Vaporizing THC has become very popular, mainly because it is easy, fast, and cost-effective. However, this is not to say that vapes don't have their problems. One of the issues that your vaporizer might have is that it clogs or doesn’t hit. If you get a Delta-8 vaporizer cartridge and it clogs, it could be caused by a variety of issues.
There are a variety of possible causes for your Delta-8 cart not hitting or clogging, and therefore also several possible solutions. Today, we're going to figure out exactly why your Delta-8 cartridge is not hitting, what you can do to unclog it, and how to prevent this problem from occurring in the future. So, why is your Delta-8 disposable not hitting?
Key Takeaways
- Clogged mouthpieces, improper temperatures, and more can cause carts to not hit.
- Proper storage, cleaning, and usage practices will prevent clogs from occurring.
- One of the best ways to avoid this issue is by purchasing a high-quality Delta-8 cart in the first place.
What Is a Delta-8 Cartridge?
A Delta-8 THC cartridge is a special type of container or cartridge that houses Delta-8 THC oil or concentrate. Delta-8 THC oil or concentrate is a special type of THC concentrate that is usually hemp or CBD derived.
Delta-8 THC is made by changing the chemical structure of CBD that comes from hemp. What is interesting to note is that because Delta-8 THC is derived from the hemp plant and does not contain more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, it is generally considered legal in the USA at a federal level.
The Delta-8 THC concentrate is put inside a small cartridge that is made out of glass or a similar material, which is then affixed to a vaporizer. A vaporizer uses a special type of heating element to heat that oil or concentrate to the point where it turns into an airborne vapor that you can then inhale to reap all of the benefits that Delta-8 THC has to offer.
Components That Make Up a Delta-8 Disposable Cart
Before we can talk about the different reasons why your Delta-8 disposable cartridge might clog, you first need to know what all of the different components of a disposable cartridge are. Understanding the build of a vaporizer will allow you to determine why it is clogged and how to unclog it.
Mouthpiece
The first vital component is the mouthpiece. This is a small piece of plastic or metal that has a hole in the middle, which is designed for you to suck air through. This is where you put your mouth and suck on, and where the vaporized Delta-8 THC oil will then pass into your mouth and lungs.
Tank or Cartridge
The second component is the cartridge or tank itself, which is like a small glass or plexiglass container that contains the Delta-8 THC oil or concentrate. These are usually designed to hold either 0.5 grams, one gram, or two grams of oil or concentrate. This is where the oil or concentrate is held before and during the vaping process. This is not a mutually exclusive component, as the tank or cartridge is what then houses the atomizer, which we will look at below.
Atomizer
The atomizer consists of two main components, the wick, and the coil. The wick is generally made out of something like high-quality cotton, and it is designed to absorb the THC oil or concentrate. We then have the coil, which is the heating element that heats the concentrate to the point where it turns into an airborne vapor. The THC concentrate sits in the wick, which gets heated up by the coil, and this is what the atomizer is.
Power Button and Sensor
We then have the power button, which is used to turn your device on and off and is usually also used to operate it. We then have the sensor, which can determine what the voltage being vaped at is, how long puffs are, and more.
Battery
The final component is the battery, which acts as the power source. A vaporizer requires a power source to allow the atomizer to heat the concentrate to the point where it turns into a vapor. A vaporizer will not work without a battery as a power source.
Why Does My Delta-8 Cart Clog?
Now that we know what a vaporizer cartridge is and what the different components are, we can talk about all the different reasons why it might clog or not hit properly.
Heavy or Excessive Use
One of the most common reasons for a vaporizer cartridge being clogged is that it has been used excessively or heavily. It could just be an old cartridge that has seen better days. If you have a reusable vaporizer cartridge, cleaning might be the solution, although you might just have to throw it out.
The excessive vaping of THC concentrate will cause buildups to occur on the wick and other components, such as the mouthpiece, which can cause clogs to occur. It's no different than when you smoke a joint and resin is created. Vaping creates residue which can clog various components of the cart.
Vape Juice is Overheating
Another cause of your Delta-8 vaporizer cartridge not hitting properly or clogging is if the vape juice or concentrate is overheating, which is usually caused by using the vaping at a voltage that is too high. You might be using too much power.
