Delta-8 vape carts are ordinarily some of the easiest to use and most reliable vaping products on the market for cannabis aficionados. You either buy a cartridge in pre-filled form or fill an empty cartridge with your own Delta-8 oil, and you’re all set – all that you need to do is connect the cartridge to a 510 vape pen battery and enjoy. When you buy a Delta-8 vape cart, you expect to get a product that’s essentially ready to use right out of the box. That’s why you’ll probably be left feeling confused and wondering what to do if a vape cart doesn’t work.
In rare cases, you might get a Delta-8 vape cart that’s a dud and will never work, perhaps because it was damaged during shipping. That’s rare, though, because manufacturers always test their cartridges before packaging them. Most of the time, it’s possible to fix a Delta-8 cart that isn’t working, and the process is actually surprisingly easy.
Here’s how to do it.
Table of Contents
Start Buying Better Vape Carts
If you want to have a great experience vaping Delta-8, the most important thing to know is that you need to use a vape cartridge designed for the task. There are a great many cartridges for oil vaping on the market today, but not all manufacturers can measure up to a top-end company like Hamilton Devices. While other manufacturers try to get by with cheap components, every Hamilton Devices vape cart uses a CCELL ceramic coil for maximum compatibility with thick oils.
It’s important to note that cartridges, pods and tanks made for traditional e-liquids use cotton or silica wicks that won’t work well with Delta-8 oil. A cartridge with a cotton or silica wick will only work with Delta-8 vape juice that’s been diluted with vegetable glycerin and/or propylene glycol.
Try a Different Cartridge to Isolate the Problem
If you have a Delta-8 vape cart that isn’t working, the first thing to do is try a different cartridge if possible. That way, you can isolate the source of the problem. If the second cartridge works, you’ll know that the first cartridge has an issue. If neither cartridge works, it’s likely that your vape pen has an issue. This is a key aspect of basic troubleshooting – if a problem has two possible causes, swapping components allows you to eliminate one of them and ensure that you’re troubleshooting the right thing.
Clean Your Vape Pen and Cartridge
In order for a Delta-8 vape cart to work, the cartridge needs to form a complete circuit with your vaping device. If the device detects a short circuit – or doesn’t detect the cartridge at all – it won’t operate. Remove the cartridge from the device and examine the male and female threading. Does everything look clean, or can you see residue from leaked oil? If the cartridge or device has dirty threading, you’ll need to clean it. Rubbing alcohol is very effective for dissolving Delta-8 distillate. Dip a cotton swab in alcohol and use it to clean your vape pen’s threading and the bottom of your vape cart. Repeat the process until both threads are completely clean and allow all components to dry thoroughly before you resume vaping.
Make Sure Your Vape Pen Is Operating Correctly
If you’ve tried two different vape cartridges – and neither one worked correctly – there’s a good chance that your vape pen is the primary cause of the issue. In that case, you should troubleshoot the vape pen. If you’re able to get it working, it’s likely that your Delta-8 vape cart will start working as well.
- Make sure that your vape pen is turned on. If the vape pen has a manual fire button, you can usually turn the device on by pressing the button five times. When you do that, the device’s indicator light should blink.
- Confirm that your vape pen’s battery is charged by connecting the device to your computer. If nothing happens when you try to charge the device, check its USB port for dust or lint. Clean the port with a toothpick if needed.
- Check your vaping device’s screen or LED to see if the device is blinking or displaying an error message when you try to vape. If it is, check the device’s instruction manual to see what the error code means.
Warm the Cartridge to Loosen the Oil
If your vape pen seems to be working properly – but your Delta-8 cartridge isn’t working when you try to vape – it’s possible that the oil is too thick or too cold to flow properly through the wick. If the wick has a dry pocket, the heat from the coil won’t reach the oil to loosen it. In that case, you can fix the issue by warming the oil manually.
- Try warming the cartridge by holding it between your hands for a few minutes. In many cases, the heat from your body will be sufficient to loosen the oil and get it flowing through the wick.
- If using the warmth of your hands doesn’t work, try sealing the cartridge in a zip-top plastic bag and placing it under warm running water. Examine the cartridge after a couple of minutes. You might see tiny air bubbles, which indicate that the oil has begun to absorb into the wick.
Fix the Cartridge if It’s Clogged
If you find it difficult to draw air through a Delta-8 cartridge, it’s likely that the cartridge’s airway is clogged with oil. In that case, vapor won’t travel through the airway, and the cartridge won’t work properly. If the oil isn’t too thick, you might be able to clear the blockage by using a little extra air pressure when puffing on the cartridge’s mouthpiece. You’ll hear a “pop,” and the cartridge will start working. If that doesn’t work, try extending a paperclip and running it down the cartridge’s mouthpiece. When you feel the blockage, twist the paperclip while pushing gently to remove it. Be careful not to damage the cartridge’s metal coil or ceramic wick.
