How to Stop Your Vape Leaking

A leaking vape is annoying and messy, but it's almost always down to a few simple causes — and each has an easy fix. Here's how to keep your kit dry.

Why vapes leak

Leaks usually come from one of these:

1. Overfilling. Filling right to the top leaves no air gap, forcing liquid down through the coil.

2. Liquid in the centre (airflow) tube. Getting e-liquid down the central chimney when filling causes gurgling and leaks.

3. A loose or cross-threaded part. If the tank or pod isn't seated squarely, liquid escapes.

4. A worn or badly fitted coil. A coil that isn't screwed in properly, or an old one, lets liquid past.

5. Thin liquid in the wrong kit. A thin 50/50 liquid in a big sub-ohm coil can seep through — match your liquid to your kit, as we explain in PG vs VG explained.

6. Big temperature or pressure changes. Leaving a kit in a hot car or taking it on a flight can push liquid out.

How to fix and prevent leaks

• Don't overfill — leave a small air gap at the top, and avoid getting liquid in the central tube.

• Fill correctly — tilt the tank and run liquid down the inside wall, not the middle.

• Check everything's tight — make sure the coil and tank sections are seated squarely, not cross-threaded.

• Fit coils properly and prime them — see How to change your vape coil.

• Store it upright and don't leave it in extreme heat.

• Use the right liquid for your coil resistance.

Still leaking?

If you've checked all of the above and it still leaks, the seals (O-rings) or coil may be worn — fit a fresh coil, and if it persists the tank may need replacing. A leaky, gurgling kit often shares a cause with a burnt taste, so sorting one often sorts the other.

Nine times out of ten, it's overfilling or liquid in the airflow tube — fix those and you'll stay dry.