Leaky vape tanks are a major headache that many vapers have had to confront at one time or another. It's frustrating to set down your vape mod for a few minutes, only to come back to drops of e-liquid slowly spilling down and pooling around your device. This results in a big mess, a waste of precious e-liquid, and it could even harm your device's electronic components if not dealt with properly.

Luckily, fixing a vape is pretty easy. More likely than not, it’ll only take one of a few simple fixes before it's back to working perfectly again. If these fixes don’t work and the problems persist, then the worst case scenario may involve investing in a new tank or device. In this article, we’ll go over ways that you can stop leaky tanks, and prevent leaks from happening in the first place.

Pay Attention During Tank Fills

A common reason for leaky tanks is improper filling technique. Unfamiliarity with a device or a difficult-to-access fill port can lead to e-liquid dripping down into the center air tube, where it can then escape through air holes at a tank's bottom.

Even if your device hasn't leaked enough to spill down the sides, you may notice an unpleasant-sounding gurgling from the device when taking a draw. You might also experience some spitback, with hot droplets of liquid popping into your mouth once you hit the fire button.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to be careful when you’re filling your tank. Make sure you're dripping liquid into the tank's fill port and not the air tube. Sometimes air bubbles will prevent you from filling rapidly. Be patient, and wait for them to rise out of the tank rather than forcing liquid in. Don't overfill, as some tanks may have instructions or even a printed fill line indicating that they can't be topped up above ¾ or ⅞ full - respect your manufacturer's instructions. Make sure you fully replace the top cap, and, if it screws on, that the threads are properly aligned and completely closed. If you leave your tank partially opened, it will lose vacuum when you attempt to take a draw and a considerable amount of liquid will escape.

What can you do if you've overfilled, or gotten liquid into your air tube? The simplest solution is to dab off the excess with a paper towel, use cotton swabs to clean out the center tube and, if possible, the bottom airflow chamber. If the mess is particularly bad you may have to disassemble the tank and wash out the base with warm water.

Proper Storage

An easy rule for avoiding liquid leaking out of your vape is to always keep it stored upright. Never lay it down on its side. This is a beginner’s mistake, as e-liquid will be more likely to find a way out of the tank if it's left tipped over and your connections aren't perfect. Just make sure to keep it upright and you should be fine.

O-Rings and Seals

Tanks not properly sealed due to a degraded o-ring can also lead to leaking.

The various glass and metal components of your tank are likely guarded by rubber washers at the connection points. If one of these isn't aligned, or is ripped or otherwise compromised, this is another point from which liquid could leak.

If you've tried the obvious fixes, take your empty tank apart and examine the o-rings for damage. This is also a good time to inspect the glass for chips or cracks that could either be the cause of the leak or the reason the o-ring suffered damage. Most tanks come with a spare set of o-rings and tank glass, replace either or both if you suspect anything isn't right.

Coil and Hardware Alignment

The threading on most vaping components is both fine (tightly-spaced) and fragile. Keep in mind that it should never take more force than you can easily apply with your thumb and forefinger to screw together the pieces that comprise a clearomizer tank. If you're having trouble assembling your tank, such as when installing a replacement coil head, you may be crossing the male and female threads, which not only leads to leaks and trouble finishing the assembly, but cross-threading could cause permanent damage to your tank.

Check out these tips on unboxing a new vapor device for some best practices when it comes to identifying and avoiding damage, but keep in mind that anything not fitting together easily is a sign of trouble and you should stop - never try to force something to fit.

Faulty Coils

Occasionally, you may get a factory-built coil that's just not up to snuff. Maybe the wicking isn't packed in tightly enough to prevent a leak. Perhaps the threads are damaged and it won't install correctly without risking damage to your tank. These situations are frustrating, but replacing a coil worth $3-4 is better than gambling with your tank that's likely worth $30 or more.

Replace When Necessary

If all else fails, you might find yourself in a situation where your clearomizer tank's threads have stripped. In that situation, you're probably going to need a new tank. The same may be the case if you've been through multiple coils, glass bodies, and o-rings without solving the problem.

In all likelihood, one of the simple fixes mentioned early on will have you all patched up and vaping leak-free, making tank replacement a true worst case scenario. We hope one of these suggestions will have your gear back in top form quickly and easily.

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