Do You Have to Change Coils When Changing Flavors?

Do you have a case of vaper’s tongue? Or perhaps the latest e-juice you tried wasn’t up to your standards. Or maybe you just have varied tastes and like to try lots of different flavors. So you may be wondering… “Do I have to change coils when changing flavors?”
Your vape coil head is likely to outlive your devotion to one particular flavor. However, if you simply empty and refill your tank, e-liquid residue will stick around and cause a lingering flavor. 

An easy solution would be to change coils, since most of the residue is in the wick. But if you frequently want to change flavors, you’re gonna need to toss a ton of good coils. That’s not good for your wallet, nor is it environmentally friendly. 
Good news: You don’t have to change coils when changing flavors. There are several things you can do to enjoy a new e-liquid without having to waste a perfectly good coil head!

Clean Your Tank and Coil
Cleaning your tank will reduce some of the lingering flavors left behind by your e-juice. It is usually not enough on its own, but it’s very effective when you combine it with other methods. Besides, it’s a basic maintenance procedure you should practice even when you do decide to replace your coil head.

How to Clean Your Tank

Here is a quick rundown on the method I personally use to clean my tank:
1.Remove and disassemble your tank, ensuring that no pieces get lost. Consult your user manual to ensure that you do it properly and to help you keep track of the components.
2.Thoroughly rinse each part of your tank under lukewarm running water. Keep the sink drain closed in case you drop something.
3.Heat up a bowl of water in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Then place your tank components in the bowl and let them soak until the water cools. Alternatively, you can soak your components in high-proof grain alcohol, such as Everclear (no heat required.)
4.Repeat Step 2, rinsing especially well if you decided to soak your tank in grain alcohol.
5.Pat the components dry with a paper towel. Then lay them out to dry on a paper towel. Do not use or fill your tank until all components are completely dry!

How to Clean Your Coil
Now, cleaning coil heads is a somewhat controversial topic in the vaping community. But I personally do it both to extend the life of my coil and to help me switch flavors. This allows you to cleanse the e-liquid that your wick has absorbed. And it also removes any “gunk” that the coil has accumulated.

Here’s my method:
1.Remove your coil from your tank and mod.
2.Fill a bowl with high-proof grain alcohol. Do not use isopropyl/rubbing alcohol, as it can be toxic if not completely removed from your coil before vaping. Better safe than sorry.
3.Place your coil in the bowl and allow it to soak for a few hours. I find that 3-4 hours is usually enough.
4.Rinse your coil under lukewarm running water. Then allow it to soak in a bowl of warm water for one or two hours. Remove it from the bowl and rinse it once more.
5.Wrap a paper towel around your coil and blow into the open end a few times, allowing the towel to soak up the excess water.
6.Place your coil face-down on a paper towel overnight to dry. Do not use the coil until you are sure that it is completely dry. You can use a fan or a hair dryer on low heat to speed up this process.

Other Methods for Changing Flavors
The process of cleaning your tank and coil head will leave your vaporizer out of commission for several hours. If you don’t have a backup device, this can be frustrating (trust me, I know.)

Fortunately, there are other things you can do to avoid changing your coil when changing flavors.

Use a Flavorless, Complementary, or Similar E-Liquid
Many vendors offer flavorless e-liquids. You could try filling your tank with this and vaping it until all traces of the previous e-liquid are gone.
Alternatively, you could use a complementary or neutral flavor. For example, let’s say you’re switching from a peach-flavored e-liquid to a churro-flavored one. Vaping a tank of a basic vanilla juice could ease the transition between flavors since it goes well with both of them.

Also, you could plan your e-liquid usage to exclusively involve a certain flavor or flavor profile during the lifetime of a coil. For instance, let’s say you love kiwi and want to try lots of different juices with kiwi elements. If a coil lasts you two weeks, you could dedicate those two weeks to discovering your new favorite kiwi blend. Do note that your assessment won’t be 100% accurate without a new or clean coil. Still, it would be a tastier two weeks than if you were just trying random flavors.

Use Extra Tanks/Coils
If you plan to switch flavors frequently, it may be a worthy investment to have several tanks and/or coil heads available for different flavors. That way, you don’t have to worry about cleaning anything. Just pop on a new tank or coil and go to town.

You don’t have to have a coil head for each individual flavor. Instead, you could have one dedicated to custard flavors, one for fruity ones, one for menthols, etc. Think about which of your flavors would go well with others, and plan your usage accordingly.

And If You’re Lazy… Stick It Out!
The final option is to do nothing to prepare for a flavor transition. Just refill your tank and vape away. Usually, the old flavor will dissipate eventually. But there are some flavors, particularly menthol and tobacco, that will be very hard to get rid of.

You might have a nasty vape for a bit, but you’ll save a lot of time. However, I personally like to enjoy my vaping sessions as much as I can. So I prefer utilizing one of the above methods to change my flavor without changing my coil.

Conclusion: Do You Have to Change Coils When Changing Flavors?

As you may have learned reading this guide, the answer is:

Absolutely not!

Vaping can be a very expensive hobby, so I prefer to not be a snob when people try to get the most bang for their buck. Being able to change your coil head every time you switch flavors is a luxury that not everyone can afford. But with proper planning and procedures, everyone can enjoy a variety of flavors without having to buy a new coil each time.