Common Fog Machine Repair Issues You Should Know

In this article, I’m going to introduce some common symptoms and issues encountered with fog machines based on our experience handling over 20 repair and support requests per month.
While I’ve covered some repair topics before, here’s a comprehensive summary.

Before diving into symptoms, let’s take a look at what’s inside a fog machine.
(Photo shows Antari Z-1000II)

Simplified,a fog machine typically consists of three main parts (though the exact components may vary slightly by model):
Heater, pump, and PCB (Printed Circuit Board).

Heater: Heats and vaporizes the liquid sent from the pump to produce smoke.
Pump: Transfers liquid from the tank to the heater.
PCB (Printed Circuit Board): Manages the heater’s temperature, controls the pump’s ON/OFF operation, and overall device functionality.

Now, let’s explain the symptoms and potential causes.

Symptom 1: No Smoke or Low Smoke Output

Check Parts → Heater, Pump

● Possible Causes
- Heater may be clogged, preventing liquid from coming through.
- Pump may be malfunctioning, not sending liquid to the heater.
- A clogged heater could overload and damage the pump.

〇 Common Issue: Continuing to use the machine with a clogged heater can lead to liquid leaking from the tube gaps or the tube connecting the heater and pump becoming clogged.

Symptom 2: Liquid Not Being Pulled Up

Check Parts → Pump, PCB

● Possible Causes
- Faulty pump.
- PCB malfunction, preventing power from reaching the pump.

〇 Common Issue: If the pump is broken, the heater is often clogged as well.

Symptom 3: Heater Not Warming Up (Not Warming Up)

Check Parts → Thermostat, Temperature Fuse

● Possible Causes
Overheating may trigger the thermostat to shut off.
Temperature fuse may have blown, cutting off power to the heater.

〇 Common Issue: Using the machine in poorly ventilated areas where temperature rises easily can lead to recurrent issues.

Symptom 4: Power Not Turning On

Check Parts → Fuse, Power Switch

● Possible Causes
- Fuse in the fuse box may be blown.
- Power switch contacts may be degraded.

These are the most common issues encountered in fog machine repairs.
Additionally, here’s how to clean the internal components:

Internal Cleaning Method

Empty the tank, then fill about one-third with a cleaning solution (80% distilled water, 20% acetic acid). Turn on the power and allow the machine to warm up.
Operate the fog output until most of the cleaning solution is expelled from the tank. Ensure the tank doesn’t run dry. After cleaning, refill with fog liquid and run the machine briefly to expel any remaining cleaning solution from the pump and heater.
*Never operate the fog machine with an empty liquid tank.

For a beginner’s guide on fog machine maintenance, please refer to our Tora no Maki page.

⇒ Sound House Tora no Maki! “Lighting Basics: Fog Machine Edition”