A Beginner’s Guide: How Do I Fill My Vape Tank?

New to vaping? If you’ve already purchased a vape mod or a cig-a-like from a local vape shop, then they should have gone over the basics with you. Nonetheless, maybe you were too flustered to ask the right questions, afraid of looking like a rookie. Or maybe the vape expert described your new device in terms that were overly complicated, making your head spin and leaving you more confused than you already were coming into the shop. Whether this is you or not, it’s important to understand exactly how your device works, and although refilling seems like a simple task, it’s one that I’ve received multiple questions regarding from friends seeking to switch from smoking to vaping.

Understanding the Different Types of Vape Mods

First of all, you need to consider which type of device you have. Do you have a cigalike or a vape mod with a clearomizer tank? It’s easy enough to tell the difference. A cigalike is thinner, with a narrower mouthpiece and a smaller tank to simulate the look and feel of a cigarette. They generally use pre-filled cartridges, though some use refillable tanks. A vape mod is usually boxy, or can come in pen form, but these both use clearomizer tanks.

How Do I Refill my Cigalike?

Odds are, you’ve purchased a cigalike that uses pre-filled cartridges, or cartomizers. If this is the case, refilling your cigalike would just mean buying new prefilled cartridges and simply installing them when they’re out. Some cigalikes use refillable cartomizers, in which case, you can actually purchase your own e-juice instead of cartridges, and refill your cartomizer when it is low.

How Do I Refill My Vape Mod?

Vape mods with clearomizers are a little more complicated than cigalikes, simply because filling your tank requires a careful, steady hand, and knowledge of the proper tank maintenance. If you’re using a brand new atomizer coil, it’s always a good idea—and something most vapers recommend—to prime the coil before filling up the tank. Priming the coil is simple, you just squeeze a couple drops of your e-liquid onto each visible spot of cotton wick and repeat the process until the wicking looks saturated. From there, you will take your e-juice’s dropper, or use a unicorn bottle, to fill up the tank, being careful to keep juice out of the main airflow.

Most modern tanks use a “top fill” system, meaning you can just unscrew the top portion of the clearomizer (after closing off the airflow ring at the bottom to avoid flooding) - some even have a swing-away hinge that snaps into place, making filling a breeze. There are still some popular models, though, that use a “bottom fill” style - for these the fill process is the same, but you’ll have to remove your tank from its battery or mod, flip it upside down, and unscrew the bottom to access the fill holes.

Really, that’s it! No crazy methods, just take care to keep your juice where it belongs. If you happen to get e-juice into the airflow, it won’t kill your mod, but you’ll end up potentially burning out your coil faster, or with a mouthful of hot e-juice (which believe me we have all done and it’s never pleasant).

Priming is equally as important when changing coils, especially if you want to get the longest lifespan out of your premade atomizer coil.