Fog juice approximately last 3 years unopen shelf life. If the fog fluid is an unsealed container, it is estimated to last 1 year. This is because it gets impurities that can make the liquid thicker, if it looks cloudy or smells off, it’s safest to replace it.
Wondering if you can continue to use that fog machine liquid from last Halloween? Don’t worry. We will have all the fog juice information you will need to determine if your fog juice is still of good quality.
Does Fog Juice Expire?
Most people will say fog juice doesn’t expire, but from my research, I disagree. After opening the fog fluid and the seal is broken, it will obtain some impurities over time that you wouldn’t find in regular fog juice.
Following these steps can help your fog juice last up to 3 years.
Prolong Fog Juice Life
- Don’t open till needed.
- Make sure the container is closed tightly.
- Store in room temperature air.
Once the seal is opened, bacteria enter the fog juice and start to cause issues making it a thicker consistency. This can cause issues in the fog machine itself.
The liquid will go from clear and turned hazy. Some people pour hazy fluid through a coffee filter to catch large particles, but a filter won’t remove bacteria, so it’s safest to replace fluid that has turned cloudy.
If you have not opened the fog juice at all, the shelf life is 3 years.
How Long Does Fog Machine Fluid Last?
How long your fog juice lasts varies depending on the wattage of your machine. About a quart of fog will burn for about 6 hours in a 400W fog machine and 3 hours in an 800W machine.
Can You Leave Fog Juice in A Fog Machine?
Between uses a few days apart, leaving fluid in the tank is usually fine. For longer storage, most makers say to run a cleaning cycle, empty the tank and store the machine dry.
Never run the machine with an empty tank, since that can burn out the pump. Some manuals say to run a little fog fluid through after cleaning so no cleaning solution sits in the heater, so follow yours.
How Do You Store Fog Liquid?
Keep fog fluid in its original bottle, tightly capped, at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Store the fog machine itself clean, empty and dry, in a cool, dry place.
Can You Pour Fog Fluid Down the Drain?
Do not pour fog fluid down the drain. Some fog and haze fluids contain oils, so check the label and your local disposal rules. When pouring things down the drain, always avoid the following, which coincidentally spells FOG!
- Fats
- Oils
- Grease
To dispose of it, make sure the fog juice has cooled if it was at a higher temperature. You can put it in the freezer to speed this up.
Once done, put it in a sealed container closed tightly and dispose of it in your regular way. If there is only a little fog juice, you can use a paper towel to soak it up and throw it away.
Does Dry Ice Expire?
Dry ice, over time, will break down into gas. This process is called sublimation. The usual amount of time for this is 18 – 24 hours.
Does Fog Machine Fluid Freeze?
Water-based fog/haze fluid is mainly glycol-based, so their freezing levels may be less than that in water depending upon the concentration. You must ask the fluid manufacturer for ice temperatures and a specific temperature, but it will freeze once that temperature is reached.
Does Fog Machine Liquid Stain?
Yes, fog machines cause dense fog effects and bring a spooky scene to life. However, they do leave residue, and if it gets on your clothing, it can stain depending on the type of fog juice used.
Some Fog juice liquid is used without oils or glycerin, but others contain them.
Can You Use Any Fog Juice?
I recommend reading the manufacturer’s instructions on what fog fluid to use and how much fog juice. This is because each machine is made differently, and a lot of times, the type of liquid they are using works best with that type and wattage of the fog machine.
This is especially true if you are going for low-lying fog in haze machines. Both the machine and machine fluid are tested for an extended period of time, so you can have proper use with no issues.
Can You Color Fog Machine Smoke?
It is not recommended to color the smoke. Some people say they use food coloring, but I would instead use a colored light that most of these smoke machines now come with for a bit more money.
To enhance this, even more, I recommend a haze machine as their oil base fluid is designed to have such an amazing effect with a light show.
Can You Make Your Own Fog Fluid?
There are fog juice recipes you can use that will work with most machines. I also have a fog juice recipe without using Glycerin. I do recommend reading the machine’s manufacturer warning on the labels first to make sure it is completely safe.
There are two main types of fog fluid out there:
- Water-based fluid
- Oil-based fluid
When making any of these make sure to use distilled water. The water-based fluid will not provide as much smoke as the oil-based fluid.
Only use oil-based fluid in a machine built for it, such as an oil hazer. In a regular fog machine, oil can damage the heater and create a fire hazard, so stick with water-based fluid.
Final Thoughts
Now you understand more about fog machines and the flog fluid that is used. Remember over time the liquid can coagulate slightly as impurities are introduced to the open container.
You should be able to just look at the fog liquid and see if it is hazy instead of the usual clear presence. Ever wonder if a smoke machine can set off a fire alarm, read all about it here!
Please be careful and use at your own risk
None of the authors, contributors, administrators, or anyone else connected with Wild Fog, in any way whatsoever, can be responsible for your use of the information contained in or linked from these web pages.
