Leaking tanks
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Flooding is a common occurrence in e-cigarettes. The definition of flooding is getting juice into the air passage of the tank. This can include any point between the mouth piece and the very bottom part that connects to the battery. Each tank has holes in that air passage, where the wicks passthrough. This is required for the device to work properly. Unfortunately, this opens up the possibility for flooding. The trick with flooding, is knowing how to avoid it. I’ll explain a little more, but a few common causes for flooding a tank include: improper filling, over filling, pulling too hard when hitting the device, and the temperature can even play a role and/or damage.
Before I get into the explanation, let me explain how an e-cig works a little more in depth. Nearly every tank has a wick that is used to absorb the juice in the tank. This wick cuts through the air passage. Each wick has a piece of wire that wraps around it in a coil. When you activate the button on the battery, you send electricity through the wire. As the wire heats up, it vaporizes the juice that is in the wick.
Improper Filling: When filling your tank, you have to be careful not to get juice into the center tube of the tank. This center tube is the air passage. When you take a draw, air comes from the bottom of the tank, through the air passage and into your mouth. If you get juice into this passage way, your tank is flooded.
Over Filling: If you over fill a tank (specifically a top coil like the ones that come with the starter kits and gift boxes), the wicks can become over saturated and just like a rain cloud, they will leak into the air passage. Once this happens, you have a flooded tank.
Pulling Too Hard: As I mentioned the wicks absorb the juice in the tank. As you pull on the device, you cause a vacuum effect that pulls juice into the wicks. If you pull too hard, you can pull in more juice then the coil can vaporize. If this happens, the juice leaks into the air passage and you have a flooded tank.
Temperature: E-Juice is a viscous liquid. Which means that as it warms up, it will thin out. And in the opposite form, it will thicken when it gets cold. When it thins, it is more difficult for the wicks to hold back the thin juice. This usually causes the wicks to over saturate and, you guessed it, it will leak into the air passage and you have a flooded tank.
Damage: There are o-rings and gaskets used that can wear out with usage. If certain ones fail or get lost, leaking will occur, in turn flooding the air passage and causing you to have a flooded tank. Other than accidentally losing something, damage can occur when its carried in a purse or a pocket or by over tightening the tank to the battery. Over tightening is a very common cause of leaking due to the damage it creates.
Why does my Tank Leak and what can I do about it? | E-Cigarette Forum
Why tanks leak! my contribution.
Before I get into the explanation, let me explain how an e-cig works a little more in depth. Nearly every tank has a wick that is used to absorb the juice in the tank. This wick cuts through the air passage. Each wick has a piece of wire that wraps around it in a coil. When you activate the button on the battery, you send electricity through the wire. As the wire heats up, it vaporizes the juice that is in the wick.
Improper Filling: When filling your tank, you have to be careful not to get juice into the center tube of the tank. This center tube is the air passage. When you take a draw, air comes from the bottom of the tank, through the air passage and into your mouth. If you get juice into this passage way, your tank is flooded.
Over Filling: If you over fill a tank (specifically a top coil like the ones that come with the starter kits and gift boxes), the wicks can become over saturated and just like a rain cloud, they will leak into the air passage. Once this happens, you have a flooded tank.
Pulling Too Hard: As I mentioned the wicks absorb the juice in the tank. As you pull on the device, you cause a vacuum effect that pulls juice into the wicks. If you pull too hard, you can pull in more juice then the coil can vaporize. If this happens, the juice leaks into the air passage and you have a flooded tank.
Temperature: E-Juice is a viscous liquid. Which means that as it warms up, it will thin out. And in the opposite form, it will thicken when it gets cold. When it thins, it is more difficult for the wicks to hold back the thin juice. This usually causes the wicks to over saturate and, you guessed it, it will leak into the air passage and you have a flooded tank.
Damage: There are o-rings and gaskets used that can wear out with usage. If certain ones fail or get lost, leaking will occur, in turn flooding the air passage and causing you to have a flooded tank. Other than accidentally losing something, damage can occur when its carried in a purse or a pocket or by over tightening the tank to the battery. Over tightening is a very common cause of leaking due to the damage it creates.
Why does my Tank Leak and what can I do about it? | E-Cigarette Forum
Why tanks leak! my contribution.
Welcome to ECF, without knowing which tanks you are using, or where they are leaking from, it is going to be a little difficult to help. All I can suggest is, check your O rings, and ensure your coils are securely screwed down.
Hard to say without knowing the specific tank and build or time to leak.
