Vaporizer devices and methods for detecting inhalation through a vaporizer using a heating element are provided. A resistive heater (603) of a vaporizer (600) may function as both a heater and as an anemometer to detect inhalation. Alternatively or additionally, a separate resistive heater (609) may be included in an air path (607) through the vaporizer to detect a user inhaling through the vaporizer. A heating control mechanism utilizes the already existing heating element in an anemometric correlation to when the vaporizer is idle and when it is being used (where being used implies the user is taking a puff/inhalation on the vaporizer). Using this information, a controller of the vaporizer accordingly controls heating to the vaporizer as required.
