Foam Machine Instructions

** Before Your Party, Make Sure To Test All The Equipment**

Take a few minutes to test everything out ahead of time and make sure it’s all working properly. If anything seems off, it’s much easier for us to assist or make a replacement when there’s no last-minute pressure. A quick check now can save a lot of stress on party day. Thanks for working with us to make your event a success!

VIDEO

Here’s a short video that walks you through the basic operation of the foam cannon. Your cannon may look slightly different, but the setup and operation are the same for all of the cannons we offer.

https://vimeo.com/1090937425/9c61b8d44f?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

INSTRUCTIONS

SAFETY GUIDELINES (PLEASE READ FIRST)

Never spray foam into any body of water such as pools, lakes, or ponds. This creates a serious drowning risk and could result in injury or death.
Do not operate the foam cannon during thunderstorms or severe weather.
Follow standard pool safety rules at all times—no diving, running, or rough play.
Keep all electrical cords and hoses outside of the foam area to prevent tripping or electrical hazards.
Review all safety rules with participants before starting the foam party.
Only use the foam solution provided and follow the mixing instructions carefully.

SETUP INSTRUCTIONS

Choose a clear, flat area within 75 feet of a power source and water hookup.
Place the foam cannon securely onto the tripod (see video for reference).
Attach the short hose firmly to the cannon.
Fill the water bin, making sure the hose rests at the bottom of the bin.
Place the pump into the water bin.
If using the large cannon, attach the handle.
Plug both the pump and cannon into the power strip.
Plug the yellow GFCI pigtail into the outlet, then connect the extension cord.
Attach an on/off valve to the end of the water hose.
Keep the hose at the bottom of the bin to prevent foam from forming inside the container.
Add foam solution according to the bottle directions (approximately 32 oz per bin).
Set up barricades in front of the cannon and water bin, securing them with the provided bungee cords to the bin or tripod.
Turn on the cannon first, then switch on the power strip.
- To shut off, turn off both.
- For the large cannon, make sure the power switch is set to the “I” (on) position.

OPERATING THE FOAM PARTY & SHUTDOWN

Add additional water and small amounts of foam solution as needed, keeping the hose positioned at the bottom of the bin.
Once the party starts, allow a small amount of water to run into the bin so the water level stays consistent or slowly lowers.
Periodically add a few splashes of foam solution and monitor the water level.
Foam looks thin or watery? Add more solution.
In windy conditions, aim the cannon slightly downward to keep foam from blowing back toward the operator.
A full water bin typically lasts 8–10 minutes, so assign someone to actively operate and monitor the cannon.
If foam begins to pile up too high, turn off the cannon temporarily.
- If continuing to run, slightly watering down the bin can help slow foam production.
When finished, turn off the power strip to shut down both the pump and cannon.
Disassemble all equipment, pack everything up, and return all items provided.

HELPFUL TIPS & TRICKS

What's The Best Surface For A Foam Party?

Most surfaces work well for a foam party, especially for events lasting 1–2 hours. If your party will run longer, we strongly recommend choosing a hard surface rather than grass.

Ideal surfaces—especially for parties over two hours—include:

Asphalt
Concrete
Rubber playground surfaces
AstroTurf or similar synthetic turf

Foam behaves the same as plain water when it comes to traction. Any surface that is safe when wet with water will behave the same with foam—the foam solution does not make surfaces more slippery.

We do not recommend using tarps, as they can become very slick when wet (similar to a slip-and-slide), increasing the risk of slips and falls.

From our experience, hard surfaces tend to encourage better behavior from participants and provide more consistent footing throughout the event.

If you’re planning a party on grass, please review the Grass Party section for important tips and considerations.

Is a Foam Party Safe for Grass?

Yes! The foam solution is grass-safe and will not damage your lawn.

A foam party typically uses about 110 gallons of water per hour per cannon. For comparison, a standard lawn sprinkler can use 1,000–1,200 gallons per hour—nearly ten times as much water.

That said, there are a few important things to keep in mind when hosting a foam party on grass:

Pause any lawn treatments during the week of the event.
Parties lasting longer than two hours may lead to muddy conditions—hard surfaces are a better option for longer events.
Watch for uneven ground, holes, or dips that could increase the risk of trips or falls.
Select a safe area and clear debris such as sticks, rocks, or pine cones before the event.
While uncommon, the grass may look a little “ruffled” for a few days afterward due to activity on wet grass. With normal care and about a week of recovery, it will bounce back without issue.

Can I Use a Different Soap or Solution?

No. Do not use any other soap or solution. Using anything other than approved foam solution is unsafe and can be dangerous.

