The Vaper's Nightmare: What is Dry Hitting When Vaping?

It's a moment that every vaper, from the novice to the seasoned expert, dreads. You bring your device to your lips, anticipating a smooth, flavourful cloud of your favourite e-liquid. You inhale, but instead of the sweet taste you expect, your senses are assaulted by an acrid, harsh, and punishingly hot sensation that scorches the back of your throat and sends you into a fit of coughing. You've just experienced the vaper's ultimate nightmare. This leads to the urgent and crucial question: "What is dry hitting when vaping?"

A dry hit is what occurs when you activate your vape and the heating element (the coil) becomes hot, but there is not enough e-liquid saturating the wicking material (usually cotton) to vaporize. Instead of vaporizing e-liquid, the hot coil begins to burn the dry cotton wick itself, and you end up inhaling the resulting harsh, foul-tasting smoke. It is a fundamentally different and far more unpleasant experience than a normal vape puff and serves as a critical warning sign that something is wrong with your device or your vaping technique.

This definitive guide, created for you in October 2025, is here to demystify the dreaded dry hit completely. We will explore exactly what a dry hit is, dissect the common causes behind it, discuss the potential health concerns, and provide you with a comprehensive checklist to prevent it from ever happening again. At CHATVAPER, we believe that a great vaping experience is a smooth and flavourful one. Our goal is to arm you with the expert knowledge to not only solve this problem but to avoid it entirely, ensuring every puff is as perfect as the first.

Table of Contents

1. Anatomy of a Failure: Understanding What a Dry Hit Is

   • The Difference Between a "Dry Hit" and a "Burnt Hit"

   • The Mechanics: What's Happening Inside Your Vape Coil?

2. The Usual Suspects: The 5 Main Causes of Dry Hits

   • Cause #1: An Empty or Low E-Liquid Level

   • Cause #2: Chain Vaping (Puffing Too Quickly)

   • Cause #3: A Worn-Out or "Gunked Up" Coil

   • Cause #4: High Power Settings (For Advanced Devices)

   • Cause #5: Incorrect Priming of a New Coil (For Reusable Systems)

3. More Than Just a Bad Taste: The Health Risks of Dry Hits

   • The Inhalation of Burnt Cotton Smoke

   • The Creation of Harmful Aldehydes like Formaldehyde

   • Why Avoiding Dry Hits is a Health Priority

4. The Ultimate Prevention Guide: How to Stop Dry Hits Before They Start

   • Rule #1: Always Monitor Your E-Liquid Levels

   • Rule #2: Give Your Vape a Break - The Art of Pacing

   • Rule #3: Know When to Change Your Coil or Pod

   • Rule #4: The Importance of Priming (A Step-by-Step Guide)

5. Damage Control: What to Do Immediately After a Dry Hit

   • Step 1: Stop Vaping Immediately

   • Step 2: Assess the Situation - Refill or Replace?

   • Step 3: Cleaning and Salvaging Your Tank (If Applicable)

6. The CHATVAPER Advantage: How Quality Hardware is Your First Defence

   • The Link Between Faulty Devices and Dry Hits

   • Our Commitment to Authentic, High-Quality Products

   • Fast, On-Time Delivery from Our Sydney Warehouse with AIG Protection

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Anatomy of a Failure: Understanding What a Dry Hit Is

To defeat the enemy, you must first know the enemy. A dry hit is a specific type of failure within your vape's atomization system.

The Difference Between a "Dry Hit" and a "Burnt Hit"

While often used interchangeably, there is a subtle difference:

• A Dry Hit: This is the absolute worst-case scenario where the wick is completely dry. You get an intensely harsh, hot, and smoky taste of burning cotton. There is almost no flavour from the e-liquid.

• A Burnt Hit (or Partial Dry Hit): This is a precursor to a full dry hit. The wick is not fully saturated, so the coil is burning the e-liquid too quickly and slightly singeing the cotton. The result is a vape that still has some flavour, but it's tainted with a harsh, burnt, and often caramelized sugar taste. It's a warning sign that a full dry hit is imminent.

For the purpose of this guide, we'll refer to the overall phenomenon as "dry hitting."

The Mechanics: What's Happening Inside Your Vape Coil?

Your vape's coil head contains two key components: a metal heating element and a wick made of absorbent material, almost always organic cotton. The cotton wick's job is to act like a sponge, drawing e-liquid from the tank or pod and holding it against the coil.

