The Short Answer
No, you should not vape water or any other liquid besides e-liquid specifically designed for vaping. Vaping water can damage your vape device and pose health risks.
What Happens If You Try to Vape Water?
While it may seem harmless, vaping water can cause a number of issues:
- Water can crack and damage the heating element of your vape device, rendering it useless.
- When heated, water creates vapor that is hotter than e-liquid vapor. This very hot vapor can burn your mouth, throat, and lungs.
- Water does not contain any of the flavorings, nicotine, or other ingredients in e-liquid that produce vapor. So you will get little to no vapor production.
- Water can promote bacterial growth in your vape device, causing illness.
- The metal and electrical components of vapes are designed specifically for use with e-liquids, not water.
Let’s explore these issues in more detail.
Water Can Damage Vape Coils
Vape devices work by heating e-liquid to its boiling point using a metal heating coil. The heat vaporizes the e-liquid, which you can then inhale.
E-liquids are designed to boil and vaporize at temperatures that won’t damage the coils. Water, on the other hand, requires higher temperatures to boil.
When you pass water through a vape coil designed for e-liquid, the coil will overheat trying to bring the water to its boiling point. This extreme temperature can melt or burn the coil, cracking and damaging it.
Once a vape coil is damaged, it must be replaced or else your vape will not produce vapor. Replacement vape coils cost $2-$6 each on average. So vaping water can become an expensive habit!
Water Vapor is Hotter than E-liquid Vapor
Since water requires higher temperatures to boil, the vapor it produces is extremely hot. Vaping water vapor can scald your mouth, throat, and lungs.
E-liquid contains ingredients like vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol that produce vapor at lower temperatures around 200°F to 400°F. This vapor feels warm but not scalding.
In contrast, water vapor can reach temperatures over 500°F. At these temperatures, each puff you inhale can burn and damage your airways.
Lack of Vapor Production
Another issue with vaping water is the lack of vapor volume produced.
E-liquids contain vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol, both of which are hygroscopic. This means they attract water molecules.
When heated, these hygroscopic e-liquid ingredients produce large amounts of vapor you can inhale.
Water itself does not contain any hygroscopic ingredients, so it will produce very little vapor even when boiled. At best, you may get a brief puff of hot steam.
If you are vaping to enjoy big vapor clouds, vaping water will leave you wholly unsatisfied.
Bacterial Growth in Vape Tanks
Leaving water sitting in your vape tank between uses can lead to bacterial and fungal growth. These organisms thrive in the warm, moist environment inside a vape tank.
Inhaling contaminants like mold, fungi, and bacteria can cause symptoms like:
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Lung infections
- Allergic reactions
Bacteria can also corrode and degrade the metal, rubber, and plastic components of your vape tank.
E-liquids contain preservatives and antimicrobial agents to prevent microbial growth. Water provides an ideal breeding ground for microbes to multiply.
Not Designed for Water
Vape devices contain electrical components and metal parts engineered specifically to vaporize e-liquid safely. Using any other type of liquid can be hazardous.
The wiring, soldering, and lithium-ion batteries found in vapes are built to handle e-liquids that have certain boiling points, viscosity, and conductivity.
Water has very different physical and electrical properties. It conducts electricity much better than e-liquids, for example, increasing the risk of short circuits and battery explosions.
While e-liquids coat and lubricate vape components to prevent corrosion, water causes oxidation and rusting.
So vaping water may seem harmless, but you risk damaging your vape device and battery by using the wrong liquid.
Conclusion
Vaping water is inadvisable for a number of reasons:
- It can destroy vape coils and tanks.
- Water vapor is dangerously hot.
- It produces little to no vapor.
- Bacteria can grow in vape tanks filled with water.
- Vape devices are engineered for e-liquids only.
Stick to high-quality vape juices specifically designed for vaping. Avoid vaping water or any other liquids like soda, alcohol, or concentrates not meant for e-cigarettes. Invest in new coils and e-liquids to enjoy the best vaping experience safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put water in a vape?
