Home FAQs
We have gathered together a list of some of our most frequently asked questions.
If you're new to vaping, you may also want to read Help for new vapers.
If you have a query that's not addressed here, please feel free to contact us, we're very friendly and we'll do our best to answer your query accurately and promptly.
What is an electronic cigarette?
An electronic cigarette (also known as an e-cig or personal vaporiser) is a battery-powered gadget which can be used to deliver satisfying vapour and nicotine (if desired) without the combustion and smell associated with tobacco cigarettes. Whilst it doesn't feel exactly the same as smoking, using an e-cig or "vaping" as it is known, does mimic the sensation of smoking and can satisfy that hand-to-mouth requirement that many smokers have.
By means of a heated coil vaporising a liquid into a fine vapour which replicates the look and feel of smoke.
Is vaping safe?
We are subject to very strict regulations regarding what we can and can't say about the safety of vaping. The Royal College of Physicians have declared vaping to be at least 95% safer than smoking. Read their full report.
There has been some concern about potentially harmful flavouring compounds. We only carry e-liquids which have been tested and found to be free of known potentially harmful flavouring compounds. This includes zero nicotine e-liquids which fall outside the additional testing requirements of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR), but in accordance with General Product Safety Regulations (GPSR), we require all liquids we stock to be tested and declared free of known potentially harmful ingredients, even where they don't contain nicotine.
What are some of the benefits of vaping?
No flame, no burning tobacco or any other substances
No tar
No unpleasant tobacco odours clinging to clothes and hair
Not banned under the UK smoking ban
Can be a lot less costly than smoking
Huge choice of flavours
Controllable nicotine level (or zero nicotine)
Flexible – you can take one or two puffs if you want, rather than feeling you have to finish or waste a whole cigarette
No more matches, lighters, ashtrays and dirty smelly cigarette butts
Does it feel similar to smoking?
Whilst vaping does feel and taste different to regular tobacco cigarettes, we've found the sensation is close enough that most smokers transition to vaping very easily once they find the right hardware and e-liquid for their individual needs.
Is vaping cheaper than smoking?
All tobacco users know that smoking is a very expensive habit. We have seen various vaping retailers promising all kinds of unrealistic savings. We have performed our own calculations and can state that the average pack-a-day smoker can realistically expect to save up to £200-£250* per month if they switch completely to vaping.
*Our calculations are based the average vaper using 5ml of e-liquid per day, one replacement head per week, and up to 3 replacement battery cells per year.
How is it affected by the UK smoking ban?
Lit tobacco produces tar, carcinogens, carbon monoxide and many hundreds of other toxic substances and is a contributory factor in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people each year. The UK Government made it illegal to use tobacco based cigarettes in public places by introducing a smoking ban in 2006.
Chapter 28, Part 1, Chapter 1, Section 1, Para 2 of The Health Act 2006 states:
"smoking refers to smoking tobacco or anything which contains tobacco, or smoking any other substance; and smoking includes being in possession of lit tobacco or of anything lit which contains tobacco, or being in possession of any other lit substance in a form in which it could be smoked."
Vaping products do not contain tobacco, are not ignited, and don't produce smoke from burning substances, therefore, their use is not covered by the smoking ban.
However, due to public ignorance, some negative (discredited) reports, and inconsiderate "cloud chasers" some establishments have banned vaping on their premises, and in others, you may find yourself having to explain what you are doing has been proven not to be harmful to others. We always recommend you ask first and have some consideration for non-vapers and vape sensibly, without blowing huge clouds.
What is in the e-liquid?
Most e-liquid is a combination of Pharmaceutical grade Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerine VG) and food-safe flavourings, and a specified level of nicotine as required. Nicotine is addictive and is classed as a poison and e-liquid MUST be kept away from children and pets – also see our Safety Information.
What does the nicotine strength mean?
E-liquid is currently available in various nicotine strengths and without any nicotine at all. The strength is denoted as a milligram level per millilitre (mg/ml) or as a percentage. For example, a 12mg strength e-liquid contains 12mg nicotine per millilitre of liquid or expressed as a percentage, approximately 1.2% nicotine. The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) prohibited the sale of any liquids containing nicotine above 20mg/ml (2%) to EU consumers on May 20th 2017.
Why are there warnings on my vaping products?
Although the nicotine in our e-liquids is in dilution, nicotine in its pure form is a poison, and can cause harm. UK and EU regulations require certain information to be present on the packaging. All products containing nicotine must be kept in a safe place and away from children and animals, because although the amounts we're ingesting through vaping aren't dangerous or life-threatening, if a curious pet or small child got hold of a bottle and ingested a large amount, it may prove fatal. Also see our Safety Information.
How often should I charge my battery?
When you first receive a new battery or kit, it will commonly contain some charge, so you may only need to charge it for a shorter time than the normal full charging duration.
Once you are regularly using your device, we recommend that you always have a spare battery on charge or already charged whilst you are using another. Battery life between charges entirely depends on the kit you're using and your personal vaping habits.
If you are using larger capacity batteries, you will experience longer battery life commensurate with the capacity of that particular battery.
Remember never to leave batteries on charge unattended, and also please read and observe the Safety Information.
Does my vaping equipment require any special maintenance?
You can keep your equipment in good working order by performing some basic cleaning every so often.
Gently clean the contacts between the battery & tank with tissue or a cotton bud to ensure a good electrical connection is made.
Never over-tighten your tank on your battery. If you have an earlier generation battery which charges via the tank connection, never tighten it on the charger.
Do not store your device in a pocket where it could be subjected to pressure when you sit down because it could damage the connection between the device and the tank.
How long do the parts last?
Although the products we stock are manufactured to very high standards, they are functional devices that by their very nature will be used fairly intensively and so they will degrade over time and eventually fail. This is to be expected and many vaping products are considered disposable or semi-disposable.
Atomisers, heads and coils can be expected to last no longer than 1-2 weeks depending on your usage level, and you should replace the head or coil in your device as soon as you notice a drop-off in vapour production or the taste deteriorates or starts to leak or gurgle. They are covered by a Dead on arrival (DOA) warranty only due to their disposable nature. See How long does an atomiser coil last?
Battery performance naturally degrades over time as resistance is built up within the cell. With good care, and average use, you can usually expect lithium-ion batteries to function well for up to 5-6 months, and we advise replacement at 6 months, regardless of whether or not you've noticed a decrease in performance. We offer a 30 day warranty on batteries (except where otherwise stated). To be covered by this warranty, the battery must be used in accordance with our instructions, and only with atomisers/tanks and chargers recommended by and purchased from us directly.
For more information on our warranty terms, please see our Terms & Conditions.
How do I report a fault or return something?