FOAM MACHINE INSTRUCTIONS
Before your party, make sure to test all your equipment.
Play around with it a bit to see if everything works smoothly. It's much easier for us to help you troubleshoot or replace anything if needed when you're not rushed or stressed out right before the party. Trust us, taking a little time for this will save you a lot of hassle later on. Thanks for helping us help you!
VIDEO
Here is a short video that goes over the basic operation of the cannon. Your cannon may look the same or different but the operation is exactly the same for both of the cannons we offer.
Instructions
SAFETY FIRST
- Don't spray foam on a body of water (pool, lake, etc). It is a serious drowning hazard and death may occur.
- Don't use it during thunderstorms.
- Follow pool rules: no diving, running, or rough play.
- Keep cables and hoses away from foam area.
- Go over safety rules with everyone.
- Only use the foam solution provided and follow the instructions.
SETUP INSTRUCTIONS
- Find a clear spot near water source and power, with flat ground within 75 feet.
- Put the cannon on its tripod (video)
- Connect the short hose to the cannon securely.
- Fill the water bin, making sure the hose is at the bottom.
- Put the pump in the water.
- For the large cannon, attach the handle.
- Connect the pump and cannon to the power strip.
- Plug in the yellow GFCI pigtail into the outlet, then plug in the extension cable.
- Put an on-off valve on the end of the water hose.
- Keep the hose at the bottom to avoid foam forming in the bin.
- Add solution following the bottle instructions (about 32 oz per bin).
- Put up barricades in front of the cannon and bin, secure with provided bungees to bin or tripod.
- Turn on the cannon, then the power strip. To turn off, switch off both.
- For the large cannon, push the power switch to the "I" position.
Running the Party and Ending
- Add more water and a little solution as needed. Keep the hose at the bottom of the bin.
- Once you start the party, let a little bit of water run into your bin so that the water level stays about the same or slowly lowers. Add a few splashes of solution periodically. Keep an eye on water level.
- Thin watery foam = add more solution.
- If it's windy, aim the foam cannon downward to keep the foam in place and keep it from blowing back on operator.
- Our typical water bin will last 8-10 minutes, so keep an eye on it and have someone operate the cannon.
- If foam is stacking too high, you can turn off the cannon. If you want to keep it running, water down the water bin a bit can help slow it down.
- When done, turn off the power strip to shut off both the pump and the cannon. Take everything apart and pack it away. Make sure you return all items.
HELPFUL TIPS AND TRICKS
What's the best surface for a party?
Most surfaces are great for a foam party, especially when the duration is 1-2 hours. The longer your party, the more you'll want a hard surface vs. grass.
Asphalt, concrete, rubber playground material, Astroturf type surfaces are IDEAL, especially when the party lasts more than 2 hours.
All surfaces will behave the same as when it's wet and the foam solution does not make things slicker than they would be when wet with plain water.
We do not recommend tarps as they are slick when wet (think about a slip and slide).
In our experience, hard surfaces encourage participants to "behave better" and they provide additional traction.
See the section on grass parties for some special notes on grass.
Is it safe for grass? (And some notes on grass parties)
Yes, the solution itself is safe for grass and will not harm the grass.
A party will use about 110 gallons of water per hour, per cannon. A typical lawn sprinkler uses about 1020 gallons per hour (about 10x as much).
That said, there's some important things to know about parties on grass.
Pause all lawn treatments the week of the party.
Parties longer than 2 hours will get muddy, consider a hard surface instead for longer parties.
Be aware of uneven ground and avoid areas with holes/dips that may cause injuries.
Choose a safe area and clear any debris such as sticks and pine cones from the area.
It is rare but possible that the grass will experience a "bad hair day" for a few days following a party. A lot of people danced on wet grass. Give it about a week and it will always bounce back and be just fine :).
Can I use other solution/soap in the machine?
NO! DO NOT USE ANY OTHER SOLUTION OR SOAPS. IT IS DANGEROUS.
You may only use solution provided by us or authentic Foam Daddy solution. We are the cheapest source unless you happen to already have foam daddy solution. Our solution is purpose made for foam parties and has been extensively tested to be safe for your guests and our equipment.
Soap and other "no name" solutions are dangerous to the health of your guests. They are also going to create terrible foam and cost as much or more to produce sufficient output. Please do not risk it. This is one of those times when yes, you really do need to use the "name brand" stuff.
