The issue with dropping a disposable nicotine vape in water is that water and wires don't agree. There's a high chance that you just rendered your disposable vape useless by dropping it in water. It’s also possible that you can still get something out of it. It all depends on how brief the fall was and the quantity of water in question. Don't confuse H2O Nicotine with water in your vape because those are totally different.

What Happens if You Drop a Disposable Vape in Water?

If the disposable vape managed to get immersed in water and you just stood there looking for how to get it out, it's time to throw away your vape. Different parts inside the vape device are in no way friendly with water, so they become faulty upon exposure to it.

However, if the fall was a brief one and water accidentally touched it, there are certain things you can do to still make it work. And even if it does work, would it still heat up properly? This also depends on how well you handle the situation.

Let’s examine what occurs when your vape is dropped in water and how to fix it.

Wet Chipset

The chipset is the electronic circuit board of the vaping equipment that contains tiny chips that help regulate the whole vape experience. This control the automatic draws without a button to the glowing LED and and the output.

If it gets wet briefly, it has to be dried quickly and thoroughly to raise the chances of it working again. Otherwise, if immersed in water for a long time and deeply, there may be no hope for it since you cannot remove the chip to dry.

Battery Failure

Vaporizers uses a lithium-ion battery, which may work if the fall is brief and If it is battery is thoroughly wrapped.

However, just like other electronic devices, a disposable vape has an electric current flowing through it and this is enough to cause it to stop working if exposed to water.

When submerged for a long time, the water can damage the battery by corroding it and impeding its performance. Just like the chipset, there may be no way to remove and dry the battery. If this happens, it’s advisable that you dispose of it immediately because it can catch fire.

Water can also short the current terminals, causing the battery to lose its charge instantly. This indicates that it can no longer power the vapes heating coils.

Short Circuit

The impurities in water that penetrate the battery may disrupt the flow of current. This, in turn, can cause the battery to eject unexpectedly, start a malfunction in the device, or be a precursor to fire as different electric currents cross paths.

Water Mixing with Your e-Liquid

There is an absorbent cotton inside the vape device that is saturated with the e-liquid. If your vape gets submerged in water, it can cause damage to the seals, thereby causing the e-liquid to leak out. The cotton can also fill up with water which will cause your coil to heat up water. You don't want to vape water.

The water could also enter the internals, mixing with and diluting the e-liquid. he cotton can also fill up with water which will cause your coil to heat up water. You don't want to vape water.

Although it is miscible in water, its function as a vape liquid will no longer be effective. This means that it won’t heat up as it’s supposed to, and because it’s diluted, the water starts to get vaporized at a lower temperature than the other ingredients of the e-liquid.

If you continue using it, you'll practically just be boiling water inside the vape which may result in pops and mouth burns, which are no better.

Corrosion of Interior Components

Some disposable vapes use metal plates, while others use mesh coils inside. When these components get involved with water, there will most likely be corrosion, affecting the vaping equipment's overall functioning.

This long-term problem may not affect the vape’s performance immediately. Watch out because, after some weeks, the device can start to act up or stop working completely.

Your Coils Getting Soaked in Water

The coils are an essential component of the vape device, which is responsible for transforming the e-liquid into vapor. When this coil comes in contact with water, it can become damaged and burn out, leading to less vapor production, a burnt taste, or no vapor production.

What to Do if Your Nicotine Vape Fell in Water?

The first thing that should come to mind is quickly removing the vapor from the water to minimize damage. When you do this, will it still work normally?

If the fall was brief and a lot of water wasn't involved, it will still function well if you do the needful and do it on time.

But then, what happens if it falls deep into the water? Your initial reaction should still be to get it out instantly. If left for a long time, water may penetrate the nicotine vape and cause some parts to stop functioning properly or not function at all, also posing a danger to the person using the vape.

Let's take a look at some tips that can potentially help in rescuing your vape device. Even if the fall wasn't brief, like in a case where you didn't know it fell and it fell on the water. However, the water in question is almost as good as naught, you can still follow these practical tips.

Dry the Device

Only a few vapes allow you to open them up. If you can do this, take out the removable parts after turning off the device and drying them. Also, leave the equipment to dry completely.

You can wipe off water droplets from anywhere possible or put them in front of a fan to speed up the drying process.

However, if you can't open it up, the best thing to do is hang it upside-down to get the water out and leave it to dry completely. After this, you can try activating it.

The operational status depends on whether water got into the heating chamber or any other electronic components, which may not function as usual. If the damage is serious, it won't work, so you must dispose of it carefully. But you can be lucky, and the vape device will work just fine.

Wrap it in a Small Tissue or a Bowl of Rice

Because you can't be sure that you've gotten all the water out, just before vaping again, place it in a bowl of rice that absorbs moisture to the last bits. Rice absorbs water really well which is why they tell you to put your phone in a bowl of rice. Leave it in for at least a day.

You can roll out a small piece of tissue into a point to cover the ports and other little holes so rice and its mill powder don’t get into them and block them.

Do NOT Charge it While It’s Wet

Until it is thoroughly dry and you've worked out all these tips, don't attempt to charge your disposable. Activating the electronics while still wet can end any chances of being saved.

Is Your Vape Still Safe If It Dropped in Water?

How do you know it’s safe to use even after drying it out? Is there a risk of an electric shock?

It's best to avoid using a disposable vape and get a replacement if it has come into contact with water, as you are exposed to certain risks like a short circuit, which can cause an explosion.

But some disposable vapes are made to be water-resistant, so they are safe even if they are exposed to water. It's always best to know if your vape is water-resistant before use.

However, there isn't anything perfectly safe, but if all the water is gone and there's no short circuit, it should be fine.

The bottom line is you shouldn't continue to vape it if it fell in water. However if your vape is continuously auto-firing, it may be best to throw it in a cup of water until it drowns and stops firing. 

Conclusion

Dirty water or saltwater, for instance, can be of more damage than clean water. But it's crucial to remember that exercising caution and acting fast can help to preserve your precious device.

Additionally, keep in mind not to use a wet disposable vape. Instead, let it dry completely before attempting to turn it on.