Do you often leave this in the car? (Image: Busà Photography via Getty Images)
As balmy temperatures are forecast to sweep across the UK this Bank Holiday weekend, experts are urging motorists to remove one particular item from their vehicles ahead of Friday.
From tomorrow, 22 May, the mercury is expected to climb.
While many will welcome the warmer spell, it will inevitably cause cars to heat up considerably.
This notable shift in conditions has prompted a warning to drivers to clear any vapes from their vehicles. Markus Lindblad, Head of Legal & External Affairs at Haypp, has set out the risks of leaving vapes in a car as temperatures begin to soar, and what steps to take should your vape overheat.
All vapes rely on a battery to operate, and these batteries are highly sensitive to extreme fluctuations in temperature, particularly heat.
Should you leave your vape in the car and it is exposed to direct sunlight for a prolonged period, the battery risks swelling, leaking and, in certain cases, could potentially explode.
The intense heat inside a parked car can also cause the e-liquid within vapes to become thinner, or the vape tank may expand, resulting in leaks.
A leaking vape will not only leave a sticky residue throughout the car’s interior that proves troublesome to clean, but in some instances may also cause skin irritation.
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Should a vape be found to have leaked inside the vehicle, it is strongly advised not to use it and to dispose of it responsibly.
Exposing a vape to excessive heat can also cause significant damage to its internal components, hampering the device’s performance, shortening battery life, and destroying the coils, screen or tank.
Should a vape trigger a car fire, vehicle owners may find themselves unable to make a successful insurance claim.
Certain policies may contain clauses that exclude cover for fires sparked by vaping devices, on the grounds that the owner elevated the vehicle’s fire risk, potentially leaving them facing £1,000s in repair costs.
If you have left your vape in a sweltering car for an extended period, it is essential to cool the device down carefully by storing it in a cool, dark location.
Alternatively, wipe it down with a cold, damp cloth and allow it to air dry. Should your vape have overheated, do not, under any circumstances, submerge it in water to bring the temperature down, as doing so could significantly heighten the risk of the battery exploding.