If the coil gets too hot, it may start to burn the concentrate instead of vaporizing it, which then causes an excessive creation and release of unwanted substances, essentially resin that clogs things up. Moreover, if your vape gets too hot, various components may suffer damage, thus resulting in poor functionality.
Left Unused for Too Long of a Time
The next explanation is that your Delta-8 cartridge has been left unused for too long. If that THC concentrate is left to sit for too long, it could just be very cold and thick. If it's cold and thick, it won't allow air to pass through and will need to be heated up first.
Furthermore, if your vape has been left unused for too long, the juice or concentrate may have flooded the coil and wick. This means that it's going to need a lot of heat, power, and time, to thin the concentrate out to the point where it can be easily vaped.
Cart is Leaking
If your Delta-8 vaporizer cartridge is not hitting properly, it could also be caused by the cartridge leaking out the concentrate. If there is a crack in the cartridge, it will compromise the airflow.
If this is the case, when you suck on the mouthpiece, you're going to be pulling air in through the crack in the tank, instead of pulling air through the atomizer. Physical damage may have caused the break in the tank, or vaporizing too hot may be the cause as well. If the concentrate gets too hot, it may cause a crack in the tank.
Buildup of Condensation
It could also be that your Delta-8 vaporizer cartridge is clogged or not hitting properly due to a buildup of condensation inside of it. A buildup of condensation, or in other words, moisture, can prevent air from flowing properly. If this is the case, you'll probably notice some weird bubbling noises when you go to pull on your vape. You might also notice that a bit of moisture flies into your mouth.
The Battery is Dead
One of the simplest explanations here is simply that the battery is dead. If the battery is dead, the vaporizer receives no power, the coil cannot heat up, and the THC oil does not get vaporized.
The Juice is Too Cold
The other possible cause here is that the Delta-8 THC concentrate is too cold and viscous. If it's too cold and viscous, it's going to take much longer for the concentrate to turn into vapor, and it's much harder to pull on the mouthpiece as well.
Poor Quality
It might also just be the case that your vaporizer is of very low quality. Some companies don't produce the best products out there, and they can be susceptible to breaking.
How to Unclog Delta-8 Carts
Now that we know why your Delta-8 vaporizer might be clogged, let's figure out how to unclog it.
Turn it Upside Down
If the THC concentrate has flooded the coil and wick because it has been left to sit for too long unused, a simple solution is to turn it upside down. Admittedly, this is a long shot, but if left for long enough upside down, it may allow THC concentrate to flow back away from the Wick and coil, therefore clearing things up.
Heat for 30-60 Seconds
If the clog is being caused by the THC concentrate being too cold and viscous, or because there is some THC residue blocking a mouthpiece, heating the vaporizer cartridge for 30 seconds to 60 seconds could be the answer.
You could use a hair dryer, squeeze it in your hand, or simply hold the vaporizer button down to allow the coil to heat up. This should heat up and thin out the THC concentrate to the point where it will vaporize once again. Heating the cartridge may also thin out any THC residue that is clogging the mouthpiece or other components.
Clean Mouthpiece
Seeing as one of the most common causes here is a clogged mouthpiece, the simplest solution is to clean out the mouthpiece. You can use something like a small safety pin, or anything else very long and thin, to clean out the mouthpiece. You want to remove any possible debris and residue. This should allow air to flow freely.
Hit the Pen Without the Atomizer Engaged
Although it is a long shot, hitting your vaporizer pen without engaging the atomizer, or in other words without turning it on, might be the solution. It could be that you just have a clogged mouthpiece that needs to be cleared by sucking some air through it.
Adjust the Heat
Something else you can try to unclog your vaporizer is to adjust the heat. It could be that you aren't using enough power, which therefore doesn't heat the concentrate enough, and ultimately causes a clog. If the concentrate doesn't get hot enough, not enough it will vaporize and is going to create a lot of residues that can clog up the system.
