What Is a Dry Hit? Causes, Fixes and How to Stop Them
That hot, harsh, papery puff is a dry hit. What causes it, how it differs from a burnt coil, and how to stop it happening.
You take a puff and instead of flavour you get a hot, harsh, papery blast at the back of your throat. That’s a dry hit, and it’s one of the least pleasant things that can happen with a vape. The good news is that it has one simple cause and a short list of fixes. This guide explains what a dry hit is, how it differs from a burnt coil, why it happens and how to stop it.
The short version
- A dry hit happens when the coil fires but the cotton around it isn’t soaked with liquid, so the device heats dry cotton.
- The usual causes: low liquid, an unprimed coil, chain vaping, too much power, or liquid that’s too thick for the coil.
- One dry hit doesn’t always ruin a coil, but repeated ones scorch the cotton and leave a permanent burnt taste.
What is a dry hit?
Every coil sits inside cotton (the wick). When you puff, the coil heats up and vaporises the liquid held in that cotton, and more liquid soaks in to replace it. A dry hit happens when the coil heats up and there isn’t enough liquid in the cotton to vaporise. Instead of making vapour, the coil heats dry cotton directly, which produces that hot, harsh, slightly smoky sensation.
Dry hit vs burnt coil
| Dry hit | Burnt coil | |
|---|---|---|
| What’s happening | Cotton is temporarily dry when you puff | Cotton is already scorched or gunked up |
| When it happens | One puff, or a few in a row | Every puff, even when full and primed |
| Fixes itself? | Often, after the cotton re-soaks | No: replace the coil, pod or wick |
| What to do | Stop, top up, wait, lower the power | Replace it. See how long do coils last? |
The two are linked: repeated dry hits scorch the cotton, which turns a temporary problem into a permanently burnt coil.
What causes dry hits
Low liquid
When the level drops below the coil’s wicking holes, the cotton can’t draw liquid in. This is the most common cause, especially in pods where the level is hard to see.
An unprimed coil
A new coil or freshly filled pod needs time for the cotton to soak through. Puffing straight away gives dry hits and often permanent damage. See how to prime a coil.
Chain vaping
Puff after puff without a break doesn’t give the cotton time to re-soak, so each puff hits a slightly drier wick.
Too much power
Above the coil’s range, it vaporises liquid faster than the cotton can resupply it. Check the printed range on your coil. See what wattage should I vape at?
Liquid that’s too thick
High-VG liquid soaks slowly, and small MTL pod coils can’t keep up with it. A 50/50 liquid usually solves dry hits in small pods. See PG vs VG.
Cold weather
VG thickens in the cold, so a liquid that wicks fine indoors can give dry hits outside in winter. Keep the device in an inside pocket.
Rebuildables: wicking too tight or too thin
On RTAs, RDAs and boro bridges, cotton packed too tightly can’t wick, and tails that don’t reach the juice channels starve the coil. Re-wick so the cotton is snug but not compressed. New to these? See what is a boro mod?
Just had a dry hit? Do this
- Stop puffing. Each extra dry puff scorches the cotton further.
- Check the liquid level and top up if it’s low.
- Wait a few minutes for the cotton to re-soak.
- Take a couple of primer puffs without firing, then try one gentle puff at lower power.
- If every puff tastes burnt after that, the cotton is scorched. Replace the coil or pod, or re-wick.
How to prevent dry hits
- Keep pods and tanks topped up above the wicking holes.
- Prime every new coil or pod, and wait before the first puff.
- Leave a few seconds between puffs.
- Stay inside the coil’s wattage range, and start at the bottom.
- Match the liquid to the coil: 50/50 for small pods, higher VG for sub-ohm.
- On draw-activated devices, take steady draws rather than very long ones.
Device notes
- Pods with built-in coils (e.g. XROS): dry hits usually mean the pod is low, freshly filled without a wait, or near the end of its life.
- Pod mods and sub-ohm tanks: check the power and liquid thickness first.
- Disposables: a dry, burnt taste usually means the liquid is used up, even if the battery still works.
FAQ
Does one dry hit ruin a coil?
Not always. A single short dry hit can leave the cotton fine once it re-soaks. Repeated or long dry hits scorch it permanently.
Why do I get dry hits with a full pod?
Usually the liquid is too thick for the coil, the power is too high, you’re chain vaping, or the coil is worn out.
What’s the difference between a dry hit and spitting?
Opposite problems. A dry hit is too little liquid at the coil; spitting is too much.
Is a dry hit harmful?
It’s an unpleasant, harsh puff, and the best response is simply to stop and fix the cause. If you have any health concerns, speak to a medical professional.
