Tips to Avoid E-Cigarette Explosions

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE EXPLOSIONS IN THE NEWS

Since the increased interest in electronic cigarettes, there has been a correlation with news stories reporting exploding ecigarettes. Understanding the government has a revenue stream of $8 billion dollars annually generated through taxes from cigarette sales, there is a popular opinion amongst the government and news reporters that ecigarettes are dangerous and should be banned. The news may even be influenced by the lobbyist compensated by BIG tobacco and Big Pharma who stand to lose substantial market share to the electronic cigarette business.  These stories of ecigarettes lack a large amount of information and do not take into account a number of factors that contribute to the likelihood of an ecigarette exploding.

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Ecigarettes are a safe alternative to tobacco products, and has been helping millions of people to quit cigarettes. That being said, the amount of information that is provided for people using ecigarettes can be limited depending on which store you buy products from. Since the popularity of this alternative to tobacco products has grown exponentially, there has been an increase in poorly informed consumers….cigarette smokers and Vapers alike. This guide explains how to vape safely.

WHAT DOES A TURKEY HAVE IN COMMON WITH ECIGARETTES?

Considering all the information on the epidemic of exploding ecigarettes, in 2014 there were 2.5 million individuals who were using  vape mods, but between 2009 and 2014, there were only 25 reported cases of ecigarettes exploding. To date, there has been approximately 243 ecigarettes explosions between 2009 and 2017, which is a very small percentage considering how many individuals use ecigarettes. OK…..So let’s talk TURKEY……the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) latest estimates show that there were 1,550 cooking fires on Thanksgiving in 2013!  So if you don’t want to use ecigarettes because you fear a battery explosion, then you may as well be ready to eat only stuffing!!  What do they have in common….both turkey fires and exploding ecigarettes are preventable.

HOW CAN YOU AVOID HAVING YOUR ECIGARETTE EXPLODE?

RESEARCH AND FAMILIARITY WITH THE BRAND YOU ARE CHOOSING

A key factor in the purchase of an ecigarette in Canada is making sure you research the brands you are considering thoroughly. The majority of electronic cigarettes that have exploded were off-brand knock offs produced cheaply in China, and the production was severely impaired through attempts to cut manufacturing costs. It is worth going to a vape shop in Toronto and speaking to an expert on any brands you are considering, and to make sure you have all the information needed to make a good decision on an ecigarette. Additionally, some electronic cigarettes may be cheaper than more reputable brands, but this can be a telltale sign that the electronic cigarette has been produced cheaply and without proper safety regulations. In the case of purchasing ecigarettes in Canada, it is worth it to spend the extra money to ensure you are getting the safest and most well manufactured product on the market.

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS THOROUGHLY AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE INFORMED

Once you have purchased your ecigarette in Canada, make sure you read the instruction user manual so you are comfortable with all of the important procedures outlined for safe ecigarette use. This includes ensuring that you have a thorough understanding of charging procedures and how to lock your ecigarette from unwarranted firing. As well, do the research on the safety features that your electronic cigarette offers, including 10-second-cut-off, overheating protection, short circuit protection and more. If your e-cig is equipped with built in features such as these, the manufacturer has taken the sufficient precautions to make your ecigarette the safest it can be.

BE AWARE OF HOW YOUR ECIGARETTE CAN OVERHEAT, AND THE DANGER OF MECH MODS

Most ecigarettes are equipped with safety features that prevent overheating of the battery, like overheating protection and a 10-second cut off fire feature. This ensures the battery in the ecigarette will not overheat and eventually explode during use. Some e-cigs are far more dangerous, and are not manufactured with safety regulations up to par. One of the types of ecigarettes that are very dangerous are mech mods. Mech mods are devices with no safety features built in, no firing cut off, and no safety protection between the battery and the rest of the ecigarette. There a multitude of factors with mech mods that can malfunction and cause an ecigarette to overheat, and these ecigs should be used with extreme caution or not at all.

KEEP YOUR ECIGARETTE AWAY FROM WATER

This tip is pretty much common sense, but when cleaning your ecigarette, this is where accidents can occur. As a general point, electronics do not mix well with water, but at times your electronic cigarette may need to be cleaned, and there are precautions you can take to do so safely. Ensure your vape device is turned off, and the tank and mod are disassembled before being cleaned. The atomizer head often needs to be cleaned, but the mod or battery should never come into contact with water.

USE THE APPROPRIATE CHARGER AND POWER SOURCE & BE MINDFUL OF HAZARDS WHILE CHARGING YOUR ECIGARETTE – DO NOT OVERCHARGE

About 80% of explosions of ecigarettes occurs while the ecigarette is charging. The majority of the time that this happens, the electronic cigarette is being charged with a cord that did not come with the vape device. You should always use the charger that comes with your e-cig to ensure it is made with the safety precautions and compatibility to guarantee safe charging. As well, do not charge your electronic cigarette for extended periods of time, and do not leave it to charge unsupervised. If the electronic cigarette is charged for a long duration, the battery can overheat and causing it to explode or catch fire. This is another reason that the electronic cigarette should not be left unsupervised, or near any flammable materials. Not all electronic cigarettes have the safety feature to stop charging once the battery is at full capacity, so the electronic cigarette can overheat and cause a multitude of issues.

BATTERY DANGER

The most important precaution you must take with your electronic cigarette is battery safety. Batteries are relatively volatile, and if proper precautions are not exercised you may be met with unrepairable consequences.  The wraps on batteries are used to keep the battery safe from shorting, and this is a very essential factor to battery safety. If your battery wrapping has begun to come unwrapped, go to a vape shop in Toronto and get a new battery or a battery wrap. If you are transporting extra batteries for your electronic cigarette, do not keep the batteries in your pocket loose. Batteries should be kept in a case avoiding any contact with metal objects like your car keys or loose change. If your batteries are damaged in any way, replace them immediately, and do not continue to use them in your electronic cigarette.