25-Sep-2025
A Guide to Refilling a Vape or Changing Vape Juice
When using vape products, knowing how to change or refill vape liquid is essential for maintaining performance and enjoying a consistent vaping experience. Whether you are using vape pens, pod systems, or disposable vapes, the process can vary — but the goal is always the same: to ensure your device delivers clean flavour and smooth operation.
What Is Vape Juice or E-Liquid?
Vape juice, also called e-liquid, e-juice, or vape liquid, is the substance that creates vapour when heated by the coil. Most vape liquids are made from a base of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG), combined with nicotine levels and flavourings. Options range from tobacco flavour to fruity blends like lemon mint or blueberry mint, and even salt nicotine flavours.
Different vape products use different filling systems. For example, a cartridge for vape pens may need manual refilling, while pre-filled vape cartridges simply slot into place. Disposable vapes come pre-loaded with vape liquid and are generally not designed for refilling.
Check out our guide to vape e-liquid flavours.
Why Properly Changing Vape Juice Matters
Switching e-liquid without cleaning your tank or pod can leave behind flavour residue, affecting the taste and potentially damaging vape coils. Poorly maintained devices may also compromise the airflow or shorten the lifespan of the heating element, hence affecting your overall vaping experience.
By learning how to change juice correctly, you can:
- Avoid unpleasant aftertastes when switching flavours.
- Prolong the life of your vape coils and wicks.
- Maintain a smoother vaping experience overall.
Looking for vape options and pricing in Egypt? Explore our vape prices and types guide.
Refilling Your Vape Juice: Instructions and Tips
Cleaning Your Tank or Pod Devices
If you use a vaping pen (pen style vape) or a box mod kit, start by unscrewing the tank carefully from the rechargeable battery. Rinse the tank with warm water (never soak coils) to remove leftover liquid. Leave the tank to dry completely, as leftover moisture can dilute your new vape liquid.
Caring for and Replacing Coils
Vape coils wear out with regular use. If flavours taste burnt or weak, it may be time to replace them. For pod systems with replacement pods, swapping the pod is usually faster. Many users change their coils every 1–2 weeks, depending on liquid type and vaping frequency.
Refilling the Tank Correctly
When learning how to fill a vape pen cartridge, pour vape liquid slowly into the tank or cartridge for vape devices, avoiding overflow. Clean spills immediately. For best results, hold the device upright and fill just below the maximum fill line.
Refilling Disposable Vapes: What You Should Know
One of the most common searches today is how to refill a disposable vape. While guides exist online, disposable vapes are not designed for refilling. Attempting to refill disposable vape devices can damage the heating element, affect nicotine levels, and even cause leaks.
Instead, disposable vapes are intended for single use. Once the pre-filled liquid is finished, the device should be responsibly discarded. Unlike traditional cigarettes, they do not involve combustion or the release of by-products such as carbon monoxide, since the vapour is produced by heating e-liquid rather than burning tobacco.
If you want a longer-lasting option than disposable vapes, consider:
- Pod devices with refillable cartridges.
- Vape pens with refillable tanks.
- Hybrid systems that balance convenience with the ability to swap liquids.
These alternatives provide more flexibility in flavour choices, compared to disposable vapes, including tobacco liquid for vape users and passion fruit or lemon mint blends for variety.
Read more on the safety concerns of using disposable vapes.
Vape Cartridges vs Tank Systems: What’s the Difference?
A vape cartridge is a small, pre-filled or refillable container that attaches to a vape pen or pod system. Cartridges are usually sealed and designed for simplicity, making them popular with users who prefer convenience and less maintenance. In contrast, tank systems are larger refillable chambers often used in vape pens or box mods, allowing adult users to fill them with their choice of vape liquid.
Tanks offer greater flexibility in flavour and nicotine levels, but they also require regular cleaning and coil replacement to maintain performance. While cartridges for vapes are compact and disposable, tanks are built for longer use and customisation—so the choice between a vape cartridge and a tank system depends largely on whether you value convenience or control over your vaping experience.
Tank systems often give users greater flexibility, including the ability to select coils with different resistance levels.
Heated Tobacco Variants
Unlike vape liquid refills, heated tobacco devices such as IQOS work with tobacco sticks instead of e liquid. Each stick lasts around 6 minutes or 14 puffs. After use, simply lift the cap, remove the stick, and return the holder to the charger. This process is simpler than changing liquids, as there’s no need to clean a tank or refill a cartridge.
Here are some IQOS devices to check out:
Read our overview on how heated tobacco works.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are learning how to refill a disposable vape (or why you shouldn’t), figuring out how to fill a vape pen cartridge, or exploring heated tobacco as an alternative, the process depends on your device type. Vape refill routines are simple once you know the steps: clean, replace coils when needed, and fill carefully.
For adult users seeking flexibility, cartridge vape systems and refillable pens offer more control over nicotine levels and flavours, while disposable vapes remain convenient but limited.
For added insights, read about switching from vaping to heated tobacco.
IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults.