• Normal Operation: When you fire your vape, the coil instantly heats up. The saturated cotton feeds the e-liquid to the hot coil, which vaporizes it into the smooth, flavourful aerosol you inhale. The cotton then re-saturates with more liquid, ready for the next puff.

• Dry Hit Operation: When you fire your vape and the cotton is dry, there is no e-liquid to vaporize. The intense heat from the coil has nowhere to go but directly into the cotton fibres, causing them to combust. You are no longer vaping; you are smoking burnt cotton. This is what produces that horrific taste and harsh throat sensation.

2. The Usual Suspects: The 5 Main Causes of Dry Hits

Dry hits don't happen randomly. They are almost always caused by one of a few common and preventable issues.

Cause #1: An Empty or Low E-Liquid Level

This is the most straightforward cause. If there is no e-liquid left in your tank or disposable vape, the wick cannot draw any up. Even if there's a tiny amount of liquid left, if it's below the intake ports on the coil head, the wick will quickly dry out. For disposable users, a sudden burnt taste is often the first sign the device is finished.

Cause #2: Chain Vaping (Puffing Too Quickly)

This is a very common user error. As described above, the wick needs time to re-saturate with e-liquid between puffs. If you take many long puffs in rapid succession (chain vaping), you are vaporizing the liquid faster than the wick can absorb more. Eventually, you'll take a puff on a wick that hasn't had time to re-saturate, leading to a nasty dry hit.

Cause #3: A Worn-Out or "Gunked Up" Coil

Coils and pods are not meant to last forever. Over time, residue from sweeteners and flavourings in your e-liquid can build up on the coil and clog the cotton wick. This thick "gunk" can prevent the wick from absorbing new liquid efficiently. Even with a full tank, a clogged wick can't get saturated, leading to dry hits. This is a sign that it is time to replace your coil or pod.

Cause #4: High Power Settings (For Advanced Devices)

This applies to more advanced reusable systems with adjustable wattage. If your power setting is too high for your coil's resistance, you will vaporize the e-liquid almost instantly, much faster than the wick can keep up. This will inevitably lead to dry hits.

Cause #5: Incorrect Priming of a New Coil (For Reusable Systems)

When you install a brand new coil or pod (like for a Gunnpod MOSS), the cotton inside is completely dry. "Priming" is the process of manually pre-saturating the wick before you first use it. If you forget to prime a new coil and immediately fire the device, you will instantly burn the fresh, dry cotton, ruining the coil forever.

3. More Than Just a Bad Taste: The Health Risks of Dry Hits

While the immediate sensation of a dry hit is terrible, the concerns go beyond just an unpleasant taste. Avoiding them is also a matter of health and safety.

The Inhalation of Burnt Cotton Smoke

When you experience a dry hit, you are inhaling smoke. The combustion of cotton can release various particulates and irritants that are not present in normal vapour. Your lungs are designed to handle air, not smoke of any kind, and this can cause significant irritation.

The Creation of Harmful Aldehydes like Formaldehyde

This is the most serious health concern. Scientific studies have shown that when e-liquid components, particularly the base liquids Propylene Glycol (PG) and Vegetable Glycerin (VG), are heated to extremely high temperatures in the absence of sufficient liquid, they can thermally decompose. This decomposition can create new and harmful chemical compounds, including aldehydes like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein. These substances are known irritants and, in the case of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. A dry hit creates the perfect high-temperature, low-liquid conditions for these chemicals to form.

Why Avoiding Dry Hits is a Health Priority

Vaping is considered a harm reduction tool for adult smokers because normal vapour contains far fewer harmful constituents than cigarette smoke. However, a dry hit temporarily changes that equation. By actively avoiding dry hits, you are ensuring your vaping experience remains as safe as possible and that you are not exposing yourself to these unnecessary and avoidable risks.

4. The Ultimate Prevention Guide: How to Stop Dry Hits Before They Start

The good news is that dry hits are almost entirely preventable with a few mindful habits.

Rule #1: Always Monitor Your E-Liquid Levels

• For Disposables: Pay attention to the flavour. The moment you notice the flavour starting to fade or taste slightly "off," it's a sign the liquid is running low. Don't try to push it to the very last drop.

• For Reusable Pods (like Gunnpod MOSS): Use the clear window or smart screen to keep an eye on your liquid level. Once it drops near the coil's intake holes, it's time to replace the pod.

Rule #2: Give Your Vape a Break - The Art of Pacing

Avoid chain vaping. After taking a few puffs, set your device down for a minute. Allow the wick time to soak up more e-liquid. A good rule of thumb is to wait 15-30 seconds between puffs.

