September 8, 2026

How to Fill a Refillable Pod

Filling a refillable pod correctly takes under a minute. The same basic process applies to almost every pod kit on the market whether it uses a side fill port or a top fill port. Get the fill right and you avoid leaks, dry hits and wasted e-liquid.

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Quick answer: Remove the pod from the battery. Locate the fill port (a rubber bung on the side or a snap-off mouthpiece at the top). Open it, insert the nozzle of your 10ml e-liquid bottle and fill slowly to 90% of capacity. Leave a small air gap at the top. Reseal the port firmly. Wipe the outside clean. Click the pod back into the battery. Wait at least five minutes before vaping to allow the cotton wick to saturate fully. Never fill to the very top and never vape immediately after filling a new or empty pod.

The Two Fill Port Types

Refillable pods use one of two fill port designs. Knowing which type your pod uses before you attempt to fill it saves time and prevents damage.

Side Fill Port (Rubber Bung)

The most common design on current UK pod kits. A small silicone or rubber plug sits on the side of the pod, usually near the base. You lift the plug with your fingernail to expose the fill hole, insert the e-liquid nozzle and squeeze. When finished, press the plug firmly back into place until it is flush with the pod surface. A bung that is not fully seated is the most common cause of leaking after filling. Check it is flat and even before reinserting the pod into the battery. Side fill ports are quick to access without removing the pod from the battery on some devices.

Top Fill Port (Snap-Off Mouthpiece)

On top fill pods the mouthpiece pulls or pops off to reveal the fill hole underneath. The hole is typically larger than a side fill port, which makes filling faster and less likely to produce drips. Insert the nozzle into the opening, fill and then snap the mouthpiece firmly back on. Some top fill pods have a sliding cover rather than a removable mouthpiece. Check the user manual for your specific device if you are unsure whether the mouthpiece is designed to be removed. Never force a mouthpiece that does not want to come off as it may be glued on a prefilled pod rather than snap-fitted.

Browse Celtic Vapours Nic Salts for Pod Kits

Welsh-made 50:50 nic salts in 10mg and 20mg. The ideal e-liquid for refillable MTL pod kits across the full Celtic Vapours flavour range.

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How to Fill a Refillable Pod: Step by Step

Remove the Pod from the Battery

Pull the pod away from the battery with a light, steady pull. The magnetic connection releases easily. Filling outside the device gives you more control and prevents any drips landing on the battery contacts. Place the pod on a tissue or piece of kitchen roll to catch any small drips during filling.

Open the Fill Port

Lift the rubber bung with your fingernail on a side fill pod. On a top fill pod pull the mouthpiece off instead. If you are using a side fill pod, tilt the pod slightly so the fill hole is facing upward before opening it. This reduces the chance of residual liquid dripping from the port as you open it. Check that the fill hole is fully open and not partially blocked by a sticker or residue from a previous fill.

Fill Slowly to 90%

Insert the nozzle of your 10ml e-liquid bottle into the fill opening. Hold the pod at a slight angle (around 45 degrees) to help liquid flow in without creating air pockets. Squeeze the bottle gently and fill steadily. Stop when the liquid reaches approximately 90% of the pod volume, leaving a small air gap visible at the top. If your pod has a maximum fill line marked on the side or inside wall, stop at that line. Never fill above the maximum line or all the way to the brim of the port. Overfilling causes the liquid to enter the airflow channel and produce a gurgling, flooded draw.

Reseal the Port Firmly

Press the rubber bung firmly back into the fill hole until it sits completely flat and flush with the pod surface. Run your fingertip across it to confirm there are no edges raised above the pod wall. A bung with even a small gap allows liquid to seep through and leak from the side of the device. If your pod uses a top fill mouthpiece, snap it firmly back into its original position. Wipe the outside of the pod with a tissue to remove any drips before reinserting it.

Reinsert and Wait Before Vaping

Click the pod back into the battery. Stand the device upright and wait at least five minutes. On the very first fill of a brand new pod, wait ten minutes. The cotton wick inside the coil needs time to draw liquid from the reservoir and become fully saturated. Vaping before the wick has absorbed the liquid scorches the dry cotton and produces a harsh burnt taste that does not recover even if you wait afterwards. After the wait period your pod is ready to vape.

How Often Should You Refill?

A 2ml pod holds the equivalent of about five fills from a standard 10ml bottle. How often you refill depends entirely on how much you vape. A moderate vaper who takes around 200 puffs per day will typically refill once a day. A heavier vaper may refill two or three times a day.

The best rule is to refill when the liquid level drops to around 25% of the pod capacity rather than waiting until the pod is completely empty. Running a pod completely dry exposes the bottom of the wick and risks a dry hit that scorches the cotton. Check the liquid level through the translucent pod wall before each vaping session and top up as needed.

Celtic Vapours 10ml nic salts give approximately five full 2ml pod fills per bottle at 50:50 PG:VG, compatible with all standard MTL pod kits. For full pod kit setup guidance from opening the box to first puff, read our guide to How to Set Up a Pod Vape Kit for the First Time. The complete Pod Vape Kit Guide covers every aspect of pod kit use. Browse pod kits and matching nic salts on the Pod Vape Kits page.

Common Filling Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake	Result	Fix
Overfilling to the brim	Liquid enters the airflow channel producing gurgling and possible leaking from the mouthpiece	Stop filling at 90% and leave a small air gap at the top every time
Not sealing the bung properly	Liquid seeps out of the unsealed port and collects at the base of the device	Press the bung flat and flush and run a fingertip across it to confirm the seal
Vaping immediately after filling	Burnt taste on the first draw. The dry cotton scorches before it has absorbed liquid	Always wait five minutes minimum. Ten minutes for a brand new pod or coil
Filling a completely empty pod	Last few puffs from an almost-dry pod may have already scorched the cotton	Refill before the liquid drops below 25% capacity
Using high-VG shortfill liquid	Liquid is too thick to wick through MTL coil ports. Dry hits and premature coil damage	Only use 50:50 nic salt or freebase 10ml e-liquid in standard MTL pod kits

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mix two different flavours in the same pod? You can top up a partially full pod with a different flavour but the result will be a blend of the two rather than either flavour in isolation. If the residual liquid in the pod has a strong flavour (tobacco or menthol for example) it may carry through into the new liquid noticeably. For the cleanest flavour change, use the pod until nearly empty before refilling with a different flavour. If you want a completely clean switch, replace the pod rather than refilling over old liquid.

Why is my pod leaking from the bottom after filling? The most common cause is an improperly sealed fill port bung. Remove the pod, check the bung is fully flat and flush with the pod surface and reinsert firmly. The second most common cause is overfilling: too much liquid creates pressure that pushes liquid out through the airflow channel at the base. Empty a small amount of liquid from the pod using a tissue, reseal and try again. Storing the device on its side rather than upright can also cause liquid to find its way through the airflow ports.

How many times can I refill a pod before replacing it? Most pods can be refilled between ten and thirty times before the coil inside degrades and needs replacing. The main factors affecting lifespan are e-liquid sweetness (sweeter liquids clog coils faster) and how often you vape. Replace the pod when you notice a burnt or flat flavour, reduced vapour production despite a full battery or dark discolouration of the liquid in the pod. Celtic Vapours nic salts use less sweetener than many bar salt alternatives, which extends coil life noticeably.