Vaping Q&A – 10 Questions, 10 Answers

The world of vaping is diverse and for a beginner, can be confusing. Thankfully, we’ve taken the ten most common vaping questions and we have some answers for you.

1. What exactly is a vape?

In a nutshell, a vape is an electronic device ranging in size from the size of a pen to a large cigar. It works by heating up oil, e-juice, or dry herbs until a vapor is produced, which is then inhaled.

2. Do vapes help people quit smoking?

Yes! A 2014 study published in the journal Addiction surveyed some 6,000 smokers in Britain who were trying to quit. The study found that those who switched to vaping were more likely to stop smoking cigarettes than those who used over-the-counter products or had no help at all. Additionally, in a study of consumer behavior performed by Kantar Media, of adults who chose to quit smoking during 2014, 57% chose to use vapes to help them quit.

3. Are vapes safer than cigarettes?

Here’s where we’ll let scientific studies speak for themselves. Legally, we cannot say that they are healthier. However, a study performed on the level of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapor compared to electronic cigarettes found 9-450 times fewer toxicants than in traditional cigarette smoke. Another study, performed in 2012 compared the levels of indoor air quality from smoking versus vaping. Non-cancer risk analysis revealed “no significant risk” of harm to human health produced from the vapor from e-cigarettes.

4. Does e-juice contain nicotine?

It doesn’t have to. Many vape juice or e-juice manufacturers make their juices with 0mg of nicotine. They also produce e-juice with anywhere from 3mg to 24mg of nicotine as well.

5. Can my vape battery explode?

“Explode” may be a bit of an over-dramatization, but it is clear that poorly-made vapes can catch fire. The primary problem is that the lithium-ion batteries that power vapes pose a fire risk, particularly if left in certain conditions. When overheated by outside sources, such as being left in direct sunlight, or the battery short-circuits, or is overcharged, fire can result. 20 out of 25 incidents of battery fire occurred when the vape was being charged. The “explosion” may occur when the battery seal ruptures, causing pressure to build inside until the casing is compromised.

6. Will vaping save me money?

Absolutely! Like anything, it depends on how much you smoked previously and where you live. Cigarette prices, as well as vape hardware and juice, vary from state to state. With the average price of a pack of Marlboro Reds cigarettes being $7.26. By smoking a pack a day, a smoker can spend more than $2,600.00 annually. Compared with the cost of vaping, cigarettes are significantly more expensive. Aside from the initial expense of purchasing the vape pen or mod, a tank, coils, and e-juice, by comparison, a vape user consuming approximately 4mL of juice per day would spend $104 dollars on hardware a year. E-juice would cost around $882 per year for premium e-juice. That results in a savings of around $1,600 annually.

7. How much will getting a vape pen cost me?

Not that much when compared to the costs of smoking, as seen above. At the Got Vape website, vape pens range in price from $9.99 for a basic model to over $300 for a dry-herb vaporizer. The average cost of a middle-of-the-road model will run you between $30 to $60.

8. What strength e-liquid do I need?

This will depend on how many cigarettes and what type you smoked as well as what type of vape you are using. For a light to moderate smoker – that’s ½ pack of full flavor or 1 pack of “light” cigarettes per day, 6mg of nicotine is a good starter. If you are using a mod with a tank that uses sub-ohm coils, 3mg will be effective. For a heavy smoker, which is a pack of full flavor or more per day, you might want to use 12mg – that would be 6mg for a sub-ohm device – e-juice. You can gradually decrease the amount of nicotine.

9. How often should I replace my coils and vape battery?

How often you replace your tank or coils will depend upon use. The average is usually about every two weeks. A good way to tell is if your e-juice starts to take on a “burnt” flavor, then it’s time to replace your coil. When it comes to batteries, your best bet is to purchase a voltmeter and test the battery. If it is producing less than 4 volts, it’s time to replace it. If you can’t access a voltmeter, a good rule of thumb is to replace batteries every 4 months.

10. What vape should I get as a beginner?

If you’re absolutely new to vaping, a vape pen is your best bet. There is less hardware to purchase and continue replacing and these devices are fairly straightforward in their use. A vape pen is one of the less expensive options to see if vaping is right for you before you move on to the bigger investment of mods, tanks, and coils.

There you have it. 10 frequently asked questions about vaping and the answers. We hope this helped to address some of your concerns.