When you take a puff and instead of a clean draw, you hear a wet bubbling noise, almost like a tiny straw stuck at the bottom of a drink. That is the RELX gurgling sound, and if you just heard it for the first time, your first thought is probably that something inside has broken. Take a breath. Gurgling is one of the most common things that happens to closed pod devices, and in almost every case it clears up in a few minutes once you know what is actually going on.
This guide walks through every real cause behind a gurgling RELX, gives you the exact fix for each one, and tells you honestly when it is time to stop trying to fix a pod and simply replace it.
What Does A Gurgling RELX Actually Mean
Gurgling means there is more e liquid sitting around the coil than the coil can turn into vapour. Instead of soaking cleanly into the wick, the extra liquid pools in the airway, and every time you inhale, air pushes through that pool and makes the bubbling sound you hear.
The four most common triggers behind this, in order of how often they happen:
- A brand new pod that has not fully soaked in yet
- Hard, fast draws that pull liquid into the coil faster than it can absorb
- An older pod nearing the end of its life
- Heat, which thins the liquid and makes it move around more freely
What Is Actually Happening Inside A Sealed RELX Pod
A quick but important point before we go further. RELX pods are sealed and pre filled, not refillable tanks. Inside each pod, whether it is a RELX Pod Pro or the newer RELX Pod Pro 2, sits a small coil wrapped in absorbent cotton. That cotton pulls liquid toward the heating element, where it turns into vapour. When too much liquid reaches that area at once, the wick cannot keep up, and the leftover liquid sits there until your next draw pushes air through it.
This matters because a lot of general vape advice online tells you to tap the tank or adjust the airflow ring to fix gurgling. Neither applies to a RELX. There is no tank to tap and no airflow ring to turn. Everything you need to know for a RELX specifically is below.
Gurgling Right After You Insert A New Pod
Symptoms: a bubbling sound within the first few puffs of a brand new pod, sometimes paired with a weaker than expected hit.
Possible causes:
- The cotton wick has not had time to fully soak up the liquid yet
- You took a hard first draw before the pod settled
How to fix it:
- Let the new pod sit in the device for two to three minutes before your first draw
- Take your first few puffs slow and gentle rather than sharp
- If it still gurgles after five or six puffs, give it another short rest
Remember: a little gurgling on a fresh pod usually settles on its own within the first few minutes of normal use. It is not a fault, just the wick catching up.
Gurgling That Started Suddenly On An Older Pod
Symptoms: a pod that worked fine for days suddenly starts sounding wet or bubbly, often with a slightly reduced vapour cloud.
Possible causes:
- The coil has become flooded, meaning too much liquid has built up around it over time
- The pod is simply ageing and the wick is no longer absorbing evenly
How to fix it, step by step:
- Remove the pod from the device
- Hold a tissue firmly over the base opening
- Blow gently but firmly through the mouthpiece two or three times
- Wipe away any liquid that comes through
- Let the pod rest for a minute before reinserting it and trying again
Remember: this blow through method pushes pooled liquid back into the cotton where it belongs, and it solves the majority of flooded coil cases in under a minute.
Gurgling Paired With Weak Flavour Or Barely Any Vapour
Symptoms: the gurgling sound shows up alongside a flat taste, thin clouds, or a hit that feels much weaker than usual.
Possible causes:
- Excess liquid is sitting on top of the coil, blocking it from vaporising properly
- You are drawing too hard, which pulls in more liquid than the coil can process at once
How to fix it:
- Switch to slow, steady draws instead of quick hard pulls
- Apply the blow through method described above if the sound continues
- Check that the pod is not almost empty, since a nearly finished pod can also produce a weaker hit with occasional gurgling
Remember: flavour and vapour usually return to normal the moment the extra liquid clears, so this is one of the easiest gurgling problems to solve.
Gurgling And Leaking Happening At The Same Time
Symptoms: you notice the gurgling sound and also spot liquid around the mouthpiece, the base of the pod, or the outside of the device.
Possible causes:
- Both problems share the same root, liquid pooling inside the centre chimney of the pod
- The pod may have shifted position during storage or transport
How to fix it:
- Wipe the mouthpiece and the outside of the pod clean
- Use the blow through method to clear the pooled liquid
- Check how the device has been stored, since sideways storage often causes both issues together
Remember: if you want the full picture on leaking specifically, our guide on why your RELX pod is leaking covers every cause in more depth.
Gurgling That Keeps Coming Back No Matter What You Try
Symptoms: you fix it once, it works fine for a puff or two, then the gurgling returns again and again.
Possible causes:
- Your draw style is consistently too hard or too fast
- The device is being stored on its side rather than upright
- If you own an original RELX Infinity, its side fill seal design is more sensitive to sideways storage than newer RELX models
How to fix it:
- Practice slower, gentler draws for a few sessions until it becomes natural
- Always store your device standing upright, never flat or on its side
- Keep it in a stable spot such as a pocket or bag pocket rather than loose in a bag
Remember: repeated gurgling is almost always a habit or storage issue rather than a broken device, so small changes usually solve it for good.
