In cold weather, especially when it feels like water is freezing, vapers often wonder if their e-liquid can freeze if left out in the cold for too long. If you’re worried about e-liquid freezing in your mailbox, car, or while you’re out and about, rest assured, e-liquid has to be exposed to extremely cold temperatures to freeze.
The Science of Freezing Point
If you remember your elementary school science, water freezes at -33 degrees. However, e-liquids do not contain water. Instead, most e-liquid brands use PG, VG, or a mixture of the two. Pure PG has a melting point of 74 degrees Fahrenheit, so its freezing point can be even lower. VG freezes at -36 degrees Fahrenheit, with a melting point of 64 degrees Fahrenheit. However, most e-liquids also contain flavorings and nicotine, which can affect the freezing point of the e-liquid. It usually takes less than ten degrees Fahrenheit for e-liquid to solidify and start to freeze.
Nicotine-rich e-liquids require higher temperatures to use, while PG e-liquids require slightly lower temperatures. If you’re using e-liquids in cold weather, experiment with different PG/VG blends. The more PG, the lower the freezing point. However, if you feel a bit scratchy in your throat, adjust the amount up or down by about ten percent until you find a balanced blend.
Experience
You may notice that the essential oil becomes a little thicker after being left in your mailbox or car overnight. Even though it hasn't reached its freezing point, it may feel a little thicker and colder.
But rest assured, this solution will not expand like water, so you don't have to worry about your atomizer glass cracking under pressure. Thicker e-liquids can make it harder to wick cotton and make you vape more slowly.
Some vape devices can still function properly in cold weather. Another thing to consider is how the battery will perform in cold weather. Just as a car battery has a hard time starting in cold weather, the same can happen to the battery of a vape device. The best solution is to warm up the battery a bit before running the device.
Intentionally freezing essential oils
Some vapers intentionally freeze their e-liquid to preserve it. While there is no research to suggest that this will affect the taste of the e-liquid, it is safe to assume that the quality of the e-liquid will not change after freezing and thawing. This means that if your e-liquid freezes in your mailbox or car, you can thaw it and use it as normal. Remember, VG has a melting point of 64 degrees Fahrenheit, so you will need to keep it at that temperature to liquefy it.
