Smoke Puffer

My smoke puffer has stopped working. The batteries are fresh and the unit has full fluid. The light does come on when the trigger is pulled. I am using a fresh set of regular Energizer batteries. (I’ve tried another set thinking it may be weak batteries but it isn’t.)

I’m not sure if the internal parts are bad. Are there replacement parts for the device? I use it every day for my energy audits. I’ve been using mine for about 6 months. It’s the best tool on the market for the draft testing smoke. – WA

A: Dear WA,

It sounds like the heating element in the Smoke Pencil took one jolt too many. We highly recommend rechargeable batteries to use with your Smoke Pencil, because alkaline batteries tend to create power spikes at the start and end of their power cycles (every time you pull the smoke trigger). These voltage jolts tend to be hard on the small heating element in the smoke pencil and eventually wear it down over a long periods of time (like 6 months). Rechargeable batteries, on the other hand, keep a nice steady voltage and don’t spike, so they are not hard on the Smoke Pencil and they can help it last many times longer.

I would really recommend rechargeable batteries for your Smoke Pencil, especially since you use it every day. We sell a rechargeable kit on our website www.smokepencil.com but to be honest you can use any AA rechargeable. This advice is too late for your current Smoke Pencil, but I tell you what, if you call in an order and ask for me, I will make sure you get free shipping on your next one. – Jason