Let’s tackle a question that’s probably crossed your mind if you’ve ever dropped your vape in the sink or taken it near the pool: can vapes explode in water? People reckon their vape will blow up like a grenade if it gets wet. Others think water somehow triggers the battery to combust. Your mate’s cousin supposedly saw one explode in a puddle. Let’s separate the facts from the complete nonsense. Because this topic is full of myths that need sorting.
Can vapes explode in water? Water doesn’t cause vapes to explode. That’s not how batteries work. But here’s the thing: water can absolutely ruin your vape. It can cause short circuits. It can corrode the internals. It can make your device completely useless. Just not explosive. The confusion comes from people mixing up “batteries exploding” with “batteries getting damaged by water.” These are two completely different things. Let’s break it down properly.
Why People Think Vapes Explode in Water
The myth about can vapes explode in water probably started because people know lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous. And they are, under certain conditions. You’ve seen the news stories. Phones are catching fire. That bloke whose vape blew up in his pocket. These things do happen, so it’s natural to worry. But here’s what actually causes battery explosions:
- Physical damage to the battery cell
- Manufacturing defects
- Short circuits from exposed wires or metal objects
- Overcharging or using the wrong chargers
- Extreme heat
What Actually Happens When Your Vape Gets Wet
Let’s talk about what really goes on when asking if vapes can explode in water. When water gets into your vape, it creates a path for electricity to flow where it shouldn’t. This is called a short circuit. Think of it like water causing all your electrical wires to touch each other accidentally.
What a short circuit does:
- Drains your battery rapidly
- Can cause the device to heat up
- Might make it stop working entirely
- Could damage the internal circuitry permanently
What a short circuit doesn’t do:
- Cause dramatic explosions
- Make the battery combust
- Create any Hollywood-style fireworks
Your vape might get warm. It might start acting weird. The battery might even swell slightly in extreme cases. But explode underwater?
The Chemistry Behind Lithium-Ion Batteries and Water
Understanding can vapes explode in water means knowing how these batteries actually work. Lithium-ion batteries contain a liquid electrolyte, basically a chemical soup that helps electricity flow. When the battery is damaged or short-circuited, this electrolyte can heat up rapidly. That’s when you get thermal runaway (the thing that causes battery fires).
Now, some people have heard that lithium metal reacts violently with water. That’s true. Pure lithium does react explosively with water. But, and this is crucial, your vape battery doesn’t contain pure lithium metal.
What’s actually inside your vape battery:
- Lithium ions (not pure lithium metal)
- Various metal oxides
- Carbon materials
- Liquid electrolyte
The lithium is locked up in compounds. It’s not sitting there waiting to explode when it touches water. Completely different situation.
What About Salt Water?
People also ask whether can vapes explode in water specifically about salt water. Like if you drop it in the sea or spill your salted caramel e-liquid all over it. Salt water is worse than regular water because salt conducts electricity better. It’ll short-circuit your device faster and more completely. But again, not explosive.
Salt water will:
- Corrode metal components rapidly
- Cause faster and more severe short circuits
- Probably destroy your vape beyond repair
- Leave crusty deposits everywhere
Salt water won’t:
- Make your battery explode
- Cause fires
- Create any actual danger (beyond ruining your device)
Your vape’s dead if it goes in the sea. But it won’t blow up in your face when you fish it out.
Real Battery Explosion Risks
Since we’re talking about can vapes explode in water, let’s discuss when batteries actually do explode. Because they can, just not from water.
Physical Damage
Drop your vape hard enough and the battery cell can get punctured or dented. This damages the internal structure and can cause thermal runaway. This is why you should never use a vape with a visibly damaged battery.
Dodgy Chargers
Using the wrong charger or a cheap knockoff can overcharge your battery. Overcharging creates excess heat and pressure. Eventually, the battery vents (releases gases) or catches fire.
Metal Objects in Pockets
Carrying loose batteries with keys, coins, or other metal objects can create a short circuit. The metal bridges the positive and negative terminals. Suddenly, all that energy is released at once. This is why battery cases exist.