Rule #3: Know When to Change Your Coil or Pod

Pay attention to the signs of an old coil:

• A muted or disappearing flavour.

• A gurgling sound or leaking.

• A decrease in vapour production.

• A persistent, low-level burnt taste. If you experience these, it's time for a fresh coil or pod, even if you still have e-liquid.

Rule #4: The Importance of Priming (A Step-by-Step Guide)

For users of reusable pod systems like the Gunnpod MOSS, priming a new pod is essential.

1. Drip: Take the new pod and place a few drops of e-liquid directly onto the exposed cotton you can see at the top.

2. Fill & Wait: Insert the pod into your device.

3. Inhale (Without Firing): Take a few gentle puffs on the mouthpiece without activating the device. This helps pull the liquid through the cotton.

4. Wait: Let the pod sit for at least 5-10 minutes to ensure the cotton is fully saturated.

5. Start Low: If you have adjustable power, start at a low setting and gradually work your way up.

5. Damage Control: What to Do Immediately After a Dry Hit

If the worst happens and you get a dry hit, don't just try to vape through it. Take immediate action.

Step 1: Stop Vaping Immediately

The moment you taste it, stop. Inhaling more will only make it worse and further burn the cotton.

Step 2: Assess the Situation - Refill or Replace?

Check your e-liquid level. If it's empty, the solution is simple: get a new disposable or a new pod. If the tank is full but you still got a dry hit, the problem is your coil. You have likely burnt the cotton, and that taste will not go away. The coil/pod is ruined and must be replaced.

Step 3: Cleaning and Salvaging Your Tank (If Applicable)

If you are using a refillable tank system and a burnt coil has tainted your e-liquid, it's best to discard the liquid in the tank, clean the tank thoroughly with warm water, dry it, and then install a new, properly primed coil with fresh e-liquid.

6. The CHATVAPER Advantage: How Quality Hardware is Your First Defence

While user habits are a major cause of dry hits, there's another factor that's often overlooked: the quality of the device itself.

The Link Between Faulty Devices and Dry Hits

Low-quality or counterfeit vape devices are a leading cause of performance issues. They may have poorly designed coils with inefficient wicking channels, faulty chipsets that deliver unstable power, or be made from cheap materials that can't handle the heat. A poorly designed coil will be prone to dry hits no matter how carefully you vape.

Our Commitment to Authentic, High-Quality Products

This is where your choice of retailer becomes your best line of defence. At CHATVAPER, we are vape enthusiasts who are obsessed with quality and safety. We have a zero-tolerance policy for counterfeit and low-grade hardware. Every device we stock, from the simplest disposable to advanced systems like the Gunnpod MOSS, has been vetted for its quality construction and reliable performance. We guarantee 100% authenticity, so you can be confident that the coil inside your device is engineered correctly, dramatically reducing your risk of hardware-related dry hits.

Fast, On-Time Delivery from Our Sydney Warehouse with AIG Protection

When you need a replacement pod or a new device, you don't want to wait. CHATVAPER operates from a large warehouse in Sydney, allowing us to offer fast, on-time delivery across Australia. Furthermore, every single order is protected by AIG insurance, safeguarding your purchase against loss or damage in transit. This means you can get the high-quality, authentic hardware you need delivered quickly and securely.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a dry hit taste like? A: A true dry hit has a uniquely awful taste. It's a combination of hot, acrid, and smoky, with a strong chemical-like flavour from the burning cotton. It is very harsh on the throat and completely different from the taste of e-liquid.

Q2: Will one dry hit ruin my coil forever? A: In most cases, yes. Once you have significantly burnt the cotton wick inside a coil head, the burnt taste will linger and taint every subsequent puff. It's almost impossible to get rid of, and the coil or pod should be replaced.

Q3: Can I get a dry hit from a brand new disposable vape? A: It's rare, but it can happen if the device is faulty (a "dud") or if you begin chain vaping it aggressively from the very first puff without letting the wick keep up. This is why purchasing from a trusted retailer like CHATVAPER, who stocks reliable brands, is so important.

Q4: Is a "spitback" the same as a dry hit? A: No, they are opposites. A dry hit is caused by a lack of liquid. A "spitback" is when the coil is overly flooded with e-liquid, causing it to "spit" hot droplets of liquid up through the mouthpiece instead of vaporizing them smoothly.

Q5: My vape tastes burnt, but my tank is full. What's the problem? A: This is a classic sign that your coil is old, "gunked up," and needs to be replaced. The wick is no longer able to absorb the liquid in the tank efficiently, causing it to burn.