Oh, no! You’ve dropped your vape battery in water, and now you’ve got a big mess on your hands. Is your device ruined? Is there any way to save it? What should you do?
If you drop a vapes battery in water, you need to act fast because there’s a good chance that the water will cause permanent damage. In this article, we’ll explain exactly what happens if a vape battery gets wet. Before we discuss that topic, though, we need to address the immediate issue. If you’ve dropped your vape in water, here’s what you need to do right now to maximize the chance that the device won’t be ruined for good.
If You Drop Your Vape in Water, Turn It Off Right Away
After dropping your vape in water, the first thing that you need to do is turn the device off immediately. It’s very important not to use your device at all while it’s wet because the water could cause a short circuit that may damage your vape’s internal components permanently. Here’s how to disable the device.
- Remove the battery if possible. If you’re using a device with a removable battery, you’ll probably find a switch on the bottom of the device that opens the battery door. Remove the battery, dry it thoroughly with a paper towel and set it aside.
- If you’re using a puff-activated cart battery or pod system without a manual fire button, remove the cartridge or pod to turn the device off.
- If you’re using a vaping device with a manual fire button and a non-removable battery, you can usually turn the device off by pressing the fire button five times.
Once again, it’s extremely important to avoid using a vaping device while it’s wet because a short circuit could instantly fry the device’s internal components. If this happens, recovering the device will be impossible. Quick action on your part – as soon as your device gets wet – can help to prevent this from happening.
Dry Your Vape as Thoroughly as Possible
After you’ve turned your vape battery off, the next step is to remove as much water from the device as you can. Use paper towels to wipe away as much of the surface water as possible. Remove the tank, pod or cartridge and dry the device’s threading. If you’re using a vape mod with a removable battery, dry the inside of the battery chamber. Don’t stop until every surface is completely dry.
If you’re using a pod system, a cart battery or an all-in-one vape pen, your device probably has airflow vents on the bottom or side. The airflow holes provide a way for water to enter if your device gets wet, so you need to remove as much of that water as possible. Place your mouth over the top of your vape battery and blow firmly through the device while holding a paper towel over the airflow openings. If the paper towel is now wet, repeat the process with a dry towel. Continue blowing through the device until no more water comes out.
Once you’ve done these things, you can try using your vape again. If it works, you’re all set. If not, you’ll have to do a little more work.
If Your Vape Isn’t Working, This Might Resurrect It
You’ve done everything that you could to dry your wet vape battery and force the excess water out of the device, but it still isn’t working. It’s very likely that the water inside your device has caused permanent damage, which means that it’s probably time to start shopping for a new vape. As a last resort, though, you can try sealing your device in a plastic bag with silica gel packets for a day or two. Those are the packets marked “Do Not Eat” that are often included with shoes and computer components. If you don’t have any silica gel available, try unscented cat litter instead.
Note that electronics manufacturers such as Apple specifically recommend against using rice to dry devices. Rice isn’t as absorbent as cat litter or silica gel. It also tends to get mushy when it absorbs water, creating a mess that’s difficult to clean. Also, you should never use a hair dryer to remove water from a vape battery. The hair dryer could melt the device’s plastic components, and it could even potentially cause the battery to overheat.
What Happens if You Drop a Vape Battery in Water?
There’s a reason why electronic devices often have moisture indicators. It’s because people often bring their devices in for warranty service after dropping them in water. A repair technician always wants to know if a device has been wet because water can cause a host of problems. So, what happens if you drop a vape battery in water, and why is this such a major issue?
- There’s the immediate effect of a short circuit. As we’ve stated more than once in this article, a short circuit can destroy your vape battery instantly and without warning. If the device is activated when it’s wet, this is the most likely outcome.
- Long-term exposure to water can cause the internal components of your vaping device to corrode. Your vape battery most likely has several components made from copper, and it may contain aluminum as well. Both of those materials can corrode if they’re exposed to water, and the corrosion may cause your device to behave unpredictably or stop working entirely. A vape battery that’s been dropped in water may eventually begin misfiring or auto-firing for this reason.
- Mold could grow inside the device. This is a serious issue if you’re using a vape battery with airflow vents because it means that air travels through the interior of the device when you vape. Having mold in close proximity to your mouth when you’re inhaling deeply is a serious potential health hazard. With that in mind, you want to be very certain that you’ve removed all of the moisture from the inside of your device before you resume using it.