Easiest solution I found is sticking with the Sodastream system, but refilling the CO2 tanks myself.<p>For that I’m using this simple adapter [0].<p>NB, newer Sodastream tanks have a booby trap valve, but I had no problem sourcing older ones. Spare Sodastream “60 Liter” tanks can be had at BestBuy for $30.<p>Refilling of my large 20lb CO2 tank with dip tube [1] (also called siphon) is done at a Bay Area fountain supply store [2] for ~$30. This store also carries commercial syrup for all kinds of soft drinks (Coke Zero, Apple Juice, Ice tea, etc.).<p>For a more continous supply of carbonated water, I’ve thought about a small “Korny” keg system with a special adapter [3]. But that would require fridge space and running CO2 and water lines. A Kegerator for the garage may be the better solution.<p>[0] <a href="https://www.co2-adapter.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.co2-adapter.com/</a><p>[1] <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ICO58CG" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ICO58CG</a><p>[2] <a href="https://www.carbonicservice.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.carbonicservice.com/</a><p>[3] <a href="https://www.morebeer.com/products/continuous-soda-carbonator-keg-lid.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.morebeer.com/products/continuous-soda-carbonator...</a>
This is a surprisingly in depth overview of various carbonation options! I wish I had found this when setting up a carbonator at home at the start of the pandemic.<p>> For economical home use, the best solution to the chiller overhead would seem to be in altering the commercial design by refrigerating the pressure vessel. This should be possible by separating the pressure vessel from the rest of the carbonation unit and installing the vessel in the household refrigerator. The unit could then be operated at lower CO2 pressures. This would require adapting the liquid and gas plumbing on the unit, and the electrical controls, to make them longer and to pass them through the walls of the refrigerator.<p>I ended up doing something similar - I found a large commercial kegerator cheap on Craigslist and stuck a McCann carbonator entirely inside it. Then I just had to run power and water to it, which is simpler than splitting the carbonator itself into two components. It works surprisingly well (after replacing a bad check valve on my eBay-sourced model).<p>I sourced a post-mix bar gun from eBay to dispense it, which also lives entirely in the fridge with the carbonator. After learning about how soda systems work, it was also easy to add a bag-in-box soda system. The pumps are cheap used and are powered by CO2, so you need an extra regulator per syrup you want to add, and then run a line for it to the bar gun. The syrup box lives in the fridge with everything else, so it all stays cold (and the fridge is large enough that we use it for extra fridge space and for beer kegs).<p>The only downsides are that it’s loud (both the fridge compressor and the carbonator) so it lives on the back porch, and the fridge uses more electricity than I’d like (because it’s commercial). If you were willing to spend more money on a similar set up though, you could fix those issues.
A few years ago, I set up a water carbonation system in my fridge consisting of a tank, two mini kegs, and a beer tap fixed to one of the shelves. It worked a treat, because I could just open the fridge, pull the tap lever, and carbonated water came out. When one keg ran out, I switched the tap to the other keg, then filled the empty one from the sink. The 20lb CO2 canister would feed into both kegs at the same time. While one keg was recharging (takes 2-3 days), the other was providing carbonated water. One canister lasted 6 months to a year depending on use, and cost $30 to refill.<p>When I moved to Europe I couldn't take it with me, so I just bought a Sodastream. Now that the mini CO2 tanks are standardized, you can just take your empties to the supermarket and swap them for filled ones at dirt cheap prices.
I used to use a Carbacap(<a href="https://www.morebeer.com/products/carbacap.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA09eQBhCxARIsAAYRiyk1ZTb1K1mcFd2iKIqI6Ttyce_apX7V534EqlFKcfnp94OwCxpw7sQaAingEALw_wcB" rel="nofollow">https://www.morebeer.com/products/carbacap.html?gclid=Cj0KCQ...</a>) adapter to hook up my tank to a 2L bottle.<p>Fill the 2L with cold liquid, pressurize, shake, pressurize, shake, etc. It's amazing to fill the bottle until it's hard and then as you shake it the co2 dissolves and the bottle gets soft. You can carbonate beverages more than normal with this approach. On the final carbonation, you'll want to put the bottle in the fridge for a while before you release the pressure so it stabilizes.<p>I made many custom and weird concoctions over the years with this setup.
I love my Sodastream at home.
Just came across a startup that tackles carbonating water on the go as well. Still not in production but hopefully they manage to get it out to market soon.
<a href="https://www.bottleplus-shop.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.bottleplus-shop.com/</a>
I remember seeing this article years ago and the idea has always stuck with me. I got gifted a sodastream not long ago and I'm tempted to just buy that long hose adapter that goes straight to the big CO2 containers.
There’s the Fizz Giz if you don’t want to make something like this yourself. <a href="http://www.sodastreamalternative.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.sodastreamalternative.com/</a>
I’ve been force carbonating since this summer. Have a few 2 liter bottles in the fridge with cold water at all times. A great, cheap, healthy alternative to other beverages like soda or beer.