Vape Hacks: Opening a Jammed Standard Vape Tank

Vape batteries can be replaced, e-liquids can be switched out and coils can be re-wicked, but a jammed vape tank isn’t the simplest thing to fix. If you’ve ever gone to refill your vape juice only to find that for whatever reason, you can’t unscrew the tank for the life of you, you know what we mean. Of course, the fact that most tanks are made with glass makes things even worse as we fear cracking that glass piece while trying to open the tank with all our might.

Luckily, a jammed vape tank isn’t necessarily the end of the world in terms of your vaping session. You don’t necessarily have to run out and buy a new one. We’ve got some tips and tricks that will probably be helpful if you’re dealing with a jammed tank.

You Went Overboard with the Tightening

Okay, this is the easiest culprit, and we’ve all been guilty at some point. In an effort to really secure that e-liquid, we screw the tank back together so tightly that we can’t unscrew it later on. If you’ve done this, you’re definitely not alone.

You’re Using Cheap Vape Juice

Believe it or not, the quality of your e-liquid’s ingredients can have an impact. If your vape juice is made with lots of low-quality sweetener, it might be leaking that sticky, sugary liquid all over the connections of your tank. Over time, the heat of your tank burns that sugar, making it even stickier. So, unsurprisingly, you eventually reach a point where your tank is essentially glued shut.

You’re Not Cleaning It Regularly

We’re not saying that not being able to open your tank is a direct result of not cleaning it frequently enough, but we are saying that if you take it apart and clean it weekly, you’re less likely to run into problems. Cleaning your tank, all components included, removes any sticky vape juice residue that can build up over time.

Opening a Jammed Standard Vape Tank

Now that you know how it occurs, here’s how to fix it.

Electronic Cigarette Tanks vs Sub-Ohm Tanks

E-cigarette tanks and sub-ohm tanks are different in terms of structure, but their causes for getting stuck are practically the same, which means that the methods below apply to both types of tanks.

Heavy-Duty Pliers

Many vapers turn to Channellock pliers to open their tank. These pliers sure do come in handy, but we strongly recommend that you only use them if you’re already experienced with this type of tool. Otherwise, you could easily mess up your grip and crack the glass of your tank, causing a potentially dangerous situation. Knowing how much force to use is absolutely essential. But it’s worth pointing out that this is probably the most effective solution as there are few things those pliers can’t pry open.

Rubber Dishwashing Gloves

Rubber dishwashing gloves can be found in virtually every household and man do they come in handy when you’re dealing with a jammed tank. The little rubber indentations on those gloves act as excellent grips that prevent your hand from slipping during the unscrewing process. Give them a try if you have a pair laying around.

Jar Openers

Those rubber jar openers that can be found in almost every junk cabinet can be a great tool for opening your tank. They’re designed to open extremely tough-to-open jars, so it’s no surprise that they can work wonders in terms of getting that tank functioning again. Make sure you don’t squeeze too tight and give it a few tries as sometimes you have to play around with different grip styles.

Hot Water

If your tank is jammed because of sticky, sugary e-liquid residue that’s turned into a crust, you can try the hot water method. Just run your vape tank under flowing hot water for a few minutes. Now, when we say “hot,” we don’t mean boiling. That can crack your tank. You should still be able to run your hand under the water without getting burned.

The water should, in theory, melt the sugar that’s causing the tank to stay shut. After a few minutes, you should be able to loosen it fairly easily. Now, if that doesn’t work, it’s safe to assume that it’s not e-liquid residue that’s causing the jam, which means that you’ll have to move onto another method.

A Quick Word of Caution

Keep in mind that when you’re trying to open a jammed tank, you’re dealing with glass. Therefore, you have to be very careful. We do recommend wearing some sort of protective gloves just in case you end up with a crack.

Also, if all of the methods above fail, you can always take your tank to a vape shop to see if someone more experienced can give you a hand. Using too much force to open it yourself can result in a broken tank, not to mention broken skin.