THC Carts 101: How to Unclog a Cart

Unclogging a THC vape cartridge can be a little tricky, especially if you don’t know which part of the cart to check. A clogged vape cart comes down to two issues: solidified residue blocking the airway or a wick that’s not absorbing the vape juice properly. And don’t worry—both problems are fixable. But it just takes a li’l know-how to kick it off.

Now, if the terms “solidified residue” and “wick” don’t fit in your lexicon, then it’s a good thing you stumbled on this article. And, folks, clogs are normal. They happen. The most experienced cheefer you know probably has a few stories to tell about all the times a cart jammed up on ’em. But did you know that clogged carts are actually a good sign? They show that the oil in your vape juice isn’t too thin—a trait found in cheap, knock-off pens. Clogs are evidence of a perfectly viscous oil that’s teeming with the right amount of vape additives and cannabis extract.

So, if you’re sitting there, reading this, holding a clogged vape, maybe take this as a silver lining. Your vape is made with real sh*t. Good sh*t. (If it’s from us, ofc it is.)

Here, we’ll explain the anatomy of a vape cartridge, give you a map to find possible problem areas, and show you how to revive your cart from the dead, using nothing but your blowhole (the one on your face), a li’l heat and maybe even a hair dryer.

But first, let’s get you some carts that are already primed to tango.

First, Grab These Carts

What’s worse than a clogged cart? An empty cart—duh. If you’ve got both problems to deal with, start with the latter first. Here are two fan-favorite carts our peeps can’t get enough of! (Seriously, these puppies sell out fast. Grab ’em before they’re all grabbed out!)

Ice Cream Cake Live Resin Delta 8 Cartridge

Packed to its brim with live resin delta 8 and sprinkles of delta 10 and THC-P, our Ice Cream Cake Live Resin Delta 8 Cartridge is a sight to behold. This puppy delivers a swirl of euphoric wonder and flavors that melt even the stoniest of hearts. Pop this sucker on any 510-threaded vape battery, power it on, and get ready to ride the Rainbow Road with no governor holding you back.

Components of a THC Vape Cart

To really get a sense of clogs in your vape cart, it’ll be helpful to know the ins and outs of this device. A little background knowledge would help you decipher your cart’s issue and formulate a plan forward—to the wonderful feels of fruit-flavored THC euphoria!

Mouthpiece

At the top of all vape carts is the mouthpiece. This is where you inhale the succulent vapor from. Oftentimes, these are made of glass, sometimes plastic. They can vary in size, shape, and color. Ours are translucent cylinders that rest permanently on the tank or cartridge. Since our mouthpieces are see-through, you can easily tell if there’s a clog or build-up of residue.

Tank or Cartridge

Under the mouthpiece is the tank or cartridge. (Newbs, don’t worry, these terms are interchangeable.) This part of the cart holds the vape juice. Usually, like the mouthpiece, the tank is made of glass, letting you get a 360° view of the vape’s contents. Here, you can check the vape juice’s color and consistency; and remember, cheaper vape juices will be more liquidy, less viscous, and have an opaque, milky, or watery texture. Our vape juice has a clear, amber hue that’s evidence of a gold-standard manufacturing process, led by seriously cool cannabis scientists.

If there’s a clog in the machine, it likely won’t be in the tank. Rather, the problem can rest in the atomizer: the heart of the vape cartridge.

Atomizer

With such a cool name like “the atomizer,” you’d expect this li’l part of the cart to do something legendary, like bend space and time, opening up a wormhole to an empty ’70s disco bar for your friends to commandeer. Well, you know, in a way, it does just that (kinda).

The atomizer sits directly in the middle of the tank. It’s the mechanism that heats up the device, vaporizing the juice pooled around it. On the outside, the atomizer is encased in a steel or ceramic mold with a cotton wick, ceramic coil, or quartz coil resting inside. When the attached lithium battery is triggered, the wick or coil heats up, vaporizing the juice and emitting a good ’n’ groovy vapor.

510-threaded Vape Battery

And that brings us to the 510-threaded vape battery. All of our vape carts are compatible with 510-threaded vape batteries. Most, if not all, vape cart batteries are button-activated. A little button on the side of the battery turns it on and heats the coil in the cart’s atomizer, creating the oh-so-funky fresh vapor. Generally, your maintenance efforts won’t reach down to the battery to unclog the cart. The only real dilemma the battery poses is when it’s dead, blinking up at you while your friends eagerly await a toke—which you can totally control. Don’t be a fool, and charge your battery.

How to Tell If a Cart Is Clogged

Now, there are two main tell-tales of a clogged vape cartridge. The obvious one is if your cart releases a faint plume of vapor during your pull. Typically, when carts come out of the box, their first tokes explode with copious amounts of delicious, fruit-flavored, cannabinoid-rich vapor. But over time, that once large plume of vapor gets weaker with every toke. Even if there’s a ton of vape juice resting pretty in the tank, sometimes all you can muster out of the mouthpiece is a few wispy breaths of dragon smoke. If you can see a ton of vape juice still in the tank, then chances are that puppy is clogged.

Another tell-tale sign of a clogged vape cart is when its vapor carries a bitter, almost burnt taste. If there’s still vape juice in the tank, this is a sign that the wick or coil in the atomizer isn’t absorbing the juice properly. That burnt, bitter taste is the taste of the burning cotton wick, ceramic or quartz coil. Don’t worry; this typically happens to more higher-end vape oil. A clogged vape cart isn’t really an omen. It’s more or less a sign that you stumbled upon top-shelf vape juice.

What Causes a Vape to Clog?

Now that you’ve been given a tour of your vape cart and know the signs of a clogged cartridge, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details. What are the causes of this whole shebang?

Restricted Airways

When you vape from the cart’s mouthpiece, some condensation and vapor residue can linger around. Over time, and after many a late-night vape sessions, this residue and condensation can build up and solidify, blocking the newly heated vapor from freely leaving the mouthpiece.