Vaping and the heat wave : What are the risks and what is the advice you need ?

In this extremely hot weather, we constantly get advice how to look after ourselves ; e.g. drink often and plenty, eat normal, stay in the shade and try to reduce physical efforts as much as possible.

We are also told to close the blinds and shutters of our homes during the day and only open the windows at night, and that we must attempt to create a draft, and to even go out and invest in a good fan and/or fogger to keep us cool and comfortable.

But there is no one to tell us how to look after our electronic cigarette. And this oversight we now want to correct, because our vaping equipment also suffers in extreme heat. So here is important information to make sure you won’t run the risk that the battery of your e-cigarette won’t overheat.

"The Box was so hot that she almost burned her fingers when she tried to grab it"

« The incident happened to one of our friendly customers. Angry at herself, she arrived rather exited in our shop and – with a little smile on her face – told us that she had forgotten her Pico Baby in the car all afternoon... under the blazing sun. She did not yet have the reflex to take along her e-cigarette to wherever she went – with the excuse that it was her way to avoid going back to her old habit of reaching for a cigarette. So, when she got back to her car and reached for the Pico Baby, the Box was so hot that she almost burned her fingers. No wonder, the car was parked in Lausanne from noon to 5p.m... exposed to the blazing sun. We were absolutely not amused by the story, and instead of laughing, we gave the lady the advice to never again leave the Pico Baby in the car while it was parked under the bright sun. And that she should do so not only to avoid burning her fingers, but mainly because of the damage excessive heat can do to the battery of the Box ; e.g. it could explode. »

Always remember, the batteries contain lithium !

As a reminder, the batteries of all our electronic cigarettes contain lithium… as do all the batteries found in your Smartphone, tablet, digital camera, or laptop. Whilst the battery is absolutely safe to use, there are some exceptions, one of them being raising temperatures, with the risk of becoming a danger due to degassing (see previous article on this subject). 

As the TCS writes in one of the articles in their magazine : the car is a heat trap. 

With automobiles, it is the car’s metallic bodywork that heats fastest, before it spreads throughout the interior of the vehicle. On hot days like the ones we currently experience – when the temperature goes up to between 35° and 38° – the heat inside the car can quickly reach critical levels of up to 60° or even 80°... as is the case during this current heat wave. The Journal de Montréal even mentions a case of 100° inside a stationary vehicle that was exposed to the bright sun for an extended period.

Whether 60° or 80° or 100°, it is proven that temperatures beyond 40° degrees are abnormally high... meaning that the situation is critical and precautions need to be taken. And for Vapers, the most important precaution is to never leave behind your e-cigarette in the confined environment of a car, because the battery can overheat and cause serious damage.

Whilst we use the example of the car, any other direct exposure of your electronic cigarette to heat and the sun can cause the same problem. Putting your Box on a table and leave it there exposed to the blazing sun is to be avoided. You also shouldn’t place the e-cigarette at the bottom of your beach bag and then leave it standing there on the hot sand for hours. The equipment you use to Vape is fragile. It doesn’t appreciate extreme heat. The same, by the way, applies to your iPhone !

And speaking of heat, we strongly believe that this is one of the great advantages of Vaping when compared to smoking traditional cigarettes. Vape refreshes your mouth, which you won’t get from cigarettes and tobacco, because smoking generates heat and it burns in your throat, thus making it unpleasant – especially in the summer when the weather is hot and we have to endure a heat wave. By the way, did you know that because of the hot weather and the heat wave, summer is the best time to stop smoking ? Find out more by visiting our Blog on this subject : Summer is the best time to stop smoking. 

In closing, here is one more piece of advice related to summer time and rising temperatures. The flavor of E-liquids, just as is the case with eating, can be influenced by the weather and the seasons. In the summer, when we tend to favor cold food like crisp salads, succulent summer fruit, fresh yogurt and tasty ice-cream, only to rejoice in the fall to find our beloved fondue, raclette, pot roast and Black Forest Cherry Cake, now is the time to switch to refreshing minty or fruity E-liquids. The little icy whiff will be a welcome change you’ll appreciate. Come take a look in our shop. We will let you taste any flavor you like. Cloud Vapor Blue Bird, for example, has the ability to leave a beautifully refreshing taste in your throat. So does this summer’s bestseller ; Fruizee. Come and try it. It is succulent !

Conclusion

We wish you a beautiful summer, be it by the sea or at the pool for the really lucky ones, or with air conditioning or a powerful fan in the office for others who are lucky, too. And for all those who have neither holidays nor air conditioning, we wish you good luck – reminding you that the heat wave will not last, and that in only a few weeks time, autumn and chilly weather will be upon us... making us pester, impatiently awaiting the arrival of next year’s summer. With this in mind, let us all hold out and savor the beautiful weather.

Lastly, one more time, while enjoying the sun, please do be careful and remember to keep your e-cigarette (and yourself) in the shade.

Dear Reader, thank you for your attention. We appreciate your interest in reading this article and your loyalty to our brand.

The Sweetch team