How Can You Tell if Someone is Vaping in Your House?

Vaping has become incredibly popular among all ages. While many have embraced it as an effective method of smoking cessation, that doesn't mean you necessarily want it done in your own home.

Whether you lease property, have guests, or ask someone to watch the house while on holiday, there are times when you might reasonably start worrying that someone is vaping in your house. If you suspect this is the case, be it a teenager or even an unruly adult, it's a good idea to be sure before throwing accusations around. Instead, look for some of the tell-tale signs. Here’s a guide on how to tell if someone is vaping in your house.

 Typically, the vapour from vapes lacks a strong odour and instead carries a subtle, sweet smell that is influenced by the flavour of the e-liquid used. Vapes may disguise as pens and even USB drives since they vary in design, shape, and size, which makes them difficult to recognise at first glance.

Generally, the smell from vaping doesn't linger as cigarette smoke does. It is much less persistent or invasive, becoming virtually unnoticeable after 10 minutes unless vaping occurs frequently, making it easier and quicker to remove the smell.

Vaping doesn’t produce a permanent, lingering odour like tobacco, nor does it result in piles of stubbed-out cigarettes. Still, there are ways to spot a person who has been vaping in your house. Here are those signs you need to know:

The vapour from e-liquid looks like cigarette smoke in many ways but dissipates much faster. It doesn’t have the burned stench of cigarettes, but the sweet smell from vaping can last much longer than the vaper might intend.

Vape juices are typically sweet, so you can expect a similar odour to linger in the air. Depending on the flavour, it can smell like incense, fruit or candy.

If you find strange devices around the home, it could be the accessories left over from the device. You might scratch your head and ask yourself, “Why are there several toothpicks around?” You should know that toothpicks are sometimes used to scape out debris from a vape device.

 Or, you might ask, “Why are there small vials containing liquids? Vials that look like nail polish containers?” Those are probably the e-liquids. Vapes use separate e-liquid cartridges, which are small vials of liquid. Otherwise, you may also notice some charging devices that don’t look like they’re for smartphones.  

 Vapes come in all shapes and sizes. Some look remarkably like nondescript USB drives, so you might not immediately recognise what you've found. If you find small containers about the size of a USB, it could be an empty cartridge.

Does your housemate run to the refrigerator too often to grab some water? Or, did they buy a bigger Hydro Flask even if they don’t work out a lot?

 Vapers tend to increase water consumption due to dehydration from a chemical in most e-liquids, propylene glycol. This isn't a dangerous chemical, but it does lead to a dry mouth and dehydration. In the most severe cases, dehydration can leave people with dark rings around their eyes.

A vaping cough sounds like a smoker's cough and results from irritated lungs. Heavy users may develop a cough, especially if they use e-liquids with nicotine. If you hear somebody in your house coughing repeatedly over a sustained period, this could be a sign of vaping — but it could also simply be a cough.

 Mouth sores are another sign you can look out for because they tend not to heal properly if somebody constantly coughs. Vaping isn't the only reason for mouth sores, which can be common among the young and the consequence of illness. However, persistent sores that are not healing might be cause for concern.

Anybody who has ever lived under the same roof as a teenager will know that unusual behaviour is part of their daily routine. However, some signs are more glaring than others.

 If somebody makes unusually frequent trips to the bathroom or makes other excuses to leave a room, they might be sneaking off to vape. It could be that guilt or fear of getting caught is making your teen act suspiciously.

 Also, look out for irritability that can sometimes come with nicotine use and if somebody seems to be constantly searching for something. It could always be their phone, but it could be their vape.

 Other odd behaviour might be if somebody is secretly vaping in the bathroom; they might turn on the shower to mask the noise or place a towel at the bottom of the door to prevent vapour from escaping.

 Spotting unusual behaviour requires vigilance, but it’s worth the extra caution, especially if you have teenagers. As parents around the country are raising the alarm about children vaping, we all have to do our part to ensure the people vaping in the house are of legal age and those with your permission.

Nosebleeds can occur for various reasons, including infection, allergies, and nose-picking, but they can also be a sign of vaping. Nosebleeds, also referred to as epistaxis, are caused when the blood vessels in the lining of the nose burst, sending blood out of the only available exit.

 While nosebleeds are common among children and generally nothing to worry about, an adult experiencing frequent nosebleeds should be concerned. It could be an illness, but it could also result from vaping. The propylene glycol in the e-liquid dries up the moisture in your sinuses, which can cause nosebleeds. If somebody in the house is constantly experiencing nosebleeds, it needs immediate attention, whether medically or a chat about vaping.

 Apart from nosebleeds, several other physical symptoms might point to the use of vapes. These include dry or cracked skin, shortness of breath, and vaper's tongue (a loss of taste).

 Other more serious issues may include sleep disorders, depression, emotional problems, hyperactivity, and poor coordination.

Aside from the usual vaper’s cough, another sign that someone in your residence could be vaping is when they leave your house and tell you they’re having a consultation with the doctor because of respiratory discomforts.

 Unlike smoke from cigarettes, vapour clouds may cause reactions such as mild irritation among sensitive vapers. If you are concerned about their condition and don’t want to acquire them yourself, it’s advisable to keep communication lines open with your housemate you suspect of vaping.

This is a tell-tale sign that won’t need you to confront and directly ask your housemate whether they vape or not. If you saw the pen- or USB-like devices you previously noticed on a table, and now in the trash, your housemate is most likely vaping inside your house. After all, it’s rare for them to bring home someone else’s belongings, isn’t it? Many vapes nowadays are disposable, and discarded after the liquid has run out.

Vaping in a room can leave a slight odour, although less pungent than the harshness of cigarette smoke. Vaping vaporises e-liquid at a lower temperature than cigarettes burn, resulting in a smell that, while less intense, does not linger as traditional cigarette smoke does.

 As far as the lingering smell is concerned, that of a vape is more minimal than the scent of traditional cigarette smoke. The ventilation of your space, how often you vape, and the type of device you use all are contributory factors that affect the duration of the scent.

If you are sensitive if someone vapes in your house, whether your housemate, or a visiting relative or friend, it’s alright to implement rules and designate certain parts of your house where it’s okay to vape, just as how business establishments have. You don’t have to literally put signages around. Just as simple as messaging beforehand your friends coming over that they’ll have to watch over their vaping while in your house is enough.

 They cannot blame you either as even governments and businesses in many parts of the globe strictly impose vape-free indoor spaces. There are also vaping management guides and resources you can consult.

If someone has used a vape in the room in the past few minutes, you may be able to smell a sweet scent. However, besides the scent, it will be difficult to detect since the vapour itself typically dissipates after a few minutes.

Yes, it is. You’ve learned about seeing vaping paraphernalia around. But, even if they successfully hide their vape devices, you can tell from their habits, behaviour, and possibility of coughing more often.

It is anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes, depending on the strength of the nicotine they use and the present weather conditions.

Aside from the most glaring sign, which is coughing, seeing them crave water more often and changes in their behaviour, especially if you spot a vaping device, are indicators you might want to open up the conversation with them.

How to tell if someone is vaping in your house? If you suspect somebody is vaping in your house, look out for the signs mentioned above. Only those of legal age should vape, and in someone’s home, it should be with the homeowner's permission. Open communication is vital.

 RELX is committed to safe and ethical vape use. As a leading supplier of vaping devices, we do our part to be sure everyone vapes responsibly. Head to our website now to stay informed about vaping and your responsibility.