Essential Maintenance for Herb Vaporizers
Keeping a vaporizer clean is essential to the longevity and efficiency of the device. The best tool for cleaning is a brush with hard bristles or a pipe cleaner soaked in alcohol.
Vaporizers with a mouthpiece and vapor path that are the same tend to be easier to keep clean since you only have to worry about one part.
1. Clean the Herb Chamber
The herb chamber is where you’ll find the main oven where your herbs are stacked and heated, so keeping this clean is essential. Most vaporizers come with a small brush that you can use to scrub away any visible residue, but if your device doesn’t have one or it has lost its bristles, pipe cleaners or cotton swabs work well.
A dirty chamber can significantly impact the vapor quality because the leftover material from previous bowls can interfere with how well the new herb is vaporized. The build-up of residue also prevents the herb from heating evenly, which leads to inconsistent vapor and less flavor.
Depending on how much you smoke and the type of herb, a thorough cleaning should be done every 1-2 weeks. A deep clean is significant if you switch strains, move from flower to concentrates/liquids, or vice versa.
Almost all vaporizers have screens in their herb chamber that keep the weed from contacting the heater, but these can get clogged with resin and residue from previous sessions. Thankfully, most of these are easily replaceable. Use a pipe cleaner or cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol to clean the screen of your herb vaporizer. This is essential to ensure that your herbs aren’t touching the hot walls of the oven, which can negatively affect vaporization and taste.
2. Clean the Mouthpiece
Cleaning your herb chamber is essential to good performance, but you must also care for the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is where the vapor travels through to be inhaled, and it can quickly become clogged up with residue from your vapor. This will reduce your draw and may even lead to a burnt or unpleasant-tasting hit. Keeping the mouthpiece clean will prevent this and allow you to inhale your vapor more easily.
Most vaporizers will come with a cleaning kit, brush, and tweezers to help clean your device. Using these after each session is a great way to keep your device from becoming too gunky, and you can also use them to remove any excess residue that has been collected.
Start by emptying your chamber and brushing it thoroughly to remove any stray debris. Then you can use the tweezers to dislodge large chunks of herb stuck inside the chamber. Finally, use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to wipe down the oven and mouthpiece. Lastly, remove the mouthpiece and soak it in isopropyl alcohol or hot soapy water (depending on what your vaporizer manual recommends). Be sure to allow it to dry completely before using it again.
3. Change the Screen
Many users of herbal vaporizers find that the device takes some time to learn how to use correctly. But with some practice, the device can quickly become one of your favorite tools.
One of the keys to maximizing flavor and efficiency with an herb vaporizer is periodically changing the screen. These screens can get blocked with herb particles and affect your vaping experience. Some vaporizers come with cleaning brushes, or you can purchase a Storz and Bickel cleaning brush set to keep your screens unblocked for longer.
Another option is to use a glass screen with your device. Glass screens put more distance between the dry herbs and super-hot coil, ensuring no combustion occurs. This can make vapor much smoother to inhale and is preferred by some people, although it may cause vapor to form a bit slower than with a metal screen.
Some users also prefer using multiple glass screens to achieve the perfect vaping experience. Glass screens are easy to maintain. They can be soaked in rubbing alcohol to clean them easily. You can even place a layer of coarse dry herbs on top of the screen to create a natural “screen” that helps avoid any fine herb particles from entering the mouthpiece when inhaling. But be careful not to overdo it with the number of screens because more than two can slow down your vaporizing process significantly.
4. Replace the Battery
Whether you’re a vaping connoisseur or a beginner, knowing how to properly use a dry herb vaporizer is essential. Using your device correctly will ensure it functions efficiently and significantly delivers the best flavor possible if you invest in one of these Volcano vaporizers or the Might+ vaporizers.
Vaporizers come in all shapes and sizes, from portable and handheld vaporizers to desktop devices that can be used at home. While portable vaporizers offer convenience and portability, desktop vaporizers generally provide better quality, performance, and potency.
Even the most high-tech battery cannot last forever, and it’s important to know when it’s time to replace your vaporizer’s battery. Some vaporizers have batteries built into them, while others have removable batteries. In the latter case, it’s essential only to use replacement batteries that match the type and capacity of your original battery.
Many lithium-ion batteries are enclosed in a conductive metal can, with the positive pole on top separated from the negative side by an insulating ring. If you don’t change the battery wrapping or remove the battery from the vaporizer properly, it’s possible that something conductive could touch the positive side of the battery and cause a short circuit. This is a fire and safety hazard, so always be careful when handling your battery. Also, remember to clean your battery wrapper regularly. This will keep it from becoming corroded and will help prolong your battery’s life.