Thread: Fog Machines cleaned! Question for Fog folks

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Ok, I followed Froggy's fog rules for cleaning.

First, the solution is one part white vinegar and 3 parts distilled water

Poured the solution in all 3, swished and poured out.

Poured new solution in, ran foggers for 4 bursts each

Poured out remaining solution

Poured in distilled water, swish around then pour out.

Poured new solution in, ran foggers for 4 bursts each again

Poured out remaining solution

Poured in distilled water, swish around then pour out.

Filled all 3 with fog, ran each for 5 bursts each


Now, after checking the instructions (of course) I missed one step of running the machines with distilled water only before adding back the fog solution.

Is this critical or should I be ok since I ran the fog solution a little longer in each one??

I have used the same 5 fog machines for years and never cleaned them. Never had a problem. You should be ok.

I clean mine with distilled and vinegar and one is clogged beyond repair. I like LordGrimley's method.

I empty the machines each year and voila they work the next. Let me add this to the discussion. We are an online store and one year we attempted to order the fog cleaner solution from a vendor. They canceled our order saying not enough people ordered the cleaner to make a production run. That says it all.

Wow! That's a pretty elaborate routine. I empty mine, mix in 20% white vinegar and distilled water, run the machines until clear, drain the solution and store. I wouldn't leave fog juice in the machine. It get's sticky and clogs.

That said, I've had machine I cleaned and didn't clean all die in the past.

YMMV!

I've never cleaned mine either. I just dump them out, wipe them off, and back in the box the go. I also store mine in the attic. My oldest one is about 7 years old and still chugging along. It is a 700 watt Lite F/X . It will be a sad day when that one dies. She has been quite the workhorse.

OK, this is getting frustrating. So far here are the options for what you should do to prior to storing your fog machine:

Leave the juice in

or/

Drain the juice.

or/

Rinse out with vinegar/water and drain

or/

Rinse out with vinegar/water, drain and refill with juice.

UGH!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Push Eject

I clean mine with distilled and vinegar and one is clogged beyond repair. I like LordGrimley's method.

I had someone give me 3 foggers a few years back that were used in a haunt. Someone had apparently cleaned them using the vinegar method and the pistons in the pumps actually rusted and had seized up. I was never able to get them working right again.

I have fog juice that is 2 + years old and I have not had any problems with it gumming up. I am not saying it is gospel, but i go with what works for me. ; ) I have never had any new foggers i bought crap out yet. I'll never run water though any of mine.

I know the feeling Terra.

A lot has to do with your fog fluid, and where you are storing your machines.

Some fog fluid gets real grimey if it's left to sit. Especially if stored in an area subject to extreme temperatures. (like my non-climate-controlled garage)

My first year, I left the fog fluid in, as was suggested here when I asked.

The next year, I had a layer of gunk in the reservoir, and the little strainer thing on the line was gummed up. The leftover gallon of fluid did the same. I'm not sure if it was the heat or the cold, but something ruined that juice. (My old chemistry background wants to suggest freezing/near freezing caused some of the glycols to seperate and gel, but I'm not positive) Once that was cleaned away, and new fluid bought, it worked fine.

I stored them in the house the next year, with fluid in. No problems with either.

The following year, I emptied them and stored them back in the garage, fluid in the house. No problems. This has become my norm.

So, from my experience, it depends on where you're storing them. If it's the proverbial "cool dry place", you're probably fine to leave fluid in. If you're using cheaper fluid and/or storing them where they are subject to temperature swings (storage shed, garage, attic, etc), you're probably best off draining them.

Running some distilled water and vinegar through does help clean up any gunk caught in the line, and I have done this when machines have become plugged in the past (along with the poking the nozzle with a needle). But, I certainly wouldn't be leaving that mixture in a line over a year, myself. It could react with some of the glycol residue to produce oxidation (rusting). So, you probably would want to run fluid back through after doing this if you do. I'ld only clean as needed, myself.

I think the biggest keys are using quality juice to begin with, and proper storage of the juice. Drain the machine if they're not going to be stored in a cool dry place, and you're most likely going to be fine.

Regarding first post, why would you put fog juice back in and burst it before storing the units? That puts you right back where you started.