How Much Dry Ice Do I Need for Halloween?

For more information, please visit our website.

If you really want to up the ante on your Halloween displays and parties, there’s nothing better than creating creepy, foggy effects with dry ice. But how much dry ice will you need for this year’s holiday spooktacular, and how do you make that fog effect last as long as possible?

Tips For Dry Ice Shopping

Based on our experience, you can make a two-pound block of dry ice produce fog for about 20 minutes by following these four tips:

1. Use the right water-to-dry ice proportions – Aim to combine dry ice with water at a ratio of about one gallon of water to two pounds of dry ice. Use a thick, rectangular chunk of dry ice, and put it in a bowl large enough so that the water submerges the dry ice to a depth of about half an inch.
2. Use a deep bowl – Ideally, you want a thick, plastic bowl at least three times as deep as the dry ice block you’re using. A deep bowl will allow fog to gather before it spreads, which will generate a fog with a relatively uniform thickness.
3. Use a small fan – Dry ice fog effects will start to dissipate about two to three feet from the bowl; to extend that range and direct the fog, use a small fan on a low setting.
4. Recycle the water – If you want the dry ice effect to last, keep refreshing the water; stagnant water will not stay carbonated – the key to a great and lasting fog effect.

It is important to note that although the fog is just water and C02, you should always allow for adequate ventilation when using dry ice in general, and particularly for fog effects. And, as always, follow your dry ice safe handling instructions!

Be the ghostess with the mostest this Halloween – stop in and stock up on dry ice for your Halloween party at our convenient store locations! Contact us today to learn more.

IRISH CARBONIC
1444 Clinton Street | Buffalo, NY 14206
(716) 827-2727 | Map & Directions »

IRISH CARBONIC AND PROPANE
535 Buffalo Road | Rochester, NY 14611
(585) 254-6844 | Map & Directions »

Halloween is that time of year when dry ice comes out in all its theatrical glory. The spooky aura of Halloween calls for some equally spooky fog to complete the look for your Halloween decorations. Whether you are hosting an indoor Halloween party or are transforming your front yard into the haunted house of a mad scientist, dry ice is your answer. Before you run away with imagining your theatrical effects, one must also consider the technicalities. Below we’ll look at the question of how to keep dry ice fogging.

Goto TOPCAT to know more.

Materials

To begin, gather your materials. You will need three items: dry ice, hot water, and a container of your choice. To determine how much dry ice you need, you’ll need to think in terms of pounds of dry ice and how many hours your festivities will last. Dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide, sublimates at about 5-10 pounds every 24 hours when left in an insulated cooler. For the best fogging results, you’ll want to buy dry ice pellets. If you buy a block of dry ice, you can break it into smaller pieces. As for why the water must be hot for the fogging to work and what type of container might be best to use, read on for further discussion.

Method

The best way to keep dry ice fogging for the longest amount of time is still somewhat a matter of trial and error. However, some have discovered methods to do just this. One method is to use a pound of dry ice for every half-gallon of hot water. Another version is to add one cup of dry ice to every gallon of hot water. You can experiment a bit to find a happy medium. 

The reason you’ll want to use hot water instead of cold water is that sublimation will happen a lot more when the temperature between the dry ice and the water is greater. Cold water is still warmer than dry ice (-109.3 degrees F,) but it will produce less fog than hot water would. Even so, hot water will cause the dry ice to dissipate faster than the cold water, so you will need to re-add both dry ice and hot water to the concoction more frequently. 

Presentation

As for presentation, the dark, night sky is your limit for what you can do. To make the fog flow further, aim a fan on a low setting behind the sublimating dry ice. This carbon dioxide fog is heavy, and can make a convincing ground-covering mist. Another way of utilizing this vaporous element is to place the water and dry ice in a bowl inside a cauldron or jack-o-lantern.

Dry Ice For All Your Needs

Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our dry ice is fresh and delivered right to your doorstep. We are happy to help you determine the best way to ship your goods, whether you have a huge amount of cookies or a single pie, and help you select the perfect amount of dry ice for the job. Give us a call at (201) 767-3200 or contact us online for a quote. To connect with us online, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitter.

For more Dry Ice Low Fog Machineinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.