If they're premade drop in coils there's not much you can do except try a different one. If it's after a long time you have to expect condensation will build up enough to come out eventually.
A leaking seal will cause a leaking tank.
If you're building it's a fine balance between enough wick to stop leaks and too much wick to stop feeding (causing dry hits).
If they're premade drop in coils there's not much you can do except try a different one. If it's after a long time you have to expect condensation will build up enough to come out eventually.
A leaking seal will cause a leaking tank.
If you're building it's a fine balance between enough wick to stop leaks and too much wick to stop feeding (causing dry hits).
It seems like the times I've had leakage is because I over fill. I've learned to always leave a 10% air gap at the top.
I agree about leaving a 10% air gap if there is still juice in the tank when you fill it, but if you vape the tank empty to the point just before you get a dry hit, you can fill the tank up completely as the pressure created when screwing the lid back on just forces the juice back onto your wicks without over saturating them and causing leaks.
Note: This post refers to tanks that use drop-in factory coils located at the bottom of the tank and are filled from the top. However, some of the concepts apply to rebuildable atomizers.
Some tanks need to have the airflow closed off when refilling because they rely on capillary friction and vacuum to overcome the head differential.
Huh?
Stick a straw in some water and hold your finger on the top. Pull it up and the water stays put. This is because a vacuum created by your finger doesn't let the water flow out. That's what a top cap partially does on your top filling tank unless you have a leaky o-ring.
The liquid could still find a way through if it weren't for the wick material. Our liquid is thicker than water, so the right amount of very porous wick material creates enough friction between it and the juice to stop the flow.
The vacuum and the friction work together in a properly sealed tank of juice. Take away either one and you might get a leak while filling. You might also get a leak after filling if the capillary friction is defeated by a liquid pathway through the wick. Once that pathway opens, there's no closing it without a re-wick or a new coil.
When you close the airflow before filling, it's like also having a finger on the bottom of the straw.
Close the airflow, open the tank, fill it quickly, close it quickly and then open the airflow. You might also give the tank a little kiss--pull gently with you lips on the tip of a freshly filled tank while the airflow is still closed. Vacuum loss may be replaced and you should be clear to vape.
Some tanks need to have the airflow closed off when refilling because they rely on capillary friction and vacuum to overcome the head differential.
Huh?
Stick a straw in some water and hold your finger on the top. Pull it up and the water stays put. This is because a vacuum created by your finger doesn't let the water flow out. That's what a top cap partially does on your top filling tank unless you have a leaky o-ring.
The liquid could still find a way through if it weren't for the wick material. Our liquid is thicker than water, so the right amount of very porous wick material creates enough friction between it and the juice to stop the flow.
The vacuum and the friction work together in a properly sealed tank of juice. Take away either one and you might get a leak while filling. You might also get a leak after filling if the capillary friction is defeated by a liquid pathway through the wick. Once that pathway opens, there's no closing it without a re-wick or a new coil.
When you close the airflow before filling, it's like also having a finger on the bottom of the straw.
Close the airflow, open the tank, fill it quickly, close it quickly and then open the airflow. You might also give the tank a little kiss--pull gently with you lips on the tip of a freshly filled tank while the airflow is still closed. Vacuum loss may be replaced and you should be clear to vape.
Welcome and glad you joined.
Might like to read:
Drip Vaping: Your Guide to Dripping e-Juice | Vape-Resource.com
http://spinfuel.com/art-drip-guide-vaping/
(7) Information Resources for Your First RBA | E-Cigarette Forum
Atomizer vs. Cartomizer vs. Clearomizer. The Ultimate Guide
Rebuildable Tanks Explained: RBAs vs RDAs vs RTAs vs RDTAs
Wrapping Building Coils 101 For Beginners
http://www.geekayvapes.com/squonking-101/
I Love my RDA
Hope you get it figured out but really, more information is needed. When do they leak? Are they all drop in tanks? How often do you clean them an check the O-rings, flooding doesn't exactly cause leaking, but things can ooze if a tank is flooded, the solution to that is to exercise care and not overfill, you can blow gently through the airholes with a napkin to catch any drips.
I'd think leaking into the 510 pin would be the most cause for concern, is that happening? Do you leave tanks sit for a long time? Do you have a habit of filling as "full"' as you can. If they're RTAs, how are you wicking and etc. ??
Anna
I'd think leaking into the 510 pin would be the most cause for concern, is that happening? Do you leave tanks sit for a long time? Do you have a habit of filling as "full"' as you can. If they're RTAs, how are you wicking and etc. ??
Anna
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