Whether it’s your new vape kit or you are replacing the stock coil that came with your device, it is important to prime your coils before using them – and that, you must do rightly, to avoid spitbacks or popping sounds when you make hits. OGs already know how to prime vape coils, but if you’re new to this game, then you should pay attention to the guide provided in this article. 

That said, it is important to note that a well-primed coil ensures better flavor taste, smoother hits, and a longer lifespan for your cartridge. Now, this is not to scare you as priming is actually an easy task. But then, different coils and cartridges may require you to prime them in a particular manner, different from how you prime others.

What Does Priming a Coil Mean?

Priming a vape coil means pre-saturating the wick (usually cotton) inside the coil with e-liquid before using it. This prevents the wick from burning when you first fire up your vape. If you skip this step, you risk experiencing a burnt taste, ruining the coil right from the start. When a coil is not primed, it stays dry, and if you hit with a dry wick, the coil might just burn in the instant, and there you go again –looking for a new coil.

Why is Priming Important?

Vape coils are meant to be primed for them to function optimally. A vape coil is the core element that makes a vape mod kit or battery to function; the coil heats up the e-liquid juice to produce the vapor you inhale and puff. To put it more clearly, here are reasons to prime a vape coil.

1. Prevents Dry Hits – Without priming, the wick may burn instead of vaporizing e-liquid, leading to an unpleasant, burnt taste.

2. Extends Coil Life – A dry hit can damage a vape coil permanently, forcing you to replace it sooner than necessary.

3. Enhances Flavor – A well-primed coil allows for consistent e-liquid absorption, leading to a better overall flavor experience.

4. Reduces Break-in Time – Instead of experiencing muted flavors at first, priming ensures your vape is ready to go immediately.

How to Prime a Coil: Step-by-Step’ Guide

Knowing how to prime a coil is very important for any vaper who uses mod kits and batteries. Not priming your coils the right way would still make the coil perform as though it was never primed.

· Step One: When you unbox the new coil, check for any damage or manufacturing defects on the body. Confirm that the coil is perfect from the manufacturer and then proceed with the other steps below.

· Step Two: Drip e-liquid onto the wicking ports of the coil. You have to find the cotton wick openings on your coil and apply a few drops of e-liquid directly onto them.

· Step Three: Saturate the center of the coil by dropping more e-liquids inside, but be careful not to over-saturate the coil, as that has its own consequences too.

· Step Four: Put back the primed coil into your device’s vape tank and fill the tank with e-liquid to the recommended level.

· Step Five: Although primed, you should still wait for the wick to fully absorb the e-liquid before you start hitting the vape. So, let the coil sit for at least 5-10 minutes before you start vaping.

Additional Tip: Inhale through the mouthpiece a few times without firing the device to help draw the e-liquid into the wick for faster absorption. If your device has adjustable wattage, start at a low setting and gradually increase to your desired level. This will help the coil adapt well and deliver the best performance.

How to Prime Sub-Ohm Vape Coils?

Sub-ohm coils require extra attention since they use more power and wick e-liquid faster. So, these types of coils require longer priming than standard ones; here are some tips to give you a heads-up.

· Apply more e-liquid directly onto the wick compared to standard coils.

· Wait at least 15 minutes to ensure full saturation.

· Start at a lower wattage (around 20-30W) before increasing to your preferred setting.

How Long Should You Prime a Vape Coil?

There is no one-size-fits-all in this situation; it all depends on the type of coil you’ve got and most times, the manufacturers will tell you how long to prime their coils before first use. However, the standard for most people is 15 minutes; in essence, after dropping a couple of drips on the coil and installing it back into their kit, they’d wait for an additional 15 minutes for the coil to sit and saturate before they start vaping. You can wait for 20 minutes if you’re using sub-ohm options, or even less time if it’s a meshed coil. Find what works for your coil and vape.

Tips for Optimal Priming

These tips will come in handy for people who are trying out pod kits and mod vapes for the first time.

· Use the Right E-Liquid – High VG juices take longer to absorb, so choose the appropriate ratio for your coil.

· Don’t Rush – Waiting a few extra minutes can prevent burning your new coil.

· Take Soft Puffs – Avoid hard pulls before the coil is fully saturated.

· Avoid Chain Vaping – Give the coil time to wick more e-liquid between puffs.

Can You Over Prime a Coil?

Yes, it is possible that someone will over-prime a coil, and that leads to what is referred to as “Flooding,” where too much e-liquid saturates the wick and causes gurgling, popping, or spitback. If this happens:

· Blow gently through the mouthpiece to remove excess liquid.

· Fire the device at a low wattage for a second or two to help clear excess e-liquid.

To avoid over-priming, don’t drop too many droplets of e-liquid on your coil during the priming process.

What If You Forget to Prime Your Coil?

It happens, you could be in a hurry to vape because it’s been a long while since you did so, and then you forgot that you had to prime your coil first, before hitting. When this happens, first, you need to check if the coil has been burnt – since you hit without priming. If the coil didn’t burn, good luck, you can go ahead to prime and saturate the coil before further use. Yes, coils must be primed before use, that’s the standard.

How to Prime Your Coils Faster?

15 minutes isn’t a lot of time if you ask me, but just so you know, if you want to prime your coils faster, here are some tips that work.

· Manually soak the coil in your e-liquid and apply extra e-liquid directly to the wick.

· You could use suction pulls, where you take a few pulls to draw e-liquid into the coil without pressing the fire button for hits.

· Start at a low wattage and slowly increase it.

What Is Auto-Priming?

Some modern vape devices feature auto-priming technology, where the device automatically saturates the coil through controlled heating cycles before first use. This is a helpful feature that reduces waiting time and prevents dry hits. Aside from this, there’s no other means to “auto-prime” a vape coil – you have to do that manually. 

When Should You Replace Your Coil?

Replaceable vape coils usually last anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month, or even a bit longer. This does not matter whether the coil was well-primed or not. More so, the e-liquid you use also plays a role in contributing to your vape coil’s lifespan. Notwithstanding, it is not compulsory to wait for weeks before changing a vape coil, if you notice the following scenarios, it’s time for a coil change:

· Burnt or muted flavors

· Reduced vapor production

· Gurgling or leaking

· When the coil turns dark and flaunts a gunky appearance

Verdict and Conclusion

Talking of priming vape coils, it takes around 10 to 30 minutes to properly prime a coil and saturate it evenly. You can allow yours to sit longer, but don’t over-saturate the coil to avoid spitbacks. Just as not priming your coils can lead to dry hits and coil burns, over-priming can lead to spitbacks, gurgling, and popping sounds. If you notice that you have over-primed your coil, blow out the excess e-liquid and put it back into the tank.

Properly priming your vape coil is the first step that ensures a smooth and flavorful vaping experience, so take your time and do it properly. Also, priming can extend a coil’s lifespan, and guarantee optimal performance.