We will happily provide you with additional solution and work with you to make intelligent recommendations to make sure you get exactly what you need for your party. We want you to have a worry free, and most excellent experience. A fabulous one, if you will :).
What's in the foam?
If you (or someone else) would like to know what's in the foam - it's essentially free and clear bubble bath but with even fewer ingredients. The foam solution is manufactured by Foam Daddy in Arizona and is a purpose made solution used at thousands of parties every day.
The ingredients are: water, sodium laurel sulfate, and glycerin It is hypo-allergenic, dye free, and generally accepted as safe for all people and animals.
Like any soap product, it could cause some rare individuals to react in some way. The most likely reactions are minor skin irritation. In the very unlikely event of any skin irritation, rinse the area thoroughly with water and it will usually resolve on it's own.
If irritation occurs in more than one individual, keep in mind any other products (grass treatments, hair products, sunscreens, etc) as well as insects, as they may be the cause and may have other first aid measures required. Refer to those product's labels for instructions.
SUGGESTED SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
Here is one of the playlists we have curated for schools, birthday parties, daycares, and general audiences, where it's just as important that the adults enjoy it as the kids. It always gets unsolicited compliments so we hope you enjoy it too.
It is a mix of high-energy Pop songs reimagined by Kidz Bop, some popular kids songs, and some reimagined/remixed Disney songs.
Unfortunately, we don't have it on Apple Music or other platforms at this time, but feel free to use it for inspiration.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Click here for Troubleshooting Videos
Poor Foam Production/Spraying or Leaking Water
If you have poor foam production, try adding a little more solution first. Make sure you're mixing it well and give it about 30 seconds to cycle through.
If you know that you have water from a well, you may find that you need to use more solution than is generally recommended due to the mineral content of your water.
LOTS OF WATER COMING OUT BUT LITTLE FOAM?
Check first for leaks around the pump hose connection. Hand tighten anything that might be lose there.
If this looks good then it may be that the cannon was "damaged" in transit. It's easy to fix and we have provided tools and parts for this. Repair/adjustment should only take a few minutes.
Watch the whole video first before attempting repair. All of these are very quick and easy but it's helpful to have context and know things to look for first.
Breaker Tripping
There are two main reasons why power might get cut off for foam equipment: Ground Fault (GFCI) and Circuit Breaker (CB).
GFCI outlets and pigtails stop power when they sense even a little water on the electrical connection. Before plugging in, make sure all connections are dry. To restore power, just press the RESET button once the water is gone.
Circuit Breakers trip when too many devices are on the same circuit. Remember, a circuit might power multiple outlets. For example, outdoor outlets in many homes are on one circuit. To avoid tripping, ensure only the foam equipment is plugged into its circuit.
Often, as an example, people have fridges on the same circuit as outdoor outlets, causing issues. Simply use a different circuit or unplug other devices to free up capacity on that circuit for the cannon(s).
If you need two circuits (e.g., for running two foam cannons), try using one indoor and one outdoor outlet. Always use the GFCI pigtail, especially indoors to reduce the risk of electric shocks.
Doesn't turn on
We test all equipment prior to sending it out, so your equipment should be in working order. However, here's some helpful troubleshooting instructions.
First, check your outlet by plugging in something you know works, like a phone charger or a lamp. If it doesn't work, check for a GFCI "reset" button. Many outdoor outlets will initially not work because their GFCI (ground fault) has been tripped. Hit the reset button and see if power is restored. If not, check the breaker for that outlet.
Resetting GFCI: Look for a TEST/RESET button on the outlet. Sometimes, it's on a different outlet on the same circuit. For example, your outdoor outlets may all be GFCI protected but there's only a test/reset button on one of them. Check those for the test/reset button and hit RESET on them as well.
If the outlet works fine, but the foam cannon still won't turn on, press the RESET button on the 3ft GFCI pigtail. Check power at the end of this pigtail by plugging something directly into it that you know works.
If it's still not working but the GFCI pigtail has power coming out of it, check if there's power at the power strip by plugging in something else that works. If there's power there but the cannon still won't turn on, make sure the power switch on the cannon is on and check the switch on the extension cable reel is also on.
If none of that helps, let us know, and we'll figure out what's wrong or replace it if needed.