What You Need To Know About Installing A Soda Dispenser In Your Countertop

If you are an avid drinker of soda, then you know the cost of repeatedly going out and buying fountain drinks can add up over time. Sure, you could buy the canned stuff, but sometimes it just seems to be more delicious from a dispenser. You may even think that some chain restaurants have better-tasting soda than others. This difference in quality is often attributed to the preparation before the use of the machine, such as filtering water, chilling ingredients, and finding the correct syrup-to-water ratios. Using this information and your own soda dispenser, you can create the perfect soda, even at home. If you or a loved one is a soda connoisseur who wants easy access to their favorite beverages, installing a countertop soda dispenser could be a surprisingly good option for your home. You can customize the options and always have delicious soda ready without worrying about it going flat. Plus, it is a great addition to create a retro-style kitchen.

However, to install an at-home soda fountain, you need quite a few materials, including a water supply, some bag-in-box syrups, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, and a power source. Additionally, you will need a dispenser, which usually comes with syrup pumps, a carbonator and chiller, syrup tubing and connectors, and CO2 regulators when bought new. A new dispenser can be very expensive, costing thousands of dollars depending on how many soda flavors you want the ability to dispense. Luckily, you can also find resale dispensers that may be more affordable — just make sure you get all of the supplies you need. It's also important to note that you may need to drill holes in your countertop to accommodate the tubing. If you change your mind about the machine, that can create a challenging situation.

Once you have gathered your supplies, you need to put the machine together, which you can do on your own. However, this can be a complex process involving plumbing and electrical work, so hiring a professional to install it may be necessary if you're not comfortable with those tasks. If you purchased the dispenser new, follow the manufacturer's instructions for the best results. If you purchased a used unit without the manufacturer's instructions and cannot find them online, there are some basic guidelines to follow to set up a machine. First, make sure you clean your supplies before setting things up. Whether you bought it new or used, giving everything a good scrub with dish soap and warm water will remove any debris from previous use or manufacturing. 

Connect the bag-in-box syrup to the syrup pump. Then, attach the CO2 regulator to the CO2 canister, and then run a line with a T connector from the regulator into the carbonator and from the regulator to another regulator. Add a line from the second regulator to the syrup pump to power it. Connect your water supply to the carbonator, and plug the carbonator into a power source. 

You will also need a chiller device. A chiller may be built into the carbonator, taking in still water to chill and carbonate simultaneously. If you do not have a dual carbonator and chiller, run the syrup and the carbonated water through the chiller, and connect the output of the chiller to the dispenser. Finally, connect the carbonated water line and syrup line to your dispenser. If you have multiple flavors, make sure all of the syrup lines go to the correct dispenser locations.

Once you know how everything works, you can hide your setup by placing the CO2 canister and syrup boxes inside of a kitchen cabinet. Use some simple tips to declutter your kitchen without going overboard to create a clean cabinet space to accommodate the supplies. Then, drill holes that fit the tubing and allow you to feed the tubes through to connect with the countertop dispenser. Choose between a tower dispenser, soda gun, or draft arm to get the look you want on your countertop.

As for maintenance, it should be pretty limited. You will need to replace the CO2 canister and bag-in-box syrups as they run out or expire. There are a variety of sizes for both of these. You can purchase a large size to reduce your work, leaving you to replace CO2 approximately quarterly and syrups about once per year, depending on how much soda you drink. Anyone can purchase CO2 canisters from gas suppliers, and bag-in-box syrups can be purchased from restaurant suppliers. Depending on the chiller you use, you may also need to replace ice — this is the case if you are keeping a cold plate chilled. Other systems may require you to top off a tank of water occasionally. Finally, you will need to keep things clean. Regularly clean the dispenser and any drip plates, and wipe the exterior. Occasionally, you should also clean and sanitize the tubing and connectors. 

With all of this soda, you can quench your thirst and definitely impress all of your guests. For another surprisingly practical use, learn about and make the soda that you will want to add to your compost heap.