Disposable Vape FAQs and Troubleshooting
Disposable Not Working: Issues Troubleshooting
As disposable vapes are becoming increasingly widespread, a few common questions have started to crop up —not just for new users who are looking to quit smoking, but also for prior vapers curious about how these devices stack up against standard vape kits.Luckily, most disposable vapes are pretty similar to each other from a technical perspective. So, chances are, whatever queries you have regarding your vape, they’ll be the same as most peoples’, and the solutions will hold true for most devices.
This blog will guide you through some of the most common issues and questions people have with disposable vapes, such as how they work, whether they’re safe, if they can be refilled, and what to do when they’re not working.
How do Disposable Vapes Work?
As the name suggests, disposable vapes are a type of vape kit designed for short-term use. Like other vape kits, they consist of a few core components; a battery, a tank, and a coil. The process of how disposables vapes work is quite straightforward. The only real steps in the easy to use process are inhaling the e-liquid into your lungs and exhaling. A disposable vape often works by simply inhaling the e-liquid as you would a lit cigarette. There's no need to press a button, and you don't need to charge the disposable vape or fill it up at any point. The installed ecig battery powers a coil which vaporises the installed e-liquid.
Unlike standard vape kits, disposables do not require any initial user setup, such as charging the battery or filling the tank. They are sold ready to use, with their battery already charged and the tank already filled. Because they cannot be refilled or recharged, disposable vapes are to be disposed of responsibly once they reach the end of their lifespan.
The two main advantages to disposable vapes are convenience, and ease of use. Their small size, comparatively low price point, and ready-to-use design make them a good choice for new users looking to test vaping as a method for quitting smoking.
Similarly, they also work well as a backup device for more advanced users, who may not wish to carry a larger kit while out and about. For a more in-depth look at disposables and what they are read our in-depth guide.
Are Disposable Vapes Safe?
Disposable vapes, like other vape kits, are perfectly safe when used correctly. There’s even a case to me made that disposables are safer than other vapes; as they require no setup and are ready to use, there’s less margin for human error.
In addition, disposable vapes are draw-activated: this means that the battery only activates when you puff on the device, and automatically switches off when not in use. Thus, there’s no risk of the device accidentally switching on while stored or otherwise not in use.
These are the key points to note in regards to disposable vape safety:
●All products sold in the UK are MHRA-approved
●Draw-activated and use a button free design; prevent accidental power up
●Completely sealed device; cannot be disassembled, this prevents any leakage
●Closed pod system; non refillable tank. no risk of improperly filling or reinstalling
●Cannot be recharged and have no charging port; this negates the risk of overcharging or otherwise damaging the device’s battery Of course, safety is a relative term.
For a more in-depth look at the safety of disposable vapes, check out our blog ‘Are Geek Bars Safe?’—it focuses primarily on the Geek Bar brand, but most of the information there holds true for all disposables.
Are Disposable Vapes Illegal?
Disposable vapes are entirely legal in the UK market. There are some caveats, however. All vape kits sold in the UK and the EU —including disposables —fall under the jurisdiction of the Tobacco Products Directive(TPD).
What this means in direct terms is that vape kits in the UK follow strict regulations in regards to nicotine strength and e-liquid capacity. As such, all disposable vapes are allowed a maximum tank capacity of 2ml, and a maximum nicotine strength of 20mg/ml (2%). TPD rules also make it easier to spot potential fakes or dodgy devices.
If you come across a disposable vape with a tank capacity or nicotine strength higher than those allowed by TPD, at best it’s illegal on the UK market, and at worst counterfeit and potentially risky to use. Either way, such devices should be avoided at all costs. By shopping with reputable
retailers, you can rest assured that you’re always getting products that are safe, reliable, and fully TPD-compliant.
Additionally, it should be noted that it is illegal for customers under 18 to purchase any vape products. All myCigara retail stores operate in accordance with the “Think 25” age policy, and our webstore requires proof of ID for all purchases.
Age verification exists to protect both customers and retailers; don’t buy your vapes at stores with no age verification procedures. For a more in-depth look at vaping and age restrictions, head over to our blog, ‘can I vape at 16?’
Can You Refill Disposable Vapes?