Only the foam solution provided by us—or authentic Foam Daddy solution—may be used in the machine. Our solution is specifically designed for foam parties, thoroughly tested, and proven to be safe for both guests and equipment. It also happens to be the most cost-effective option unless you already have Foam Daddy solution on hand.

Household soaps or unapproved, “generic” solutions can pose health risks, damage the equipment, and produce poor-quality foam. In many cases, they end up costing just as much—or more—while delivering worse results. It’s simply not worth the risk.

This is one situation where using the proper, name-brand foam solution truly matters.

If you need additional solution, we’re happy to provide it and help you determine the right amount for your event. Our goal is to ensure your foam party is smooth, stress-free, and absolutely awesome.

What’s in the Foam?

If you or your guests are curious about what’s in the foam, it’s very similar to a free-and-clear bubble bath, with even fewer ingredients.

Our foam solution is professionally manufactured by Foam Daddy in Arizona and is a purpose-built product used at thousands of foam parties every day.

Ingredients include:

Water
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Glycerin

The solution is hypoallergenic, dye-free, and widely considered safe for both people and animals.

As with any soap-based product, a very small number of individuals may experience a reaction. The most common possibility is mild skin irritation. In the rare event this occurs, simply rinse the affected area thoroughly with water—symptoms typically resolve on their own.

If irritation is noticed in more than one person, consider other possible factors such as lawn treatments, sunscreen, hair products, or insects, which may be contributing. Follow the guidance on those product labels or seek appropriate first aid as needed.

Troubleshooting

Equipment Won’t Power On

All equipment is fully tested before it leaves our facility, so it should arrive ready to go. If it doesn’t turn on, please follow the steps below to quickly identify the issue.

Confirm the outlet has power
Plug in a device you know works (such as a phone charger or lamp). If it doesn’t turn on, the outlet may not have power.
Check and reset the GFCI outlet
Many outdoor outlets are GFCI-protected and may need to be reset. Look for a TEST/RESET button on the outlet and press RESET.
- Note: The reset button may be located on a different outlet on the same circuit. Check nearby outlets and reset those as well.
- If power is still not restored, check the breaker panel for that circuit.
Reset the GFCI pigtail
If the outlet is working, press the RESET button on the 3-foot GFCI pigtail.
Test for power by plugging a known working device directly into the end of the pigtail.
Check the power strip
If the GFCI pigtail has power, plug a working device into the power strip to confirm it is receiving power.
Verify all switches are on
- Make sure the power switch on the foam cannon is turned on.
- Check that the switch on the extension cable reel is also in the on position.

If you’ve gone through all these steps and the unit still won’t power on, please contact us. We’ll help troubleshoot further or arrange a replacement if necessary—we’ve got you covered.

Breaker Tripping

If power to the foam equipment shuts off, it’s usually due to one of two causes: a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) or a Circuit Breaker (CB).

GFCI-related shutdowns happen when the outlet or pigtail detects even a small amount of moisture at the electrical connection. Before plugging anything in, be sure all cords and connections are completely dry. Once dry, press the RESET button on the GFCI outlet or pigtail to restore power.

Circuit breakers trip when too many items are drawing power on the same circuit. Keep in mind that a single circuit may supply electricity to multiple outlets. For example, many homes have all outdoor outlets connected to one circuit.

To prevent breaker issues, make sure the foam equipment is the only device running on that circuit. Common conflicts include refrigerators or other appliances sharing power with outdoor outlets. If this happens, unplug other devices or move the foam equipment to a different circuit.

If you are operating two foam cannons, you may need two separate circuits. Using one indoor outlet and one outdoor outlet often works well.
Always use the provided GFCI pigtail, especially when plugging into indoor outlets, to reduce the risk of electrical shock.

Weak Foam Output or Excess Water Spray

If foam production seems low, start by adding a small amount of additional solution. Be sure it’s mixed thoroughly and allow about 30 seconds for the solution to circulate through the system.

If your water source is a well, you may need to use more solution than the standard recommendation. Minerals in well water can reduce foam output, which is normal and easily adjusted for.

Lots of Water but Very Little Foam?

First, inspect the pump hose connections for leaks. Hand-tighten any fittings that appear loose.

If everything is secure and the issue continues, it’s possible the cannon was slightly shifted during transport. This is easy to correct, and we’ve included the necessary tools and parts. The adjustment usually takes only a few minutes.

We’ve provided a detailed 3-minute video that walks through how to fix nearly all causes of this issue.

👉 Please watch the entire video before making any adjustments. The fixes are quick and simple, but having full context will help you spot the issue right away and resolve it smoothly.