Sodastream Not Carbonating Enough? 6 Steps to Full Fizz

Is your Sodastream not carbonating enough? You might want to check your CO2 levels. Here are 6 steps to full fizz.

Enjoying a nice carbonated drink after an intense running session or during dinner is one of those pleasures in life that have no substitutes. Whether you enjoy plain sparkling water or a delicious fruit-flavored soda, your Sodastream has always been there for you.

That said, I’m not here to sell you on a brand-new model. If you’re reading this article, you already own a Sodastream, and it’s, unfortunately, not carbonating enough.

There are many possible explanations for your current situation. From a depleted CO2 canister to a damaged gas tube. To properly troubleshoot your Sodastream, you must know exactly what to look for. Below, you will find a list of the 6 most common causes behind the issue and simple solutions for each.

Ready? Let’s get to work!

Fixing a Non-carbonating Sodastream

You might be tempted to think your Sodastream is faulty or broken, and I can’t blame you. However, something apparently unimportant, like checking your CO2 canister or water temperature, can make a night and day difference in the results you’re getting from your Sodastream.

Here are 6 steps you can follow for full fizz:

• Check your CO2 levels.
• Push the carbonating button a few more times.
• Use cold water.
• Check your gas tube.
• Only carbonate water.
• Don’t overfill the bottle.

#1 Check Your CO2 Levels

In my opinion, a depleted CO2 canister is the simplest and one of the most common explanations why your Sodastream is not carbonating.

You’d be surprised at how many people bend over backwards trying to find faults in their Sodastream, only to realize they’d run out of gas.

Solution: I find that the best way to tell whether you need a canister replacement is by looking at how your water carbonates. If the fizziness does not increase, no matter how many times you press the carbonation button, your CO2 is definitely depleted.

Luckily, replacing your canister is very simple. You can ask another proud Sodastream owner or find many online resources for the specific steps.

#2 Are You Pushing the Button Enough?

Another possible reason why your Sodastream is not fizzing is that you’re not pushing the carbonation button long enough.

Failing to follow the instructions in your User Manual can be an obstacle in your quest for fizzy drinks.

Solution: When it comes to carbonation, too little is better than too much. Most Sodastream manuals recommend 3 pumps for moderate fizziness and 5 for extreme bubbling, but no more.

Carbonating your drinks adds pressure to your bottles, so overdoing it can break them, causing leaks and all other kinds of havoc. Moreover, excessive consumption of CO2 can give you heartburn and indigestion.

If you bought your Sodastream recently, you can always ask another Sodastream owner or look online. There are tons of resources with useful tips.

#3 Stick to Cold Water

Believe it or not, the end result of your Sodastream’s carbonation process can be highly affected by the water temperature you’re using. CO2 is much better absorbed by water when it’s cold than when it’s lukewarm or hot, which translates into fizzier drinks with fewer pumps.

Solution: I recommend storing your bottle in the fridge for a few hours before carbonating your water for better results.

Don’t overdo it, though. Nearly frozen water can overflow the bottle and cause a mess in your kitchen – especially if you’re in the habit of overfilling your containers.

#4 Check Your Gas Tube

A blocked or damaged gas tube could also explain why your Sodastream is not carbonating your drinks properly. Although the tube is not exposed to the outside world, I find that internal factors can still damage it over time.

The gas tube is constantly passing highly-pressurized CO2 across its length, so it’s actually not that surprising that some eventual wear and tear is bound to happen.

Solution: You’ll have to test and replace the gas tube if necessary. To replace the tube, please follow the steps below:

1. Carefully unplug your Sodastream.
2. Remove your CO2 canister from the back compartment.
3. Remove the bottle if attached to the machine.
4. Locate the screws next to the carbonation terminal.
5. Undo the screws with a screwdriver.
6. Remove the plastic cover, and expose your Sodastream’s guts – you should now have comfortable access to the tube.
7. Carefully but decidedly, begin to pull the gas tube through.

#5 Only Carbonate Water

To solve carbonation issues with your Sodastream, ensure you carbonate plain water first and THEN add any flavors or syrups.

Sodastreams are designed to carbonate plain water and plain water alone, so if your Sodastream is not carbonating enough, you might want to stop trying to bubble up other drinks.

Solution: I recommend giving your user manual another readthrough to find your bottles’ maximum capacity, instructions for common replacements, and the right process for water carbonation.

#6 Don’t Overfill Your Bottle

Lastly, please don’t overfill your Sodastream bottles. Going over the maximum recommended filling capacity cold also easily explain why your Sodastream is not carbonating properly.

Solution: The limit will vary from model to model, but in my experience, you should find it in your user manual.

Alternatively, look for a “Max” marking on the inside of your bottles.

Recommended:

Find Your Product Manual Online

Best Practices

Summarizing, here are some best practices that you can follow to both get the results you want and extend your Sodastream’s lifespan significantly:

• Clean your Sodastream regularly.
• Read your user manual.
• Do not over-pressurize the bottles.
• Keep your water cold.
• Do not overfill the bottles.
• Pump CO2 moderately.

Getting Full Fizz From Your Sodastream

To have your Sodastream not carbonating enough defeats the purpose of owning one altogether. You bought the appliance to get fizzy drinks whenever you wanted, so not being able to without troubleshooting beforehand can be very frustrating.

Luckily, as you’ve learned in this piece, addressing most of the issues that cause a Sodastream that’s not carbonating is fairly simple and quick. All it takes to notice a night and day difference is slightly adjusting your user habits and carefully monitoring your canister’s CO2 levels.

Thank you for sticking with me all the way to the end. If you found this article useful, why not continue learning through our other amazing resources below? You could even consider subscribing to our newsletter.

Bottoms up!

-Craig.