if you need to. Once it becomes automatic, you won't need reminding.

The key is making it part of your routine, not some big chore you have to remember to do.

The Bottom Line

Looking after your vape kit isn't complicated. Check E-liquid levels, keep things clean, change coils when they're done, and don't abuse your batteries.

Do that, and your kit will last longer, perform better, and save you money. Ignore it, and you'll be back buying replacements way sooner than you should be.

Whether you're using a simple Refillable Vape Kit , a versatile AIO vape device, or a powerful Sub-Ohm Vape Kit, the principles are the same. A bit of care goes a long way.