Can Vapes Explode? Find Out The Truth

Many brands in the vape industry have come up with a variety of vape models to cater to the needs of consumers, especially those coming from cigarettes and other tobacco products. They also ensure both new and long-time vape users can choose from different types of vapes that cater to their vaping habits, flavour preferences, and so on.

But since vapes are battery-powered devices, a lot of users wonder about their general safety. After all, batteries do explode if they are not maintained properly. Other components of these devices like heating elements or coils can likewise trigger electronic cigarette fires and explosions.

The associated risks with vape explosions can be life-threatening and fatal. So, if you are using one, you must know how they can potentially occur. You must also know the types of vapes that have a higher chance of exploding.

What Vapes Are Exploding?

Numerous types of vapes are being sold in the market right now.

Cigalike e-cigs, for instance, are sleek vaping devices that look similar to traditional cigarettes. They are often pre-filled with e-liquid that can be charged numerous times until they run out of juice. Pod kits, alternatively, are simple-to-use vaping devices that feature a battery and either a pre-filled or refillable pod. They are popular right now due to their sleek design.

Vape pens are another type of vaping device that are compact and look like a pen. They are composed of an e-liquid tank and vape battery, which can be refilled and recharged whenever you want. A vape pen is often activated by pressing a button. 

Lastly, box kits are box-shaped vaping devices that feature customizable components. You can alter their battery section, e-liquid tank, heating elements, and so on.

Given their differences, you may be curious about what among these vapes have a high risk of exploding. But the truth is that they are all deemed to be safe, as long as you buy one from regulated manufacturers and authorized stores. These vapes offered by Native Smokes 4 Less come from reputable brands deemed safe for public consumption.

But even if you buy one from a trusted supplier, your vaping device, no matter what type you purchase, can still explode if you do not know how to handle its battery properly. Vapes that maximize specific battery cells like the 18650 lithium-ion can also explode if they are not accompanied by protection circuits.

How Can Vapes Explode?

Many misconceptions have been made when talking about vape explosions. Some believe that most vapes, including the authentic ones, can explode anytime. Others also think that e-cigarettes explode due to the heating components found inside these devices. 

In reality, e-cigarette explosions happen rarely, especially when considered against the high number of vape users in the world right now. 

Nevertheless, knowing how vapes explode is crucial for your safety.

One way vapes explode is if the battery overheats. Common among unregulated e-cigarettes, the batteries used for these devices are often not integrated with safety features. So, once their atomizer draws more current than the battery’s peak rating, the battery will overheat, which will eventually cause vape fires and explosions.

Batteries can also overheat and cause an explosion if they are kept inside your pocket or purse. A huge percentage of vape explosions occur due to vape users carrying loose batteries in their pants pockets. Since pockets do not have any short-circuit protection, the batteries may instantly overheat once they interact with metal objects like keys or loose change.

This is supported by the data from the FDA Center for Tobacco Products. It shows that more than 75% of burns due to vaping explosions were located in the upper leg and lower trunk, which is the main location of the pants pocket.

Using low-quality, counterfeit, and damaged batteries may likewise lead to vape explosions. Just like other battery-powered devices, using these types of batteries for your vape will only cause incompatibility and instability issues.

Vapes can likewise explode due to overcharged batteries. Most of the time, manufacturers will indicate the right type of charger that you can use for the vape device. If you use the wrong type of charger, you may destabilize the battery cell, which leads to overcharging. Overcharging can likewise happen if you maximize a defective power brick.

Can Disposable Vapes Explode?

Disposable vapes come with pre-charged batteries and a pre-filled e-liquid, allowing you to puff them right away. While some disposable vapes cannot be charged and filled again, others can.

A rechargeable disposable vape you should try is the RabBeats RC10000 Disposable Vape. This sleek disposable vape comes in three flavours: Grape Ice, Fuji Ice, and Pineapple Strawberry Banana.

Despite the difference among disposable vapes, most are prone to explosions as they are equipped with lithium-ion batteries.

Believe it or not, lithium-ion batteries supply the needed power for many devices, appliances, and equipment. One reason they are popular in the tech world is they are rechargeable. They also tend to last long. They even support a high power density without compromising on weight and performance.

The working principles of a lithium-ion battery are straightforward. During charging, lithium ions and electrons move from the positive electrode to the negative electrode through the electrolyte. They then deposit lithium there. The battery is then fully charged if there are no more ions flowing. 

