Smoking cigarettes is a highly harmful habit that can take years off your lifespan and cause multiple health problems. Statistics show that there are around 30.8 million current adult smokers in the U.S alone.
If you’re struggling to break free from this habit, you can ease the process by considering alternative courses of action, such as vaping. In recent years, vapes have been gaining traction as the solution to quitting smoking and maybe the first step to achieving your ‘no smoking’ goal. It’s important to understand the workings of an e-cigarette as a first-time vaper. Keep reading as we help you navigate all the vaping essentials.
What Is an E-Cigarette?
An e-cigarette consists of a device that heats an e-liquid and turns it into vapor, delivering nicotine and flavor. These devices are designed for smokers to transition from cigarettes, and many consider them to be effective in this regard. Certain studies affirm that vaping helped their participants to stop smoking cigarettes. Vapes can be purchased in different sizes and styles according to the vaper’s requirements or preferences.
Vaping Device Components
Let’s now look at the components that make up a vape and their role in providing you with the smoothest vaping experience.
1. The Battery
The vaping device’s battery is responsible for supplying power to the atomizer that creates vapor by heating the e-liquid. For first-time vapers, you should consider getting a starter kit that uses a built-in battery you can charge through a micro-USB or USB-C. The battery units of entry-level kits typically don’t come with additional functionality, requiring you to press a signal button to turn the vape on or off and hold it when you take a puff.
In contrast, advanced batteries, known as mods, include features like temperature control, variable power, and other emerging mechanisms. Some mods integrate external batteries that can be swapped out for freshly charged ones when necessary. If you decide to go with a mod that has an external battery, it will always help to charge batteries and store them safely when not in use.
2. The Atomizer
The atomizer is where the e-liquid turns into vapor, holding the remaining fluid inside for when you decide to vape next. It has two main components: the pod (tank) and the coil. Both the tanks and pods are refillable and can be referred to as the connection design of the atomizer. Tanks are compatible with most devices, whereas pods are specifically designed for the device and can’t be used otherwise.
The coil enables the e-liquid to vaporize, acting as the heating element. Your coil induces all the magic, but it has a short life cycle depending on how often you vape, the power output, and the type of e-liquid being filled in. If you feel your vape has started to lose flavor or produce a burnt taste, it’s time to change your coil.
Direct-to-Lung (DTL) Vape or Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) Vape
People who smoke cigarettes have to use the MTL method, which entails taking the vape fumes into your mouth and then inhaling them into your lungs. The airflow of a cigarette is restrictive, and inhaling a great deal of smoke is very harsh for your airway. In the vaping community, the more common vape technique used by individuals is the direct-to-lung process.
It gives way for less restrictive airflow and makes the experience much smoother. In the DTL method, you just have to inhale the vapor directly into your lungs and can use your full lung capacity.
Choosing Your E-Liquid
Once you purchase a vape, you’ll have to decide upon the flavor of e-liquid you wish to inhale. You might feel overwhelmed at this point because e-juice comes in numerous options that can be difficult to choose from. Whether it’s coffee, chocolate, or some fruit, the market is full of a variety of flavors, with new ones being introduced regularly.
You know yourself and your preferences the best, so trust your gut and pick a flavor you think you’d like. You can always consult a friend who vapes and ask them about the best flavors. You can find a variety of e-liquid flavors online by visiting a vape distributor like vaperanger.com known for selling top-selling brands and products at reasonable prices.
Nicotine Amount
Like the e-juice flavor, the nicotine level in your vape depends on what you want. If you’ve just switched from tobacco, think about your vape nicotine level compared to your previous smoking habits. With vaping devices, nicotine levels range from 0 to 18 mg, increasing in increments of 3 mg. If you’re a non-smoker who wants to try vaping, 0 mg will be perfect for you. Your next option is 3 mg – the lowest amount of nicotine you’ll find other than the nicotine-free option.
Most smokers opt for a 6 mg nicotine level for their vape, allowing you to start at a solid point and decrease the amount gradually if you intend to quit. Nicotine levels exceeding this amount are only suitable for chain-smokers who smoke a pack or more every day, giving you the ‘throat hit’ they experience as hardcore smokers.
How Long Should You Vape
The general rule vapers follow is to take a break between puffs and judge whether you feel like having a cigarette during that time. If the answer is no, it’s a good idea to put the vape down for some time. If you really need nicotine satisfaction, take a few more puffs to curb your urge for a cigarette. In the vaping world, five minutes of cigarette smoking is equivalent to 10 minutes of vaping to get the same effect.
Endnote
It’s not easy making the transition from smoking to vaping, and it takes some time to get used to the change. Whether you switch your vape device or juice brand, the hit it gives you will be different. Vaping is not without its complicated mechanisms and numerous options, and while the best thing to do to quit smoking is to not indulge in any damaging substance at all, it’s not an easy task to achieve. If you’re going to vape, do your research and be aware of all that it involves so that you can make informed decisions and look out for yourself.