Does UAE Heat Make Gurgling Worse
Symptoms: gurgling that seems to happen more often during summer months or after your device has been in a hot car or bag.
Possible causes:
- High heat thins the e liquid, making it flow and pool more easily inside the pod
- Leaving a device in a parked car or on a sunny dashboard speeds this up significantly
How to fix it:
- Keep your device out of direct sunlight whenever possible
- Never leave it sitting in a parked car during the day
- Store spare pods somewhere cool and shaded rather than in a hot bag
Remember: Dubai summers push well past 40 degrees, and that kind of heat genuinely changes how liquid behaves inside any pod, RELX included.
Common Mix Ups: What Gurgling Is Not
A few quick clarifications, since some searches around this topic mix up unrelated features.
- RELX does not have a companion app, so a gurgling sound has nothing to do with any app setting
- Gurgling on its own is not a battery fault, though if you also notice a blinking light alongside it, that is worth checking separately
- Every RELX device does not beep and most models have no screen, they communicate only through the small LED light
If a blinking light shows up alongside the gurgling and you want to know what it means, our RELX blinking light meanings guide covers every colour and pattern in one place.
Does This Happen On Every RELX Model
The mechanic behind gurgling is the same across the whole RELX range, but a few models are worth a specific mention.
RELX Infinity, especially the original version: its side fill seal design makes it more sensitive to sideways storage, so upright storage matters more here than on newer models.
RELX Infinity 2: generally more resistant to flooding thanks to an improved sealed pod design, though the same fixes still apply if it happens.
RELX Essential and RELX Artisan: being more compact, these leave slightly less internal room for error, so gentle draws matter a little more with these two.
When Gurgling Means It Is Time To Replace The Pod
Sometimes a pod cannot be saved, and trying to keep using it just wastes your time. Replace the pod if:
- The blow through method does not clear the sound after two attempts
- Gurgling returns again within the same day, even after fixing it once
- The gurgling comes together with a burnt or harsh taste, which usually means the coil itself has worn out
RELX pods are sealed units, not designed to be opened, refilled, or repaired. Once the coil inside has genuinely failed, a fresh pod is the only real fix.
Quick Fix Checklist For Any RELX Gurgling Sound
- Remove the pod and check for any visible liquid pooling
- Hold tissue over the base and blow through the mouthpiece two or three times
- Wipe the mouthpiece and the gold contact points with a dry cloth
- Let the pod rest for a minute before your next draw
- Take slow, steady puffs instead of hard fast ones going forward
- Store the device upright, away from heat and direct sunlight
- If gurgling returns the same day, replace the pod rather than keep fixing it
For a wider set of common problems beyond just gurgling, our common RELX pod problems guide covers leaking, weak vapour, and charging issues in one place.
Where To Buy Genuine RELX Pods And Devices In The UAE
If you are looking to buy genuine RELX pods in the UAE, choose our site. Every pod is checked before dispatch, so you are not left dealing with a faulty coil straight out of the box. Visit Relx Dubai for genuine RELX pods and devices, delivered fast across Dubai and the wider UAE.
Real Questions From RELX Users, Answered Simply
My RELX just started gurgling out of nowhere, did I break it?
No. Most sudden gurgling is a flooded coil, not damage. Try the blow through method first before assuming anything is broken.
I hear gurgling but I am still getting vapour, is it safe to keep using it?
Yes, for now. Clear the excess liquid using the blow through fix. If the sound keeps returning, switch to a fresh pod.
My new pod gurgled the moment I put it in, is that normal?
Yes, this is common on a fresh pod. Let it rest a couple of minutes and take your first few puffs gently.
I tried blowing through the pod and it still gurgles, what now?
If the blow through fix does not clear it after two tries, the coil is likely too flooded or worn to recover. Replace the pod.
Does gurgling mean my pod is also leaking?
Not always, but they share the same root cause. Check the mouthpiece and pod exterior for liquid, and if you find any, treat both issues together.
Why does my RELX gurgle more in summer than in winter?
Heat thins the e liquid, which makes it pool more easily inside the pod. Keep your device out of direct sun and away from hot cars.
Does RELX Infinity 2 gurgle as much as the original Infinity?
Less often. Infinity 2 uses an improved sealed pod design, though the same fixes apply if it does happen.
Should I just throw the pod away the first time it gurgles?
No, try the blow through fix first. Most gurgling clears up quickly. Only replace the pod if it keeps returning or comes with a burnt taste.
Conclusion
A gurgling RELX is rarely a sign of real damage, it is almost always excess liquid sitting where it should not be. Rest a new pod, blow through an older one, keep your draws steady, and store your device upright, and most gurgling clears up within minutes. If the sound keeps returning after trying every fix here, treat it as a simple pod replacement rather than a device problem, and pick up a fresh one from a trusted UAE seller.