Can vaping help me quit smoking regular cigarettes?

Vaping is a good substitute to help you quit smoking and to wean yourself off of nicotine. Vaping can help to satisfy your nicotine cravings, providing you with a similar effect to smoking a cigarette while allowing you the option to slowly decrease your nicotine level. This means over time you can wean yourself down to 0mg of nicotine, and quit for good! If you are looking to make the switch to vaping but aren’t sure where to start, we highly recommend having a read of our beginner’s guide here. 

 

Is vaping healthier than smoking cigarettes? 

Smoking cigarettes is bad for your health as the toxins produced by burning tobacco can lead to many smoking-related illnesses. Burning tobacco produces over 6,000 chemicals, of which about 100 have been linked to smoking-related illnesses such as emphysema, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease. 

Vaping is not harmless, but it is much less harmful than smoking as it simulates the action of smoking a cigarette without the combustion of tobacco. Rather than combusting tobacco, e-cigarettes use a liquid that most commonly consists of a mixture of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerine (VG), flavourings, and nicotine. This liquid is gently heated to produce an aerosol, which you then inhale. Although it is best not to smoke traditional cigarettes or vape, vaping provides you with a much healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes.

 

What is an electronic cigarette? 

Vapes or electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) simulate the act of smoking a cigarette, without combusting tobacco. Instead, an e-cigarette is a battery-powered device that works by heating a liquid into an aerosol, which is then inhaled into the lungs. 

Typically, an electronic cigarette consists of three main components, an atomiser (coil), a power source (battery) and a container to hold your e-liquid (tank/pod). When firing your vape device, either by button or draw activation, power is sent from the battery to the coil. As a result, the coil will begin to heat up, which in turn heats up the e-liquid contained in your tank or pod. As the e-liquid heats up, it turns to an aerosol which can then be inhaled through the mouthpiece of your vape device.

 

What is an e-liquid?

Liquid for use inside an electronic cigarette or vape device is called an e-liquid but is also commonly referred to as e-juice or vape juice. Typically, an e-liquid contains a mixture of Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerine (VG), flavourings, and nicotine although most e-liquids are available in a 0mg option, meaning there is no nicotine present. 

There are two types of nicotine that are commonly found within e-liquids: Salt Nicotine and Freebase Nicotine. 

E-liquids containing salt nicotine are usually found in higher strengths (ranging from 10mg-60mg) as the pH level is much lower providing you with a smooth vaping experience. When vaping an e-liquid that contains salt nicotine, you will experience a similar effect to smoking a cigarette as the nicotine is released into your bloodstream quickly. Salt nicotine e-liquids are best suited for low-powered, mouth-to-lung (MTL) vape devices.

E-liquids containing freebase nicotine are usually found in lower strengths (ranging from 1.5mg to 12mg); this is due to freebase nicotine having a high pH level, making it harsh in higher strengths. A key benefit of freebase nicotine is the ability to vape it in high-powered, sub-ohm devices which maximises the flavour you receive from each hit while also producing larger clouds. 

With one of the largest premium e-liquid ranges in New Zealand, we stock a huge variety of nicotine strengths and flavours from some of the most trusted brands in the world. This means you can always feel assured that you are purchasing authentic and high-quality e-liquids when shopping with VAPELAB. 

 

What nicotine strength is right for me?

If you’re looking to quit a daily cigarette habit, we recommend starting on a salt nicotine e-liquid with a strength somewhere between 25mg - 50mg, depending on how many cigarettes you typically smoke. If you find you get lightheaded when vaping, then you will want to reduce your nicotine level. However, if you find you are still craving traditional cigarettes or you don’t feel satisfied with your vape, then you may want to look at increasing your nicotine level. 

Finding the correct nicotine strength for you is something that can often take a little bit of trial and error, so we recommend starting with a mid-strength salt nicotine e-liquid (between 24mg - 35mg) and either increasing or decreasing your nicotine level if needed.

If you are wanting to immediately cut down on your nicotine consumption, it may be best for you to look at switching to a low strength freebase nicotine e-liquid (between 1.5mg - 6mg), paired with a high-powered vape device. 

What device is right for me?

This is hugely dependent on which e-liquid and nicotine strength you are using as well as your preferred vaping style.

