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How to Pump Smoke From a Smoke Machine

Smoke machines, or fog machines, add pizzazz to a theater production or Halloween display, creating realistic-looking fog or smoke that sets a spooky scene or a stormy night. But smoke machines don't really pump smoke. They operate on a glycol-based fluid that is heated up inside the machine and pumped out in the form of a thick vapor that resembles smoke. Learning how to pump smoke out of the smoke machine is a straightforward process, but instructions must be followed carefully to prevent accidents.

Things You'll Need

  • Smoke machine
  • Smoke fluid
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the smoke machine on a stable surface for safety. Fill the tank with smoke fluid, which should come with the smoke machine. Plug in the machine and turn it on.

    • 2

      Watch for the indicator light to come on. After turning on the smoke machine, it will need several minutes to heat to the proper temperature. When it reaches that temperature, an indicator light should come on to show the machine is ready.

    • 3

      Start the pump. The smoke machine should have a switch or button to press to activate the pump.

    • 4

      Prime the pump. Turn the output knob to the lowest setting. This prepares the pump for the optimal results. When the pump is ready, adjust the output knob to produce the desired volume of smoke.

    • 5

      Use the timer, if needed, to put the pump on a timer system. Adjust the interval and duration knobs, if using the timer, to set when and for how long the smoke machine will operate.

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