Thread: Cleaning fog machines?

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Tried to do a search but the computer kept freezing up so decided to ask.

What is the best way to clean fog machines? Mine has always worked great but this year it didn't work very well at all. Acted like the nozzle was clogged and wouldn't put out a very good stream of fog. Only shot out about 1' to 1 1/2' and was sputtering when it did. I just have a walmart fog machine that i have had for years and i think it is a 400W one but i can't remember right off the top of my head and I also have the automated remote for it.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

I had to disassemble mine to clean it. Mineral deposits build up in the heating element and the nozzle. Some people have had luck with running a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water through it.

That was what i had read on the net when i searched it and I also seen where there are companies now making "Fog machines cleaning juice" don't know how well it works. I will try the distilled water/vinegar first and go from there. Thanks for the imput.

I tore both of mine apart to clean them but, it really didn't help after I ran the cleaning solution through them. They worked fine before I tried the vinegar and water. I haven't done the heating element yet. Maybe next summer when I'm not so frustrated.

years ago i did the vinegar/water to clean & just water to store ...

big mistake

since then i've just stored with normal fluid in the units & never had any more issues

amk

whatever you do do not use tap water, use 40% vinegar and distilled water, there is some kind of really strong peroxide you can get as a last resort, then store it with juice in it. i got that strait from the froggys fog guy, he would know

Just today I cleaned mine using dish washing liquid mixed with water, Granted it actually had algae in it.
I let it sit a while and then rinsed it out with a water hose. I then filled it with fog juice but it still barely came out.
Then I stuck a needle into the nozzle and it unclogged and fog came shooting out. It now works fine.

When you guys stick a needle in the fog nozzle.. first what sort of needle? Would a thin nail about 1" long work? Second, do you take it apart and pull the nozzle off, or leave it intact and just punch through the front of it? I ask because if you don't take the nozzle off, aren't you basically pushing whatever was blocking it back into the machine and at some point it may clog it again since it didn't come out?

I pulled the hose out of the container and cleaned that. Pulled the small mesh screen out and cleaned that from the container too. I then pulled out the plug and copper hosing from the container to the heating element and cleaned out that. Along with the little ball in the joint and the squirting mechanism. All to no avail. I'm thinking mine is in the heating element but, didn't want to have to unwrap it and pull it apart. I did unscrew the heating element screw and poured clr into it with a teaspoon but, that didn't really do any good. I haven't tried the needle. Since the opening is so small, I would think it's a sewing needle.

I actually used a syringe to clean the nozzle