How to make low lying fog with a cheap DIY fog chiller

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If you want to take your fog game to the next level and create that chilling, low-lying fog that lingers eerily close to the ground, then learn how to craft your own DIY fog chiller! Step by step printable instructions and video tutorial included.

Creepy Halloween decorations lit up on halloween night.

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Imagine this: It’s Halloween night, and your front yard is transformed into a hauntingly eerie Halloween graveyard. Ghostly apparitions rise, and a mysterious fog crawls across the lawn, shrouding everything in an otherworldly mist.

You’re not in a Hollywood studio; you’re in your own backyard, and you’ve achieved this spine-tingling atmosphere with your very own DIY fog chiller!

In this step-by-step tutorial, we’re going to show you how to turn a simple cooler into a DIY fog chiller that will elevate your Halloween decor, impress party guests, and add an extra layer of mystery to decorations. Your next Halloween masterpiece awaits!

Benefits of this Setup

The cooler is insulated, which makes the inside air cooler and the ice won’t melt as fast.
Works with regular ice or dry ice, albeit a little bit differently for dry ice.
Leaks are minimal or not at all, which means you don’t have to tape shut.
Easy to refill with ice if needed.
Fog juice tank is accessible for easy refilling, if needed.
Less ground footprint required which makes it a bit easier to hide from view, if desired.

Why do you need a Fog Chiller to make Low Lying Fog?

To make a spooky fog for fun Halloween effects, you only need a fogger machine and some fog juice. However, what you may find is that the fog floats upwards and creates a misty cloud rather than low lying tendrils.

This happens because the fogger heats up the juice to create a vapor. What a chiller does is cools the vapor down as it sinks through a layer of ice to condense into a thicker vapor. This allows the vapor to stay closer to the ground.

Note: If you live in a warm climate or sunny day while the fogger is in use, some fog will rise again as it is heated from the ambient air. The effect is still a vast improvement over thin fog and smoky, obscured decorations.

What You will Need

The full supply list and instructions are included in a handy printable how-to card at the bottom of this post, but I give a few tips on things we used and why here.

Supplies needed for a fog chiller including cooler, fog machine, fog juice, and tools.

Fog Machine. The higher wattage, the more fog the machine will produce. We purchased this 850-watt machine, which fills about a 12-15 square foot area pretty well through a single port.

Low Lying Fog Juice. Fog juice is water based and either type of fog juice will work, but low lying definitely works better and stays lower to the ground for longer.

Large Cooler or Container. I have seen storage totes used but they can be quite leaky for the vapor and don’t have any insulation to keep the ice cold, so I prefer a cooler. The bigger the better, but space constraints can be an issue. Our cooler is 52qts.

Straight PVC plumbing pipe. You need about 3-4 feet or so depending on the size and shape of your container. We used 2 inch inside diameter pvc pipe.

Something to cut pvc pipe. This can be a pipe cutter tool, a hacksaw, bandsaw, or a jigsaw tool just to name a few.

PVC elbow couplings. We used 2-inch 90-degree PVC hub adapters and added a pvc increaser on the outflow side. Make sure of a good fit with your straight pvc pipe.

PVC Glue. We used PVC cement to seal and glue together all of the pipe. You can do without the purple primer, since this isn’t actual plumbing.

Caulk. 100% waterproof caulk will help seal the holes in the cooler around the pvc pipe and close any air gaps.

2.5-inch Hole Saw bits and Drill. Use whatever size matches your pvc pipe fittings.

Chicken wire or grating. This is used at the outlet end to keep the ice from clogging and allowing the melted water to leave.

Ice. Procuring dry ice is not easy in many areas. However, this setup is designed for regular ice because it lasts longer and won’t need refilling often. We have used this machine for a few hours at a time without needing to be refilled.

Is dry ice or regular ice better for fog chillers?

Dry ice works much better because its colder and it actually creates fog when it comes into contact with water or water vapor, which multiplies the effect. Dry ice does not create fog without humidity or water. A 2lb brick of dry ice only lasts about 15-20 minutes in the right circumstances. However, if you had enough dry ice, you don’t technically NEED an additional fog machine.

Tips for Making the Ultimate DIY Fog Chiller

The inside of a DIY fog chiller design with pvc pipe and chicken wire.

The bigger the container (and thus more ice that the vapor comes in contact with) the better. We used a 52qt cooler due to hiding this in the bushes.
I have seen storage bins, garbage cans, and coolers used.
Even a slight breeze is going to have major negative effects on the fogging ability.
The hot fog will pass through the area of least resistance, so keep that in mind for how much ice you add.
Make sure your fog machine is about an inch away from the pvc elbow input to prevent backflow of the fog hitting the adapter.
As the ice melts, the water needs to drain away because the vapor can’t pass through it.
If the vapor is leaking out the top of your container, you can duct tape it or add a gasket all the way around.
How much ice you need depends on the size of your container. For this compact cooler, we used 30 pounds of ice.
Low lying fog juice is thicker and thus denser than regular juice so it’s better at crawling across the ground.

More Halloween Ideas for Fun!

My family loves decorating for Halloween. We have tons more fun ideas for you to check out like:

Safety Precautions

Be cautious when using fog machines and ensure proper ventilation to avoid inhaling excessive fog.
Keep the fog machine and electrical components away from moisture and water sources.
Make sure the fog machine is properly maintained and cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

A working fog machine with low lying fog coming out the front.

DIY Fog Chiller Video Explanation

While I am quite camera shy, I put together a video explanation of how this mechanism works and how we made it in about a half an hour.

FAQs

How can I make my own fog solution?

You can mix 25% vegetable glycerin and 75% distilled water (or ¼ cup and ¾ cup respectively) to create a DIY fog juice. Use 100% pure products or you may gum up the machine with minerals and residues.

Why use a fog chiller?

Modern fogging machines work by heating up the fog juice into a vapor, but particularly if you live in a warm climate, that fog dissipates into the air like a fog cloud. If you want a low-lying creeping fog, you can create your own fog chiller to achieve that effect.

Is a fog chiller the same as a fog machine?

While there are dry ice fog chillers, these machines only use dry ice and a fan to direct the water vapor cloud out. They aren’t the same as a fog machine that heats up a solution to create fog.

Do you have to clean a fog machine after every use?

Before storage, make sure to run out or remove any leftover juice from the machine as it can evaporate and ruin your machine with clogged residue. If you use it often for parties or special effects, the general rule is that you should clean your fog machine every 60-80 hours of use.

How much fog does this put out?

The higher wattage of the fog machine, the more fog this will produce. We purchased this 850 watt machine, which fills about a 12-15 square foot area pretty well. A slight breeze or sunny day however will cause the fog to move or dissipate more quickly.

Weekend DIY project. A pegboard organizer in the craft room above the desk workspace.

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PS I love seeing your creations! Be sure to take a photo and tag #cravingcreative on Instagram! You can also stay in touch with me through following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and subscribing to the newsletter!