Manufacturing Defects
Sometimes batteries just have defects from the factory. Rare, but it happens. Internal shorts, contamination, or poor quality control can create dangerous batteries. None of these involves water. The question vapes can explode in water is answered by understanding what actually causes battery failures.
What to Do If Your Vape Gets Wet
Right, so can vapes explode in water? No. But what should you do if it happens?
Immediate Steps
Your vape isn’t going to blow up. But you do need to act quickly to potentially save it.
Turn it off immediately:
- Remove the battery if possible
- Don’t try to use it “just to see if it still works”
- Don’t press any buttons
Dry it as much as possible:
- Shake out any visible water
- Use a towel or cloth to wipe everything down
- Don’t use a hairdryer (heat can damage batteries)
Disassemble what you can:
- Remove the tank if it’s a refillable
- Take out the battery if it’s removable
- Separate all components that come apart
The Rice Trick (Sort Of)
You’ve probably heard about putting wet electronics in rice. Does it work for vapes when people worry that can vapes explode in water? It’s better than nothing, but not amazing. Rice absorbs some moisture, but it’s slow. Silica gel packets (those little sachets in shoe boxes) work better if you’ve got them. Leave everything disassembled in a warm, dry place for 48 hours minimum. Longer is better. Three days is ideal.
Testing After Drying
After you’ve given it proper time to dry, here’s how to safely check if it survived:
For devices with removable batteries:
- Check the battery for any swelling or damage
- If it looks dodgy, bin it
- Try the battery in another device first (if possible)
- Only then try it in your vape
For built-in battery devices:
- Look for any signs of corrosion
- Check that charging works normally
- If it charges, try using it briefly
- If anything seems off, stop using it
If your vape survived, brilliant. If not, accept it’s done for. Don’t risk using a potentially damaged device.
Disposable Vapes and Water
The question can vapes explode in water applies to disposables too. Same answer: no explosions, just dead devices. Disposables are even more vulnerable to water damage because they’re sealed units. You can’t take them apart to dry. Once water gets in, you’re basically stuffed.
If a disposable gets wet:
- It’s probably done for
- Don’t try to charge it (if it’s rechargeable)
- Don’t keep using it if it’s acting weird
- Just bin it and get a new one
They’re cheap enough that trying to salvage a water-damaged disposable isn’t worth the hassle or risk.
Preventing Water Damage
Instead of worrying can vapes explode in water, let’s focus on keeping them dry in the first place.
Simple prevention tips:
- Don’t vape in the bath (I know, tempting)
- Keep your vape away from sinks and toilets
- Use a waterproof case if you’re near water
- Don’t leave it in your pocket when swimming (obviously)
- Be careful with drinks around your vape
If you work outdoors or in wet conditions:
- Get a more robust device (look for water-resistant models)
- Keep it in a waterproof pouch
- Have a backup device
- Accept that water damage might happen eventually
The Bottom Line on Vapes and Water
So, can vapes explode in water? For the final time: no. They can’t and they won’t.
What we’ve learned:
- Water causes short circuits, not explosions
- Lithium-ion batteries in vapes don’t contain explosive lithium metal
- Real explosion risks come from damage, bad chargers, and poor handling
- Water damage will likely kill your vape, but won’t hurt you
- Quick action after water exposure might save your device
The actual dangers to worry about:
- Using damaged batteries
- Dodgy chargers from sketchy websites
- Carrying loose batteries with metal objects
- Counterfeit devices with poor safety features
These are the things that actually cause vape batteries to fail catastrophically. Not water.
Stop Worrying, Start Being Sensible
The myth about vapes can explode in water causes unnecessary fear. Your vape isn’t a grenade waiting to go off at the first sign of moisture. But that doesn’t mean being careless. Water will wreck your device. It’ll cost you money to replace. It’s annoying and preventable.
Your vape’s not going to explode in water. It’s not going to explode in the rain. It’s not going to explode if you accidentally wash it. It might die. You might need a new one. But you’ll be fine. Now stop stressing and go enjoy your vape. Just keep it away from the sink?