Fog Machines
Fog machines can be just the thing to get you into the partying mood. And of course, there's nothing like a layer of fog floating ominously through the night air to really add a scare to your Halloween festivities. The fog machines we sell use a mixture of very pure glycol (similar to mineral oil) and water as the fog fluid. This fluid is pumped by the machine into a temperature controlled heat exchanger that vaporizes the fluid into thick clouds of fog, projecting it out through a nozzle located at the front of the machine.
Here's a few things you should know when choosing and using a fog machine:
- The wattage of the heating element can be a good indicator of how well a fog machine will perform. Most consumer fog machines generally range from 400 to 1300 watts. With a higher wattage rating, the fog machine can produce more fog and will not have to go into a re-heat cycle as often because the heat exchanger has more power available.
- "Rated output" is the cubic feet of fog per minute the manufacturer says the fog machine will produce. But just because one fog machine claims to produce 5000 cubic per minute doesn't mean that a different machine that claims only 1000 cubic per minute doesn't produce more useable fog. This is because there are no industry standards on what exactly a cubic foot of generated fog is. The numbers shown in manufacturer descriptions are only useful as a guideline.
- If you use a lot of fog you'll get a very thin film
of fog fluid residue on everything in the room, including people. As fog
fluids are made of glycol and water, it shouldn't do any harm, but it does
feel sticky. If you have expensive furniture, delicate items, or hard-to-clean
items in a room, you make want to use the fog machine in a different room.
- Fog machines do make some noise while they are generating
fog - the sound of the pump as it moves fog fluid from the reservoir to
the heat exchanger, and the sound of the fog coming out of the nozzle. In
general, the more expensive fog machines are quieter, and the less expensive
ones louder.
- It is possible that the small water-based particles could
set some types of smoke detectors off. This is normally only a problem with
optical type detectors, since they sense these particles as smoke.
- All fog machines are prone to clogging due to the thick consistency
of the fog fluid they use and the high temperature at which it is vaporized.
Manufacturers may recommend that after using their fog machine, you clean
it thoroughly by running distilled water through it for a couple of minutes
to flush out the fog fluid, then store in a cool, dry place. Follow any
cleaning instructions diligently, or you'll void your warranty and possibly
damage the machine.
- A study, conducted by the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health in 1994, found no evidence that fog machine fog causes
asthma as long as it is used correctly. But because the fog can be irritating
or drying, the institute said, exposure to the fog should be minimized,
the fluids should be heated to the lowest temperature necessary and the
proper fluids should be used. If you use your fog machine indoors, make
sure the room has adequate ventilation. Some people with breathing problems
may have problems breathing while in the fog. It's a good idea not
to breath the fog for extended periods of time. As with everything else,
follow the manufacturers recommendations.
- Fog machines create fog by passing the fog fluid through
a heat-exchanger to heat it to a high degree very quickly and then out of
a nozzle at the front of the fogger. This coil and the nozzle can become
very hot. Don't touch the nozzle during or shortly after operation. Make
sure you place the fog machine in a place that has no combustible materials
near it, such as curtains, leaves, paper, etc. Don't operate a fog
machine on or near any material that could catch on fire, or where it or
it's cord could come into contact with water or other liquid.
- Check the level of remaining fog fluid in your fog machine
periodically, particularly if using a remote-timer control. Fill the fog
machines tank up, then check it every half hour or so, re-filling it as
needed. One of the main causes of burned out pump-motors is having the fog
machine run out of fog fluid. While it's primary function is to produce
fog, fog fluid also acts as a coolant/lubricant for the pump and motor.
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