How to Unclog a Cart: Simple Guide

A clogged cart is one of the nastiest surprises that you can get when you try to use your vape pen. A clog either means that the cart’s airflow is blocked completely or that the oil isn’t absorbing properly into the wick. Either way, you can’t vape.

Thankfully, unclogging a vape cart is usually quite easy because it’s just a matter of clearing the blockage or warming the oil to get it flowing again. In this guide, we’ll explain exactly what to do – and as an added bonus, we’ll include some tips that can help you prevent your carts from getting clogged in the first place.

How to Unclog a Cart That’s Blocked

To unclog a cart, the first thing that you need to do is evaluate exactly what the problem is. If you’re unable to pull air through the cartridge, the airflow system is clogged. If you can pull air through the cartridge, the wicking system is clogged. In that case, you should skip to the next section below.

If your cart’s airflow system is clogged, here’s how to unclog it.

Check the Airflow Vents

Start by making sure that the cartridge’s air vents are open and accessible. If the cartridge has an adjustable airflow collar, make sure that the vents are open. You can also try loosening the cartridge in your device’s threading very slightly. If you’re using a cartridge that’s designed to allow air to flow through a hole in the threading, screwing the cartridge in too tightly can block airflow.

Unclog the Mouthpiece and Chimney

If you’ve been using the same cartridge for a while, you might need to unclog the mouthpiece and chimney by removing blobs of hardened residue. You can do this by running a paperclip down the cartridge’s mouthpiece. If you feel a blockage, push gently to remove it. Be careful not to scratch the delicate heating coil at the bottom of the cartridge.

Take a Few Short, Sharp Puffs

If you can’t clear the blockage manually with a tool, you might be able to unclog your cart using airflow alone. Try taking a few short, sharp puffs until you hear a “pop.” If your cartridge pops, you’ve broken the clog and should be able to vape normally. Your cart may clog again in the future, but you can simply take a few firm puffs to clear it again. Stick around to the end of the guide, where we’ll provide some advice that can help you prevent your carts from clogging in the first place.

How to Unclog a Cart That Tastes Burnt

If you get a burnt hit every time you try to use a vape cart and are sure that it still has plenty of oil left, the wicking system is clogged. There’s oil in the cart’s reservoir, but it isn’t reaching the heating coil because it isn’t absorbing into the ceramic wick. Here’s what you should do.

Pulse the Coil or Use Your Vape Pen’s Preheating Function

If your cart has a clogged wicking system, you need to encourage it to absorb into the wick by warming it and reducing its viscosity. The easiest way to do that is by warming the cartridge from the inside.

• If you’re using a puff-activated 510-thread battery, you can take a few puffs without inhaling.
• If your vape battery has a manual fire button, you can press the button a few times in brief pulses.

Some vape batteries also have automatic cartridge preheating modes. If your device has a manual fire button, you may be able to enable the preheating mode by clicking the fire button two or three times.

Warm the Cartridge Under Water

If you’re unable to get the cartridge working by warming the coil, the next step is to try warming the entire cartridge instead. Seal it in a plastic bag and run warm water over it for several minutes. If you can see bubbles forming around the coil in the middle of the cartridge, the oil is beginning to absorb. Wait several minutes and try vaping again.

Warm the Cartridge with a Hair Dryer or Heater Vent

If you’re nervous about putting a vape cartridge under water, you can also warm the oil by waving a hair dryer over it for a few minutes. Use a low heat setting to avoid warping the plastic or cracking the glass. You can also put the cartridge in front of a heater vent to warm the oil. Once again, you’ll know that the heat is working because you’ll begin to see bubbles forming around the coil.

Why Do Vape Carts Clog?

A vape cart clogs either because oil has condensed inside the airflow system or because the oil is too viscous and isn’t absorbing into the cartridge’s wick. A cartridge can also clog if it’s old or has been used improperly. Here are some common causes of clogged carts.

• Aggressive puffing has forced excess oil into the cartridge’s coil assembly, and the oil has gotten into the airflow system.
• The cartridge has been stored in a cold environment, causing the oil to become more viscous.
• The cartridge is filled with oil that’s especially thick, even at warmer temperatures.
• You’ve tried to load an oil cartridge with wax, which is solid at room temperature and won’t work properly with a traditional vape cart.
• You’ve been using the same cartridge for a long time, and it’s clogged with residue.

How to Prevent a Cart from Clogging

Everyone experiences a clogged cart from time to time – and as you’ve learned, unclogging a cart usually isn’t too difficult. With a bit of care, though, it’s often possible to prevent carts from clogging in the first place. Keep these tips in mind.

• Always puff gently when using a vape cart. Using too much air pressure is the top reason why vape cartridges develop airflow issues.
• When you fill a new cart, wait a half hour before vaping to ensure that the oil is completely absorbed into the wick.
• Don’t attempt to load an oil cart with wax. We offer a wax tank that works with most 510-thread batteries. Our Stinger dab straw is also perfect for wax vaping.
• Replace a cartridge when the flavor quality drops.
• Don’t store your vape cartridges in a cold environment.
• Store a filled vape cart upright as much as possible when you aren’t using it. This helps to keep the oil in contact with the wick.