If your vaporiser isn’t working there are many different things which could be affecting its use. Have a go at the list below and see if anything helps. If you're still having trouble then your problems may not be solvable from home. If this is the case, you can contact the supplier and hope that they have good customer service. Try to return your vape or ask for a refund; we find that most suppliers are pretty gracious when it comes to faulty products.
First, we will talk about the potential problems that you can have with any pen, and then we will discuss a couple of specific companies and what you can do to solve problems with them.
1. MY VAPE PEN WON’T HIT
If your pen won’t hit, there could be a few problems with it. If you’re working with a pre-filled cartridge then there could be something blocking the airflow of the vape. This can happen when you have used the same mouthpiece for a while, as the oil inside pre-filled cartridges (or disposable oil cartridges) often leave bi-products behind that can build up over time. This can lead to the airflow being completely blocked. If you look at your mouthpiece and see some fluff and some orange chemicals there, then you should definitely give this a deep clean.
In order to clean your pen's mouthpiece, you will need to detach the mouthpiece from the vaporiser and, if it’s metal, place it in boiling water for a while. Let it soak, and then get something thin, a paper clip perhaps, to dislodge anything that may be blocking airflow. Once you've carefully used the paper clip or other nimble tool to clean, dry the mouthpiece off - you can always use a hair dryer if you want it to dry faster - before you reconnect it. If you re-attach the mouthpiece and there’s still a problem with the vape pen, then you have a different problem (but at least now you have a clean mouthpiece!).
If your brand new disposable vape not working after a charge because of a blockage and it’s made of plastic, then get a hair clip or unfolded paper clip or something similar and try to pick all of the blockages out. Make sure to be gentle as you prod. This should help with the airflow of your disposable vape pen.
If your oil vape pen cartridge is still not hitting, then you may have to tamper with it further. There is a video below that shows you how to open up a specific brand of vape pen. If you look for loose points in your connection plate to the vape pen's 510 thread vape pen battery, then you should be able to fix most problems. If necessary, you can buy a new 510 thread vape pen battery pretty easily. We like these options: 510 Thread Auto Draw Battery from Kind Pen, and the KandyPens 350 mAh Battery compatible with almost all 510 threaded pens (don't let the KandyPens logo make you think it's exclusively for KandyPens!).
2. HOW TO FIX A VAPE PEN BATTERY
The best way to fix a vape's battery is to not let it break in the first place. This may sound obvious, but there are many things you can do to ensure that the battery enjoys maximum life.
Firstly, you should allow your vape pen to fully charge every time you plug it in and deplete fully with every use. This means that the battery will last for the longest time possible.
If your battery has stopped working and you need to fix it, then you may have to adjust the connection plate inside the 510 thread. This is technical, and will require some simple tools like a paper clip. If you see that the LED on your battery still turns on during use, but you have no draw and it’s not transferring power back to the cartridge, then it may not be defective, it may simply need tampering with. For some batteries you will simply need a paper clip, but for others you may need a screwdriver.
Once you’ve opened it, look for loose connections, the video above should help you with this. If your pen is blinking 10 times or if your pen is blinking 3 times then the battery probably just needs to be charged. Charge it overnight, then test it to see if it’s working. If the vape charger stays green, it probably means that it’s fully charged and is ready for use. If your pen remains inactive, you may need to purchase a new battery. Find out what type of battery will fit your pen before purchasing, but we find that most 510 threaded batteries like this one will do the trick!
3. KANDY PEN NOT WORKING
If your Kandy Pen has stopped working, then you will first need to find out what the problem is. If it’s not charging, then you may need to open it up and check for connectivity issues, including if the connection plate is loose, preventing the pen from being able to draw power from the vape pen battery. If it’s not drawing, use a paper clip or other nimble tool to reposition the loose connection plate. You may also need to charge the vape pen battery, which is usually easy enough to do on a Kandy vape pen. Check your vape cartridge as well. Are there air bubbles? Is the heating element in your pen warming up adequately? If not, again, it may be a connection or battery issue. Simply go through each possibility step by step until you find the answer. If it’s actually broken at some point in the vaporiser, then you may need to either buy a replacement or see if your warranty covers the breakage.
4. BRASS KNUCKLES VAPE BATTERY NOT WORKING
Brass Knuckles are one of the most popular vape companies in the world. They sell millions of their pre-filled vape cartridges to their fans across California, and are so popular that some unscrupulous companies have even started making a fake Brass Knuckles vape cartridge.
They also offer their own vape pen battery that fits their cartridges. However, sometimes these vape batteries also stop working, leaving the heating chamber useless and your cravings for a good toke totally let down. The most common problem with Brass Knuckles battery is that the mouthpiece becomes blocked, so definitely look for this first. If you’ve cleaned the mouthpiece (using isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab is a sure way to clean thoroughly) and there’s still no draw, then you have another problem. Again, you should open up the pen and see if you can see any loose threads or a loose connection plate. If that still doesn't charge up the heating element, you should consider buying a new vape battery; it won't set you back too much financially and you'll be a happy camper again once your oil is baking in the heating chamber again.
5. OTHER VAPE PENS’ BATTERIES NOT WORKING
If you have any of the following oil cartridges and they’re not hitting, then you should follow the general advice listed above. The best thing to do is to check for a blockage in the mouthpiece. It's never a bad idea to implement a cleaning routine that includes some isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab to keep your mouthpiece clean and clear. If there isn’t a blockage, then try opening up the battery to see inside. A compromised battery can mean your pen's heating chamber isn't receiving the energy needed to heat and it may be stuck at room temperature forever! If you can’t find any loose connections, then the problem could be much more difficult to solve, and you should consider asking about a refund or buying a new pen. The following companies experience similar problems with their batteries
IN SUMMARY
Vaporisers are a convenient, sleek way to get your smoke on. Like any type of technology though, problems can develop. Make sure to take good care of your products by cleaning them regularly and charging them properly you'll find that they'll last you a long time! If you do encounter problems though, we hope this list has boosted your confidence and you feel like you know more about how to fix a broken vape pen. Good luck and happy vaping!