A smoke machine is an exceptional piece of equipment that can help add ambience and atmosphere to any on-stage performance. Whether you’re a touring band or a DJ looking to add more dimensions to your set, a smoke machine could be the perfect addition to your current setup. 

Looking to invest in a smoke machine but unsure where to start? At Prebeat, we sell an extensive range of smoke machines, so we’ve put together this guide to educate you on what a smoke machine is, what it does, and how best to use it to keep it running efficiently. 

Table of contents: 

What is a smoke machine?

How does a smoke machine work?

What do you put in a smoke machine?

What comes out of a smoke machine?

How to clean out a smoke machine

Do smoke machines set off fire alarms?

What is a smoke machine?

A smoke machine is a machine that converts a special smoke fluid into a dense vapour, also known as a smoke or fog cloud. Its main function is to create impressive visual effects on stage, in photography or music videos, or as part of an event. 

Sometimes referred to as fog machines, most smoke machines come with a remote control to help control the amount of smoke produced at any given time. 

How does a smoke machine work? 

A smoke machine converts water-based fluid into a non-toxic vapour that fills the space. It’s comprised of the following components:

• A fluid reservoir: this is the place where the fog fluid is stored and where it is heated up to turn it into vapour. 
• A heating element: this warms up the fog fluid and turns it into a vapour, creating visible smoke. Heating is a crucial part of the process, helping to create the dramatic, atmospheric effect. 
• A pump system: the pump draws the fluid out of the reservoir and moves it into the heating chamber, ensuring the supply of fog is consistent during operation.
• A control panel/remote: for the user to control the output, duration and intervals at which smoke is released, smoke machines come with either a control panel and/or a remote for ease of use. 
• The outlet: this is usually a nozzle from which the vapour is released. 

Smoke fluid is added to the reservoir, heated, and turned into vapour. On most models, the output can be controlled so that only the desired amount of smoke is released at any given time.

What do you put in a smoke machine? 

Most common fog machines available today need water-based fog fluid to operate, which can be purchased separately from the machine and topped up before each use. 

Oil-based smoke machines, which use food-grade oil-based fog fluid, are also available. These machines are more effective at fogging in large volumes whilst using a low fluid consumption. 

Water-based smoke machines have substantially improved in recent years. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to transport, making them much more accessible and a great way to add some ambience to live performances or events. 

If you’re wondering what fog fluid to add to your smoke machine, here are some of the options available at Prebeat:

ADJ – Kool Fog 5L Fog Fluid

This fog fluid is designed for ADJ Mister Kool II and Entour Chill Low-Lying Fog Machines. It creates a crisp, white, low-lying cloud when used with low-lying fog machines and is designed to stay low longer than standard fog fluids, perfect for creating an eerie atmosphere at an event or filling a stage at a lower level. 

Equinox DJ Smoke Fluid

Equinox fog fluid is compatible with most standard water-based smoke machines and is perfect for DJ sets and live bands. It produces a dense, airborne fog with a medium-length dispersal time, ideal for live sets and enhancing light shows.

ADJ – Fog Fluid CO2

This ADJ Fog Fluid is compatible with regular, water-based fog machines, but with a powerful fog machine such as ADJ’s Fog Fury Jett, it has a CO2 boost effect, perfect for large discos and clubs, stage effects and shows. ADJ’s fog fluid is harmless to humans, and its glycol and water-based formula doesn’t leave any residue behind.

ADJ – High-Quality Heavy Smoke Fluid

For heavier, high-quality fog, this fluid from ADJ creates an intense fog plume that lingers longer than most standard fog fluids. It produces a heavy white fog that’s best placed on the stage or used for show effects. 

ADJ – High-Quality Medium Smoke Fluid

This smoke fluid may not be as heavy as ADJ’s heavy smoke fluid, but it has a high density and is non-toxic, leaving no sticky residue behind. 

What comes out of a smoke machine?

Smoke machines requiring water-based fluid convert this into a water vapour that creates a smoke effect, colloquially known as fog juice. Usually, this hangs in the air before dissipating a few hours later. 

Most water-based fog machine fluids are made from water-miscible chemicals and are usually based on glycols and glycerol, making them non-toxic and perfectly safe for humans.