No, do not put water in a vape device. Vapes are designed for vaping e-liquids only. Using water can damage the heating coil, produce dangerous hot vapor, and allow bacterial growth.
What happens if you vape water once?
Even vaping water a single time can burn the vape coil and cotton wick. You may notice a burnt taste from then on even with regular e-liquid. The hot water vapor can also irritate your throat.
Can I mix water with vape juice?
It’s not recommended. Adding water to e-liquid will thin out the viscosity and change the intended flavor profile. It can also cause spitback or leaking issues. Use e-liquid as instructed without any additions.
Is it OK to vape distilled water?
No, you should avoid vaping distilled water. While it lacks impurities compared to tap or mineral water, distilled water can still damage coils, produce hot vapor, and promote bacterial growth like any water. Only vape e-liquids designed for vaping.
Can you put flavoring in water and vape it?
Adding flavorings or sweeteners to water may improve the taste, but it’s still unsafe to vape. The water content will damage the vape device. Buy pre-made e-liquid with flavorings formulated for safe vaping instead.
What are the signs of a burnt coil from water?
Signs your coil is burnt from vaping water include:
- Reduced vapor production
- Harsh, burnt taste
- Popping, gurgling, or spitback
- Dark residue on the coil
If you notice these, replace the coil with a fresh one.
Dangers of Vaping Anything Besides E-liquid
While vaping water is harmful itself, vaping any unauthorized liquid can be dangerous:
Alcohol
Vaping alcohol like whiskey, rum, or vodka is very dangerous. Alcohol is flammable and can catch fire in the vape coil. Inhaled alcohol vapor gets absorbed into the bloodstream faster than drinking, risking alcohol poisoning.
Soda
The sugars and carbonation in soda can caramelize on hot vape coils. Burnt sugar residue ruins the coil and tastes awful. Soda also contains no nicotine or vapor-producing ingredients.
Essential Oils
Oils like peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree oil may smell great but should never be vaped. Vaporized essential oils can cause lipoid pneumonia.
Cannabis Oil
While there are specialized vape devices for cannabis extracts, regular e-cigarettes are not designed to handle thick cannabis oil. The coil may not heat the oil properly, leading to poor vapor and clogs.
Gasoline, Paint Thinner, etc.
Vaping any industrial chemicals like solvents, cleaners, or automotive liquids is extremely dangerous and can be fatal. These liquids can create toxic fumes when vaporized.
| Liquid | Dangers of Vaping |
|---|---|
| Water | Damages coils, hot vapor, no vapor production, bacterial growth |
| Alcohol | Fire hazard, alcohol poisoning risk |
| Soda | Burnt sugar ruins coils and taste |
| Essential Oils | Lipoid pneumonia |
| Cannabis Oil | Poor vapor, clogging |
| Gasoline, Paint Thinner, Cleaners | Toxic fumes |
How to Vape Safely
To enjoy vaping and avoid health hazards, follow these tips:
- Only use e-liquids specifically made for vaping devices. Do not add any other liquids or mix your own ingredients.
- Follow coil priming instructions to gradually break-in new coils.
- Start with lower wattage/temperature settings for each new coil. Slowly increase within recommended limits.
- Avoid chain vaping to prevent overheating the coil.
- Watch for signs of coil failure like declining vapor, burnt taste, gurgling. Replace coils as needed.
- Follow battery safety – do not overcharge or use damaged batteries.
- Keep your vape device clean; rinse tanks and drip tips with water to prevent bacterial growth.
- Buy e-liquid from reputable vendors that follow safety regulations.
- Avoid nicotine concentrations above your tolerance level.
Following these best practices will ensure an optimal vaping experience. Take care of your equipment, vape within reason, and stick to quality e-liquids only.
The Bottom Line
Vaping water may seem harmless, but it can quickly ruin vape coils and tanks. The hot, unflavored vapor provides an unsatisfying experience at best. More concerning are the risks of damaging your vape device, inhaling scalding hot vapor, and growing mold or bacteria. For quality, safety, and enjoyment – vape as intended and avoid adding water or any other unsafe liquids.