If you heat things up a little more, it could dislodge any clogs in the system and vaporize any remaining residue. However, if your vaporizer feels extremely hot and it sizzles, while also not hitting properly, chances are that the temperature is too high, in which case you'll want to turn the voltage down a little bit. Adjusting the voltage to the right level can take a bit of trial and error.
Let it Dry
If you think that the clog is caused by some condensation inside of the cartridge, a simple solution is to let it dry. Let it sit upright for a couple of days to allow the moisture to evaporate.
On the other hand, you could put a very small cloth or piece of paper towel on the front of something like a safety pin to try and clean out the condensation.
Give it a Love Tap
If it is the case that there is just a small air bubble in the way, very lightly tapping your vaporizer cartridge on a solid surface to break up the air bubble could be the solution.
Get a New One
It may also simply be the case that your vaporizer is a dud or lemon. Maybe it's just a low-quality piece of equipment that doesn't work right and never work right to begin with. If this is the case, you'll just need to get a new one. Delta-8 not hitting right? Check out our own Botany Farms Sour Space Candy Live Resin + Delta-8 THC Vape Cartridge.
How to Prevent Your Delta-8 Cart from Clogging
Knowing how to unclog your vaporizer cartridge is nice, but having it not clog in the first place is even better, so let’s figure out how to do that.
Store Your Vape in the Right Position
Store your vaporizer in such a way that the concentrate cannot flow down and flood the coil and wick. Usually, this means letting them sit sideways.
Allow Time for the Cart to Heat Up
To prevent cold and viscous oil from clogging up the atomizer or the mouthpiece, allowing your vaporizer to heat up first is a good idea. Many vaporizers come with preheat functions for this exact purpose. You can always just squeeze it in your hands or use a hair dryer first, to heat up the concentrate just a little bit.
Take Slower and Longer Hauls
If you don't want to let the vape preheat first, you can always just take longer and slower hauls. Slowing down the rate at which you pull air through the vaporizer act will give the concentrate more time to heat up inside of the atomizer, therefore thinning out a little bit and preventing clogs from occurring.
Make Sure the Battery is Charged
You need to make sure that your vaporizer is getting enough power for efficient vaporization, or so that anything happens at all. To prevent clogs from occurring, make sure the battery is always charged. This will make sure that the concentrate is always hot enough for efficient vaporization.
Don’t Keep it in Your Pocket – Proper Storage
Things like pocket lint, sand, and other pieces of debris from your pockets may clog up the mouthpiece. So, the simple solution is to not put these things in your pocket. Get yourself a little case so that you can store your vaporizer in a clean place. Also, don't store your vaporizer in extreme heat or cold, or anywhere wet.
Use it Regularly and Keep it Clean
To prevent the THC concentrate from pooling in the atomizer or from getting too thick, using the vape regularly is recommended. Letting your Delta-8 vaporizer cartridge sit for too long is one of the worst things you can do for it.
At the same time, keeping it clean regularly is a good idea too. If you notice a little bit of debris or condensation building up, clean it out before a clog happens.
Don’t Vape Too Hot or Too Cold
If you vape too hot, it may heat the liquid up to the point where it combusts instead of vaporizes, which can cause its own set of problems. If the liquid gets too hot, it may also cause the tank to crack.
Therefore, don't vape too hot. However, you also don't want to vape too cold. If you vape too cold, the concentrate won't ever get hot enough for efficient vaporization, and that can gunk up the system too.
Go for Quality
One of the best ways to prevent your vape from getting clogged is to simply get a high-quality model to begin with. Getting a high-quality unit that is properly built will automatically mitigate many of the possible issues you may be faced with.
Final Thoughts: Why Is My Delta-8 Cart Not Hitting?
As you can see, there are many reasons why your Delta-8 vaporizer cartridge might not hit, as well as many solutions. Thankfully, none of these problems are huge, and all the solutions just boil down to common sense. If your Delta-8 pen is not hitting properly, take some time to analyze the situation, and the solution should present itself.
Where to Buy Delta-8 Carts Online
If you want to buy some Delta-8 carts online, right here at Botany Farms is the best place to be. Some of our top picks include this Botany Farms Cherry Pie Delta-8 Vape Cartridge and this Botany Farms Berry Blossom Delta-8 THC Vape Cartridge.