During discharging, the ions deposited from the negative electrode, as well as the electrons, will move to the positive electrode through the outer circuit. This powers any device where the battery is installed. Once the ions have all moved back, the battery requires to be charged up again.

Now, what makes lithium-ion batteries in vapes prone to explosion?

Vape batteries can catch fire or explode due to thermal runaway. It occurs when they experience a sudden, rapid increase in temperature. It causes an energy release that can lead to a catastrophic failure. 

Overcharging, getting damaged or punctuated, or being exposed to high temperatures can lead to thermal runaway, causing the battery to fail and explode. But lithium-ion batteries can also explode due to manufacturer defects. If made from cheap materials, the batteries may be infiltrated with foreign particles and impurities, causing thermal runaway.

Can Vapes Explode in Water?

When a vape is exposed to too much heat, it can explode. Overcharging may also cause the vape to get on fire and blow up. But, what about water exposure?

The effect of water on vapes may differ depending on their type.

Some disposable vapes are meant to be only used once. Once dropped in water, the moisture can instantly infiltrate the internal components of the vapes, making them unusable.

Alternatively, vapes with removable batteries have a chance of triggering a short circuit once the water gets into the battery compartment. The water may also mix with the e-liquid, compromising the quality and flavour of the substance.

Despite the differences of the vapes when exposed to water, the risk of explosion in these devices is high. Once moisture penetrates the device, it can easily reach any critical electronic components of the vape, including the e-cigarette battery and filler material. It can then lead to a short circuit or excessive heat, increasing the chance of a potential explosion. 

Even the addition of water in e-liquid can cause an explosion since it alters the formulation and vaporization behaviour of the said vaping juice.

Can Vapes Explode on Planes?

A lot of people bring their phones and laptops with them, especially when travelling by air. One common thing about these devices is they are powered by lithium-ion batteries. These devices, known as Portable Electronic Devices or PEDs, have been regulated by airlines to ensure the safety of passengers and the aircraft itself.

Vapes are considered to be PEDs since they are small devices powered by lithium-ion batteries.

While vapes maximize lower battery capacity than those found in other PEDs, these e-cigarettes are still considered to be dangerous. In fact, they are one of the top devices that explode on planes.

Thermal runaway is the top cause of vape explosions, especially if their batteries are being charged excessively or experience overheating.

One e-cigarette explosion incident happened at McCarran International Airport, where a passenger left their vape charging until the vape battery caught fire and exploded. This caused other passengers to go to the emergency exits quickly, Fortunately, no one was injured and the whole flight remained safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Rare is a Vape Explosion?

Cases of vape explosions are very rare. They happen when vape batteries experience thermal runaway, which is caused by overcharging, heat exposure, and moisture infiltration. 

Can Dead Vapes Explode?

Yes. Dead vapes can explode, especially if they still possess batteries. Despite being out of charge, vapes with improperly stored or damaged batteries can experience thermal runaway, increasing their chance of exploding. Vape explosion is also possible with dead vapes if their batteries are exposed to extreme temperatures.

Can Vapes Explode in Your Face?

Yes. A vape can explode in your face if you overcharge it, expose it to high temperatures, or use it despite the presence of physical damage. Charging the vape with the wrong power brick and equipping it with substandard or counterfeit batteries can also cause it to explode in your face once you use the device.

Can Vapes Explode in Heat?

Yes. Vapes explode in heat since high temperatures can lead to leakage of the liquid from their batteries. Once the liquid reacts with oxygen, it can combust the whole vape, leading to a harmful explosion.

Can Disposable Vapes Explode if Wet?

Yes. Disposable vapes explode once wet since water can infiltrate their internal electronic components and the battery. The moisture leads to a short circuit or excessive heat, which results in a potential explosion.

Summary

Vapes, no matter what type they are, maximize batteries to power the whole device. Without taking care of the vaping devices, the batteries inside them can explode, causing chemical burns and other health implications.

Aside from vape battery explosions, vapes can also generate harm to people when they release vapour. Know more about top medical facts about vaping devices.

Batteries inside vapes blow up due to thermal runaway, causing the cell and current temperature to increase significantly. Vape explosions, fortunately, can be prevented if you do not overcharge your vaping device, protect the vape from high temperatures and moisture, and only use it with genuine components and a compatible charger brick.