As the name indicates, disposable vapes are disposable. So, while their ready-to-use design makes them more convenient than other vape kits —requiring no initial filling or charging —it also means they cannot be re-used.
The simple answer is: no, you cannot refill or recharge disposable vapes.
Disposable vapes are closed systems; the devices themselves are fully sealed, and cannot be taken apart.
You absolutely should not attempt to take apart your disposable vape in an attempt to refill it; it’s a pointless hassle, it won’t work, and will leave you with nothing but an extra mess to clean up.
While disposable vapes have a shorter lifespan than other vapes by design, there are still some precautions you should take to avoid drastically shortening your product’s life span.
Avoid prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures (either heat or cold). Never allow your disposable to become submerged in water, and avoid exposing it to debris, dust, and damp in general.
Why Won’t My Disposable Vape Work?
As mentioned, all disposable vape pens are draw-activated, meaning that they turn on when you puff on them.
If you draw on your vape and nothing seems to happen, it means the device has reached the end of it’s lifespan and needs to be disposed of (in a responsible and eco-conscious manner, of course).
This will occur either when the battery runs out of power, or when the tank reaches empty —whichever occurs first. Put simply, if your disposable vape is not working, it’s probably empty. Likewise, you can tell when a disposable is empty, because it will no longer work.
Why is my Disposable Vape Blinking?
While all disposable brands are different, there are some commonalities.As a general rule, disposable vapes feature some form of LED indication, with the LED typically found near the bottom of the device.
●Constant LED: the device is active
●Blinking LED: low battery
When you draw on a disposable, the device activates and the LED stays lit throughout the draw. If you pull on your device and the LED flashes, this signals a low battery.
Further indication of a low battery is that you will receive a weak hit from your device.
Which Disposable Vape Lasts Longest?
The lifespan of disposable vapes is typically measured as puff count. The number of puffs is determined by a vape’s tank and battery size. It’s worth highlighting that a puff count is an estimate, and will vary somewhat depending on an individual's vaping style; i.e. taking longer, deeper drags will slightly reduce the puff count. For reference: 300 puffs is roughly equivalent to 20 cigarettes.
As we mentioned above, all disposable vapes sold in the UK are in compliance with TPD and thus all have the same maximum tank capacity of 2ml. (You can of course get devices with smaller tanks, but these understandably have a lower puff count.) In this case, the battery strength is the determining factor for puffs.
For comparison, these are some of the disposables we stock that have the highest puff counts:
●Nasty AirFix: 2ml, 700mAh, ~675 puffs
●Elf Bar: 2ml, 550mah, ~600 puffs
●Geek Bar: 2ml, 500mAh, ~575 puffs
●Vapeman Solo: 2ml, 500mAh, ~600 puffs
Of course, puff count is simply one aspect to consider when purchasing a disposable vape, alongside price, flavour range, æsthetics, and ergonomics. To help customers find the right product for them, we’ve whipped up a couple of handy blogs comparing some of our most popular brands: Geek Bar vs Elf Bar, and Dinner Lady vs Nasty AirFix.
Disposable Vapes at myCigara
We hope this blog has been useful for any queries you may have had regarding disposable vapes. Of course, if you have further questions, you’re more than welcome to get in touch. If you prefer to have a chat in-person, use our store locator to find your nearest myCigara branch, where our expert staff are waiting to help you take the next steps in your vaping journey.
We’ve touched on this before, but it bears repeating; vaping is a tool for helping smokers quit smoking. Vape kits are not toys or otherwise “fun” or novelty items. Disposable vapes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive; as such, all vape kits are only to be used by adult smokers looking to quit smoking, and should not be used by non-smokers.
Decided that it’s time to quit smoking? Need help deciding on a disposable vape to help you with that? Then check out our blog, best quit smoking disposable vape. Or, if you’re already comfortable with disposables and just want to sample a new taste, we’ve rounded up the top 5 disposable vape flavours.
If all of this is new and strange to you, we recommend you start from the top with our straightforward guide, ‘new to vaping. ’On there you’ll find a link to our full range of guides, including the always-helpful basic guide to vaping. We also have a useful Tips and Guides to help support any questions you may have on devices and e-liquids.