How to clean out a smoke machine 

If your smoke machine has a diminishing output, it needs cleaning. Regularly cleaning your smoke machine is the best way to maintain and prevent it from breaking. 

Cleaning your smoke machine is relatively easy to do and could help to prolong its life, and you should aim to do so after every 30 hours of operation or before long periods when you won’t be using it. 

Here’s how to clean your machine:

1. Start by completely emptying the tank of smoke fluid and rinsing it with cold water. 
2. Allow the tank time to dry.
3. Remove the tube from the tank and add the cleaning solution.
4. Heat your smoke machine and switch on the smoke function until the machine stops generating fog. 
5. Allow the cleaning agent to be vaporised (there shouldn’t be a visible output). Keep operating the machine for 20 minutes. 
6. Put the tube back into the fluid tank and the remainder of the cleaning agent back into its bottle.
7. Fill the tank with fog fluid and operate the machine until the visible fog is ejected as normal. 

You should always use a compatible cleaning agent for your machine, such as ADJ Smoke Cleaning Fluid. However, if this isn’t available, you can clean your machine using vinegar and distilled water. To do this, use the following steps: 

1. As vinegar is odorous, take your machine outside to clean it. You will still need to be near a power source to follow the cleaning process effectively.
2. Empty any smoke fluid from the tank before cleaning. 
3. Make a cleaning solution from equal parts distilled water and white vinegar. It’s important to use distilled water here as tap water can leave mineral deposits in the machine that can build up over time, resulting in operational problems further down the line. 
4. Add the mixture to the tank and place it into the fog machine. Allow the machine to run with the water/vinegar solution. 
5. Once the mixture has all been used up, fill the tank again, this time with distilled water. Allow the machine to run again with the distilled water to remove the vinegar smell and any leftover residue.
6. Finally, allow the tank to air dry.

Do smoke machines set off fire alarms?

Although smoke machines can make an event or party look amazing or enhance your set, there is always a chance that they could set off the venue’s smoke alarms. However, the chances of this happening are significantly reduced if you understand your equipment and can implement it effectively.

First and foremost, the risk of setting off a smoke alarm is significantly reduced if you use a haze machine instead of a smoke machine. A haze machine operates slightly differently from a smoke machine, with the haze cloud produced being less dense and hanging in the air for longer. 

Haze machines use fluid that omits vapour with smaller, lighter particles that usually go undetected by smoke alarms, particularly if the haze is used sparingly.  

The output of a smoke machine has larger particles, which are more likely to trigger smoke alarms, but as the fog is dense and heavy, it lies lower to the ground, so again, this can be controlled if the fog is used sparingly – rather than on a constant flow.

How to prevent a smoke alarm from being triggered by your fog machine

As all venues have different smoke alarm systems, there are some measures you can put in place to prevent smoke alarms from ruining your performance. 

Firstly, contact the venue to see which type of smoke alarms they have. Suppose their smoke alarm system operates on a heat-sensitive basis. In that case, the chances of your smoke output setting off the smoke alarm are minimal, as the room temperature would need to rise significantly for this to happen.

If a change in atmosphere activates the venue’s system, your machine will more likely trigger this. In this case, you may need to do some planning before your event. 

Start by doing a venue check-up and testing your equipment to see whether the system can handle your machine. 

If this isn’t possible, you could ask the venue to turn off some of the smoke alarms that could be impacted during your set. This provides some safety risks, so you could employ a fire marshal to work during your gig. Their job would be to silence any alarms, should they be triggered and evacuate the building safely, should a real fire occur. 

Most venues should welcome this, as the presence of a dedicated professional can help with insurance if anything should happen.

Another option is to do the show without smoke if the effect is unnecessary. If you need smoke to enhance your light show, you could swap out your smoke machine for a haze machine, which is less likely to trigger the alarms.

Finally, introducing smoke gradually is the best way to add it to your show. By adding a small amount of smoke to the venue about an hour before your performance and adding to it gradually, you’re less likely to shock the system and trigger the alarm.

Buy smoke machines at Prebeat and elevate your stage show 

Now you know how to use and care for a smoke machine, why not invest in one by shopping from the range available at Prebeat? With options from leading brands, including ADJ, Chauvet and Equinox, you’ll surely find the ideal machine to enhance your stage show or event. Or, for a more subtle haze to elevate your light show, why not browse our haze machines?

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