How To Unclog a Disposable Weed Pen

The advent of the disposable vape pen made easy and portable access to your favorite strain a reality. Many people who use weed for medical or recreational purposes own one. However, even high-quality vaping devices present users with challenges. 

Learning how to unclog a disposable weed pen comes with owning one. As you inhale, you are met with a sudden obstruction. Why does this happen? How do you fix it? Our team at 420 Stock outlines everything you need to know below. 

Reasons Your Disposable Vape Pen Gets Clogged

First, let’s examine why a disposable vape pen gets clogged. Vape cartridges include a combination of hemp oil and THC distillate. These substances’ viscosity makes them prone to clogging or crystallizing.

Many formulas include substances, like vegetable glycerin or MCT oil, that decrease the contents’ viscosity. However, your pen could still develop a blockage for a few different reasons:

• When not in use, the vape’s contents could separate, causing the thicker ingredients to move through the mechanisms alone. 
• Temperature fluctuations can also cause vape clogs. Cooler temperatures condense most liquids and oils, making their movement slower. 
• Storing your vape horizontally will also increase its propensity to clog. Keep it stored vertically to prevent sudden blockages from interrupting your vaping experience. 

Of course, you want to get back to winding down with a couple of pulls from your pen. So, how can you fix a clogged vape pen? The following methods will help you get the most out of your experience. 

How To Unclog a Disposable Weed Pen

Although vape blockages throw a frustrating wrench into your routine, you can easily resolve them in most cases. However, the process requires patience and experimentation. Certain methods may not work for every type of vape clog. If you successfully eliminate a minor clog with one method, you may need a different method for a thicker clog. 

Preparation

When dealing with a vape clog, keep the following items on hand in case the process gets a little messy:

• Rubber gloves
• Napkins
• Hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol

Although you can resolve most clogs without making a mess, you might deal with a sticky disaster if you have a persistent, particularly stubborn blockage. The juice in your vape cartridge can get all over your hands. 

Method One: Seal and Suction

The first method involves simply inhaling or blowing. This process shouldn’t require dismantling your device or getting your hands messy. Use your lips to create sealed suction on the device. 

Then, without heating the device, suck on the mouthpiece. This action loosens the clog and pulls it through slowly. You might even detect the clog’s movement throughout the tube. 

Eventually, the clog will dislodge after traveling through. The clogged material might even pop into your mouth. You can spit it out and continue vaping. If this method doesn’t work, move on to the next one.   

Method Two: Bring the Heat

This method works especially for vapes that develop clogs from disuse. If you haven’t used your vape in a few hours, you might struggle to move the cooled oils through the tube. Does your vape have a convenient preheat function? If so, simply activating this function should provide enough heat to warm up and thin out the oil. 

No preheat setting? No problem! Aim a hot hairdryer at your vape for 30 to 60 seconds. Hold your vape vertically to encourage proper pressure and heat transference throughout the formula. 

Once you notice the formula migrating to the bottom of the cartridge, you’ve successfully unclogged your vape pen. You can continue enjoying your session as usual. 

Related: Refilling Oil Cartridges

Method Three: Gentle Submersion

Learning how to unclog a disposable vape pen often means using the tools at your disposal. Some people don’t have a preheat function or a hairdryer. You can instead use hot water to melt the blockage.

But don’t go drowning your vape pen in hot water just yet! You must use this method with caution to prevent totaling your pen from water seepage. Start by running hot water through your tap. If your warm tap water isn’t hot enough, boil some water in a pot and let it cool slightly.

The water’s temperature should be cool enough to touch but hot enough that you would proceed with caution. Place your vape pen in an airtight plastic bag. You may want to test the bag for any holes or openings before moving on to the next step. 

Once you’ve verified the bag won’t allow water to penetrate, place your vape into the bag. Seal the bag and submerge it in the water. The hot water should dissolve any clogs in your device and make it usable again. 

Method Four: Deep Clean

Did none of the previous methods solve the issue? You may need to take a more hands-on approach. The final method involves some dismantling. First, locate a long, thin object such as:

• An unfolded paper clip 
• A toothpick
• A straightened bobby pin

Remove your disposable vape cap. Then, gently insert your tool into the tube. The deeper you push the item, the more residue you’ll remove. 

Carefully move the tool around the vape’s internals. Any solidified oil should attach itself to the tool. If you feel the tool becoming stuck, pull it out of your vape. Clean the excess residue off of it. Repeat this process until you can pull air through the device without obstruction. 

Preventing Clogs in Your Disposable Pen

Although removing clogs from your disposable vape is a fairly straightforward task, it is still an inconvenience that gets in your way. Can you prevent blockages from forming in your device in the first place? 

You absolutely can! Prevention starts with purchasing reputable products that contain quality formulas. Some formulas have a higher propensity to form blockages or crystalize than others. You want to choose blends with just the right amount of anticoagulant ingredients without sacrificing strain intensity. 

Next, ensure you store your vape in a way that discourages clogs. Many people carelessly toss their vapes into backpacks and purses or onto their car seats or bedside tables. A horizontal position is conducive to the ingredients spreading out and separating. 

Store your vape vertically to keep the ingredients condensed and well-mixed. Condensed ingredients will heat more evenly. 

Don’t carry your vape pen in your pocket, purse, or other common transport bag — at least not without a protective case. Even if you keep everything tidy, you could have tiny pieces of debris in your pockets or purses. This debris could make its way into your vape’s mechanisms. 

This causes clogs unrelated to your vape juice selection. It can also result in unpleasant surprises or nasty flavors when you bring the heat to take a pull. Keep your vape in a plastic bag or a case designed especially for vape pens. This keeps your pen clean, clear, and ready for action. 

Maintain your vape regularly. The following are some excellent maintenance tips:

• Keep the battery charged
• Occasionally take a hit off your vape to prevent crystallization
• Maintain an evenly warm surrounding temperature 
• Protect the vape components with proper storage
• Keep the vape pen out of direct sunlight 
• Don’t transport your vape in your pockets

Taking a proactive approach to vape maintenance ensures even disposable vapes will last much longer.  

Shop 420 Stock’s Extensive Inventory of Superior Disposable Pens

As mentioned above, learning how to unclog a disposable weed pen starts with choosing reputable products and quality blends. At 420 Stock, our extensive inventory provides all of that and more. Discover an extensive supply of wholesale vape pens, cartridge blends, and accessories at our vape shop. You can also take advantage of excellent shipping deals for large orders.