One of the greatest aspects of the Lavatube e-cigarette is the fact that it has a sealed battery compartment. With other electronic cigarettes, you have to carefully clean the battery terminal before charging to avoid having e-liquid seep into the charger and destroy it. The Lavatube does not suffer from this problem. However, you may occasionally find it necessary to clean the atomizer as well as the threading on the top of the Lavatube to keep the unit clean and avoid a clogged atomizer.
Don’t have a Lavatube yet? Read my Lavatube 2 review to learn more.
Lavatube Daily Cleaning
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Each time I remove the battery from my Lavatube, I like to use a paper towel and cotton swabs to remove any e-liquid that has run out of the atomizer and into the threading. Some e-liquid may also collect around the top of the Lavatube; this is normal and simply means that you may have added a bit too much e-liquid when dripping. Keeping the metal threading dry when you aren’t using the Lavatube helps the metal components stay bright and free of corrosion. Finally, I like to fold a paper towel into a small square and gently blow through the atomizer to remove excess e-liquid. This keeps air moving freely through the atomizer and ensures that the vapor produced by the Lavatube always tastes fresh.
Lavatube Deep Cleaning
An atomizer can occasionally become overly clogged with e-liquid, requiring a deep cleaning. When this happens, you may notice that the vapor production drops sharply or that you begin to taste some “off” flavors. When this happens, a deep cleaning can help restore the atomizer’s original performance. To give an atomizer a deep cleaning, swish it around in a glass of neutral grain alcohol or water that has been heated to a bit below boiling. This breaks up the stale e-liquid and frees it from the atomizer’s wick and reservoir. After doing this, blow the excess alcohol or water out of the atomizer. Add several drops of e-liquid, allow it to saturate the wick and blow the excess e-liquid out. You may need to repeat this step more than once to remove all of the water or alcohol. Once the wick is re-saturated with e-liquid, the atomizer is ready to use.
When to Replace the Atomizer
The expected lifespan of a Lavatube e-cig atomizer is about one month. However, some atomizers may not last a full month, and others may last much longer. Therefore, it is always a good idea to have at least one extra atomizer available. In most cases, an e-cig atomizer fails gradually rather than suddenly. If your atomizer no longer produces the vapor and flavor it once did — even after a deep cleaning — or you find yourself using your Lavatube e-cig more frequently because you no longer get the nicotine satisfaction you are accustomed to, it is time to pick up a new atomizer.
A Note About Cartomizers
A properly designed cartomizer is sealed to prevent e-liquid from leaking out the bottom or sides. If you prefer to use your Lavatube e-cig with cartomizers, you should rarely need to clean the unit. Do not attempt to clean a cartomizer using the instructions in this article, as it may cause damage. When a cartomizer stops working properly, discard it and begin using a new one.
Flooded Lavatube Atomizer
You have to maintain a delicate balance when you drip e-liquid directly on the atomizer of the Lavatube e-cig and vape at 6 volts. If the atomizer is too dry, it can produce a harsh burned taste that is irritating to the mouth, throat and lungs. On the other hand, if you add too much e-liquid, you can flood the atomizer and cause the liquid to leak out and pool around the top of the Lavatube.
If you flood the atomizer, wipe up the excess e-liquid with a paper towel. Continue using the Lavatube until the atomizer becomes more dry and the e-liquid stops pooling around the top of the unit. If the problem is too severe, clean the Lavatube atomizer by blowing through it while holding a paper towel against the end.
Vaping at 6 volts can be a bit of a challenge at first, even for experienced electronic cigarette users. It may take a while before you start to get an idea of how often to add e-liquid and how much to add. If you find yourself consistently flooding the Lavatube’s atomizer, consider switching to cartomizers temporarily. Alternatively, lower the voltage level slightly so the burned taste is not so harsh if you allow the atomizer to become too dry.