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Drops of e-liquid landing in your mouth, crackling louder than usual, a bubbling sound with every inhalation: these three symptoms are often linked. They almost always point to excess liquid around the coil or in the airflow channel.
The problem is common, rarely serious, and can usually be fixed in a few minutes. You still need to tell the normal sound of a working e-cigarette apart from a genuine malfunction. This guide helps you identify the cause, fix the problem for your device and keep it from happening again.
Nicotine is addictive. Vaping products are for adults only and may not be sold to minors. If you do not smoke, do not start vaping.
An e-cigarette is never completely silent. When the coil heats the e-liquid held in its cotton, the liquid turns into vapour and produces a slight sizzle. This quiet, steady sound, which stops as soon as you stop inhaling, is completely normal.
Crackling becomes abnormal when it is clearly louder, irregular, or comes with other signs: liquid spitting into your mouth, a bubbling sound, a damp mouthpiece, or less vapour. In that case, the coil is “flooding”: it is receiving more liquid than it can vaporise.
| What you hear or feel | What it means |
|---|---|
| Slight, steady sizzle during inhalation | Normal operation |
| Loud, irregular crackling | Coil saturated with liquid |
| Bubbling or gurgling sound | Liquid collected in the channel or around the coil |
| Drops of e-liquid in the mouth | Liquid or condensation pushed up into the mouthpiece |
| Liquid visible on the battery or contacts | A leak, to be dealt with separately |
The vapour produced by the coil travels up to the mouthpiece through a central channel, the chimney. As it cools, some of this vapour condenses on the walls and forms tiny droplets. Over many inhalations, these droplets build up until they are drawn up and spat into your mouth. This is the most common cause, and it affects tank systems and pods alike.
A forceful draw creates strong suction inside the pod. It pulls more liquid towards the coil than it can vaporise. The excess stays in the wick or rises into the channel, causing gurgling and then spitting. Pod e-cigarettes are designed for a gentle, gradual inhalation. Our guide on how to properly inhale vapour explains the right technique.
When too much liquid collects around the coil, it can no longer heat all of it. The excess liquid boils on contact with the heating wire instead of vaporising cleanly, which causes loud crackling and small splashes. On an open system, flooding often follows filling too quickly or overfilling the tank.
Heat makes e-liquid thinner, and lower pressure, at altitude or on a plane, pushes liquid out of its housing. A pod left in a car in the sun or carried in an aircraft cabin can fill up with liquid and spit on the first puffs. If you are travelling, read our advice on e-cigarettes on a plane.
A pod stored on its side or upside down for several hours lets liquid run towards the mouthpiece. On the next inhalations, that liquid is drawn up. The effect is stronger if the device has been kept in a warm pocket.
On systems you fill yourself, an e-liquid very high in propylene glycol is thinner. It passes through the cotton more easily and saturates the coil, especially on devices designed for thicker liquids. A pre-filled pod contains a liquid formulated for its coil, so this cause does not apply to it.
A crack, a worn seal or a drop can compromise a pod’s seal. Liquid then flows continuously towards the coil and the channel. If the problem persists despite the solutions below, the pod is probably faulty.
Take the pod off the battery. Hold it mouthpiece down over a paper towel and tap it lightly to release the drops collected in the channel. Then wipe the mouthpiece and the base of the pod.
Wipe the contacts on the battery and the pod with dry paper towel or a cotton bud. Liquid on the contacts can disrupt detection and heating. Our guide explains how to clean your e-cigarette without damaging it. Never use water or household cleaning products on the battery.
Put the pod back and leave the device upright for a few minutes. Then resume with short, gentle inhalations. The first puffs allow the coil to clear the remaining liquid. The crackling should gradually fade.
If spitting continues after these steps, or if liquid appears on the battery, replace the pod. On a pre-filled system such as Click & Puff pods, the coil is built into the cartridge and cannot be changed separately. Never try to open a pre-filled pod. If liquid is escaping from the pod itself, read our article on preventing e-cigarette leaks.
A forceful draw can also irritate the throat. If that is your case, our tips on how to vape without coughing will help you adjust your technique.
A few drops in the mouth are generally not dangerous for an adult, but the taste is unpleasant and the liquid contains nicotine if your e-liquid does. Spit it out and rinse your mouth with water. Avoid swallowing it.
If it gets on your skin, wash the area with soap and water. If it gets in your eyes, rinse thoroughly with clean water. Liquid nicotine is toxic if swallowed: always keep your pods and bottles out of reach of children and pets. In case of accidental ingestion, contact a poison control centre or the emergency services immediately.
Gurgling means liquid has collected in the airflow channel or around the coil. Air passing through that liquid produces the bubbling sound. Remove the pod, tap it mouthpiece down on a paper towel, wipe it and resume with gentler inhalations.
Most often, it is condensation that has built up in the mouthpiece, or excess liquid drawn up by an inhalation that is too strong. A pod stored on its side or exposed to heat can also cause it.
A slight sizzle during inhalation is normal: it is the sound of the liquid vaporising on the coil. Loud, irregular crackling or crackling with spitting, on the other hand, signals excess liquid.
Yes. During transport and storage, liquid can settle in the channel. The first puffs of a new pod sometimes spit a little, then it stops. If it continues, the pod may be faulty.
A faulty coil shows up as crackling that persists after cleaning, weak or irregular vapour, a burnt taste or no heating at all. On a pre-filled pod, the solution is to replace the cartridge.
It is not recommended on a draw-activated pod e-cigarette, as you risk pushing liquid towards the battery contacts. Instead, remove the pod and tap it mouthpiece down over a paper towel.
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