If you are looking to switch over to vaping from smoking traditional cigarettes, we recommend starting out with a refillable pod vape device, you can view our full range of pod vape kits here. Pod vape devices are often discrete, portable and easy to use, making them the perfect option for someone seeking a simple alternative to smoking. In addition to this, when paired with a high-strength, salt nicotine e-liquid, a pod vape device will offer you a similar experience to smoking traditional cigarettes.

On the other hand, if you are looking for more customisation from your vape device, we recommend browsing our range of high-powered vape kits. These devices will offer great flavour with the option to customise your vape experience to suit your preferences. A high-powered vape device is best paired with a low-strength, freebase nicotine e-liquid. For more information on choosing the right vape device check out our blog post here.

 

What are coils (atomiser heads) and how are they different from each other?

An atomiser head (commonly referred to as a coil) consists of a metal casing that envelopes coiled wire and wicking material (cotton). Depending on which vape device you use, there will often be a few different coil resistance options for you to choose from, allowing you to customise your vape experience. 

If you are using a medium-high strength e-liquid and/or prefer a more restricted, mouth-to-lung vape that will produce smaller clouds, then we suggest using a higher resistance coil. 

If you are using a low-medium strength e-liquid and/or prefer a more open, direct-to-lung vape that produces larger clouds, then we recommend a lower resistance coil. 

 

How often do I need to change my coil/pod?

Unfortunately, there is no definitive time period for how long your coil may last, this is hugely dependent on a number of factors including; your vape device, your choice of e-liquid, and how often you vape. 

Typically, your coils should last between 1-2 weeks before needing to be changed if you are a moderate-heavy vaper. However, you may find this becomes more or less frequent as you try different devices and different e-liquids.

You will know it is time to change your coil when you start to taste a burnt flavour on inhale, other factors which indicate it may be time to change your coil are if you begin to experience dry hits or less flavour than usual. You can also tell by looking at the coil itself; is the wicking material (cotton) dark in colour? Is it starting to disintegrate? If yes, then it’s time to replace your coil!

 

How Do I charge my vape?

If you are using a vape device with an internal battery, then we recommend that you use the manufacturer supplied charger that came with your device. Most vape devices with internal batteries will have a charger included in the kit, if yours does not, it is best to check the instruction manual to find out what charger is recommended for your device.

If you are using a vape device with external batteries, then we recommend using an external battery charger to charge your vape batteries. Some devices do offer onboard charging, but even so, it’s best to use an external battery charger when possible as this preserves the life of your batteries. 

Vape battery safety is really important, so if you are new to vaping please be sure to check out our Vape Battery Safety information page here.

 

Why is my vape leaking?

There are a few different reasons your vape may be leaking e-liquid, to find out what the cause is we recommend running through the following troubleshooting procedures:

1. Check your pod or tank for any cracks or damage. 
2. Check your coil is installed correctly and is not damaged in any way. 
3. Check the VG/PG ratio of your e-liquid, the higher the PG ratio, the thinner the e-liquid. For example, freebase nicotine e-liquid will typically have a 30% PG ratio compared to salt nicotine e-liquid which has a PG ratio of 50%. If you are using a low resistance coil with a high PG ratio e-liquid, you may experience some leaking.
4. Has your vape device been sitting in direct sunlight or a warm place? Heat can cause your e-liquid to become thin.
5. What power wattage setting are you using? You may find that a higher wattage setting can help to reduce how much e-liquid leaks from your device. 
6. Are your o-rings intact? If you are using a sub-ohm tank or RTA, your o-rings may have become damaged. 

 

Why is my vape not working?

There can be various reasons why your vape device may stop working. If your vape is not turning on at all, make sure that you are using the correct charger and/or batteries for your device. It is also crucial to ensure that you are using a suitable wall plug to charge your vape, the output should not exceed more than 1-2 amps, depending on your device. Using a high-amp wall plug can lead to your vape battery short-circuiting and consequently, failing. 

If your vape device is not charging, check that the charging port is clean. If there is dust or debris in the charging port, gently clean this using a cotton bud or tissue, you can also blow gently into the charging port to clear any dust.

If your vape device is turning on and charging but is not firing, then there may be a weak connection between your coil and battery. This is often caused by dust, or e-liquid obstructing the connection pins (this is what connects your pod or tank to the battery). Gently clean the connection pins using a cotton bud to remove any debris. If cleaning the connection pins doesn’t work it could mean that your connection terminals are broken on either your tank or on your vape device, in this case, you may need to purchase a replacement pod/tank or device.