Understanding How Vapes Could Explode in Your Mouth
While extremely rare, there have been a handful of disturbing instances where vaping devices like pods, pens and mods have catastrophically malfunctioned or exploded while being actively used, potentially causing damage and injury to the user's mouth, lips, teeth or face.
Potential causes of in-mouth explosions include:
- Use of defective or damaged lithium-ion batteries prone to failure
- Utilizing cheap aftermarket components and materials susceptible to issues
- Poor engineering and inadequate safety features in vape construction and design
- Excessive increases in air pressure inside the device from deep inhales during vape tricks
- Foreign objects like e-liquid or juice being improperly inserted into the device
- Failing to properly maintain devices over time
Properly handling devices, avoiding mechanical mods with fewer safeguards, and only purchasing quality gear from reputable manufacturers can help reduce risk substantially. Never block air intake holes.
Statistics: How Often Do Vape Explosions Actually Occur?
Considering the many millions of vaping devices sold and in use, catastrophic failures and explosions are extremely uncommon events. However, vigilance and safe handling practices remain vital, even if risks are remote.
By digging into available data, we can better understand the likelihood:
- Over a several year period, approximately 150 vape explosion incidents have been reported to the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Incident Reporting System database.
- With an estimated 3-5 million vaping devices sold annually in the U.S. alone, 150 cases represents an infinitesimal percentage.
- Of the 150 explosions, roughly 30 resulted in severe injuries requiring hospitalization.
- Many incidents involved unchecked product damage, improper use and incorrect battery charging.
So while the potential for harm means battery risks shouldn't be ignored, the small number of cases relative to total users shows explosions are fairly rare.
How Can Exposure to Heat Cause Vapes to Explode?
The lithium-ion batteries that power vapes can malfunction and potentially explode when exposed to high temperatures for extended periods of time. Some potential effects include:
- Thermal Runaway - Internal battery damage leads to a cycle of escalating temperature and pressure, eventually rupturing the casing. This is the most common cause of Li-ion battery explosions.
- Expanding Electrolyte - The liquid electrolyte inside heated batteries expands exponentially, building dangerous pressure levels that can exceed casing integrity limits.
- Accelerated Degeneration - Prolonged heat hastens the degradation of internal battery components like the anode and cathode, compromising stability and increasing failure risk.
- Inferior Materials - Poor choices of electrodes, separators and electrolytes used by disreputable battery makers lead to lower heat tolerance and quality control issues.
- Charging Errors - Using incorrect chargers incompatible with the battery's limits, or excessively high charging voltages, raises the risk of overheating.
Storing vapes in extremely hot places like inside hot cars in summer has led to numerous thermal runaway incidents. Keep temperatures moderate and avoid direct sunlight.
Examining the Most Common Causes of Vape Explosions
While the battery is most often the origin point of explosive failures, examination shows other factors frequently contribute, including:
- Physical Damage - Dropping devices onto hard surfaces or otherwise mechanically damaging the battery casing and internals increases vulnerability.
- Metal Contact - Allowing loose batteries to contact keys or coins in a pocket completes a circuit and can lead to discharge.
- Liquid Exposure - E-juice or other conductive fluids shorting the interior electronics can trigger current spikes and thermal runaway.
- Internal Defects - Poor wiring, insufficient venting holes, low-quality solders and inadequate current protection heighten risk.
- Coil Issues - Building excessively low resistance coils without safety measures strains batteries.
- High Temperatures - As covered earlier, sustained heat exposure through incorrect storage accelerates battery degradation and failure.
Careful handling, proper use and storage, quality manufacturing and design, and avoiding unauthorized modifications vastly reduces chances of explosions.
Recognizing Concerning Warning Signs Predicting Possible Vape Explosions
While it's difficult to accurately predict specific devices that will have catastrophic failures, certain observable warning signs can indicate an increased likelihood:
- Unusual Sounds - Hissing, popping or crackling noises emanating from a vape can signal looming problems.
- Strange Odors - An uncommon smell resembling burning plastic or smoke may indicate overheating internals.
- Auto-Firing Issues - A device spontaneously firing without activation, or failing to turn on or off properly repeatedly, can foreshadow problems.
- Physical Damage - Visible dents, cracks, stripping or breaches in exterior casing often precede failures, especially near battery area.
- Battery Bloat - Swollen, misshapen or bulging batteries are extremely concerning and require immediate replacement. Never recharge or continue using bloated Li-ion batteries.
- Leaking - Signs of fluid leakage mean crucial battery seals have been compromised and present an explosion hazard.
Any vape exhibiting these troubling symptoms should be safely discarded and replaced. Never attempt to use or charge devices showing these warning indicators.
Vape Brands Most Frequently Associated With Explosion Cases
No manufacturer has immunity from isolated defective units slipping through quality control processes. However certain brands have faced slightly more scrutiny, including:
- Wotofo Phantom - Several explosion incidents involved the dual 18650 battery Phantom mod. Issues traced back to faulty internals.
- Wismec Reuleaux RX200 - Multiple reports tied this triple 18650 battery mod to alleged autofiring and explosions.
- Dank Vapes - Counterfeit THC oil cartridges mimicking the Dank brand have frequently been linked to explosions and injuries. However, the actual company does not make these dangerous replicas.
- Smok, VapCIG, etc. - Larger vape manufacturers have contended with occasional defective units leading to thermal events, but rigorous testing has vastly improved safety.
- Generic/Rewrapped Batteries - Cheap no-name batteries from disreputable suppliers carry higher failure rates. Always buy from trustworthy brands.
Sticking to reputable, safety-focused companies with extensive quality control testing is key to avoiding potentially faulty devices.
Practical Tips to Vape More Safely and Minimize Explosion Risks
While the likelihood of vape battery explosions remains extremely low, you can take sensible steps to further minimize any risk:
- Carefully Inspect Devices - Visually check for any damage, leaks or separation before each use. Perform regular maintenance.
- Isolate Loose Batteries - Always keep spare lithium-ion cells in protective cases away from metal objects to prevent short circuiting.
- Avoid Excessive Heat - Don't leave vapes baking in hot cars or direct sunlight. Storage temperatures ideally between 50-80°F.
- Prevent Water Exposure - Keep devices away from liquids which could seep inside. Discontinue use if splashed.
- Use Approved Chargers - Only charge batteries and devices with the charger designed for that specific purpose. No substitutions or vehicle charging.
- Charge in Open Spaces - Don't charge unattended or while sleeping. No charging near flammable materials.
- Avoid Over-Discharging - Don't let batteries drain to zero, which can cause internal damage.
- Careful Disassembly - Improperly opening devices can damage connections and protective seals.
- Quality Materials Only - Avoid rebuilding atomizers with low grade wires, solders and accessories prone to issues.
Conclusion: Weigh the Remote Risks and Follow Recommendations for Secure Vaping
In closing, severe issues like vape explosions are quite rare but hazards can arise from mishandling and defective units. Learn proper precautions, inspect gear regularly, buy quality-focused brands, follow usage guidelines and address any warning signs to ensure the safest vaping experience. With prudence and common sense, vaping can remain an enjoyable and trouble-free endeavor for most.