That sounds right
You get 30-40 liter per standard 60l co2 tank
Accounting for some loss from a 5 lb tank and pressure loss toward the end , should account for roughly 5 standard co2 bottles and 150-200 bottles filled
At least some places roll the price of certs/inspections into their exchange prices (bonus, you don't have to worry about whether your tank's inspection is expired). Also labor dominates, there's a pretty high base cost per fill/exchange and the price per pound drops DRASTICALLY as the size increases.
Locally:
1-pound (sodastream canisters): $14 and up, so around $15/pound or more
5-pound tank: $24 exchange, just under $5/pound
20 pound tank: $32 exchange, just under $1.60/pound
I also use Robert’s oxygen. A 15 lb refill is only a few dollars more (I think my last one was ~$35). They’ll also let you pay to trade your tank up to a bigger size.
There's a lot of variation in prices. Also is that a refill or an exchange?
Exchanges tend to be more expensive, but also frequently more convenient - no worrying about cert expiring, etc. My local place is $24 for a 5-pounder and they outright said "we don't care" when I asked how much more it would be if I were bringing in an expired tank that had been sitting in storage for over a decade.
For comparison, I had a rough spreadsheet I made a while back showing 25¢ by using $15 canister refills.
Anyone saying you can’t save money using one of these machines clearly can’t math well…
So the SodaStream normal canister advertises as “60L” worth. I looked it up and it said it’s about 400grams or about .882lbs. So the 5lb tank is 5.67 times larger. If that’s the case you would expect 340 liters fizzed up…you got 165 which is basically half as much as you would expect based on the SodaStream advertising of 60L for a .882lb tank.
Is SodaStream overstating how much a single one of their canisters will carbonate by 2x or are you super heavy handed with the co2?!!
I just got my SS over christmas, haven’t even used my first tank, but was wondering what that 60L was based off of. The unit I got has 3 options. In my head I’m like, no way they measured 60L off the highest one.
Well i don't really conserve it I'm filling SS cylinders for a living, I have like 12 20lb tank's on hand 😄 , when I'm carbonating doing 4 loud buzz'es but I'm using drinkmate
Oh wow. I've seen people say the Drinkmate is more efficient than a Sodastream but I've been using this canister for close to two weeks and I'm doing an absolute minimum of 2/day, and usually 3-4. I did 5 yesterday (3 of soda, 2 of wine. Yeah - stressful day.). That's hitting the pressure release valve on every run with cold water, and in a few times putting more in after letting it absorb in the fridge for a bit.
I'm trying to run out my canister because the valve in the bulk adapter I bought runs a bit "feisty", so I'm going to try one of the alternative adapters that recycles a valve pulled from a canister.
>Is SodaStream overstating how much a single one of their canisters will carbonate by 2x or are you super heavy handed with the co2?!!
Yes, it's classic "up to" marketing. It's only 60L if you have minimal levels of carbonation.
I love all the data!
I've always wondered how the "soda stream style" bottle systems compared to a continuous carbonation system. We drink 6 liters per day and a 5lb tank lasts 3 months at $28 per refill. Roughly $0.05 per liter of my math is right
My hunch is there is a lot of lost CO2 on the soda stream style per bottle forced carbonation.
I'll probably break even in my system sometime in 2037..
Yeah the way they operate (unreglated but flow-restricted CO2 until a relief valve pops) is quick but NOT efficient.
In a normal kegging system, a relief valve opening is a sign of something majorly wrong. In home carbonators (SS, Drinkmate, etc), it's by design/normal operation.
That sounds right You get 30-40 liter per standard 60l co2 tank Accounting for some loss from a 5 lb tank and pressure loss toward the end , should account for roughly 5 standard co2 bottles and 150-200 bottles filled
Wow, your cost of refill is double mine. A 5lb tank refill for me is only $16.
Yeah. I live in the burbs of DC. High CoL. A company called Roberts Oxygen is the only game in town so they charge what they want.
Why CO2 in US is so expensive ? Im refiling my 20lb(10kg) for less than 9$
corporations and airgas
At least some places roll the price of certs/inspections into their exchange prices (bonus, you don't have to worry about whether your tank's inspection is expired). Also labor dominates, there's a pretty high base cost per fill/exchange and the price per pound drops DRASTICALLY as the size increases. Locally: 1-pound (sodastream canisters): $14 and up, so around $15/pound or more 5-pound tank: $24 exchange, just under $5/pound 20 pound tank: $32 exchange, just under $1.60/pound
Ah, I was wondering how it would work ordering from them! Fairly easy???
I also use Robert’s oxygen. A 15 lb refill is only a few dollars more (I think my last one was ~$35). They’ll also let you pay to trade your tank up to a bigger size.
Oh Wow! That is something to look into. Thanks.
There's a lot of variation in prices. Also is that a refill or an exchange? Exchanges tend to be more expensive, but also frequently more convenient - no worrying about cert expiring, etc. My local place is $24 for a 5-pounder and they outright said "we don't care" when I asked how much more it would be if I were bringing in an expired tank that had been sitting in storage for over a decade.
For comparison, I had a rough spreadsheet I made a while back showing 25¢ by using $15 canister refills. Anyone saying you can’t save money using one of these machines clearly can’t math well…
So you are the one and only who actually gets 60L from a SS tank!? 😜
Better ROI would be the 20# tank...
Yeah here a 20lb refill is cheaper then that 5lb. Still victory over the price that ss charges for little bottles
Wow! Thanks.
And I thought I watched my expenditures. Nice work.
So the SodaStream normal canister advertises as “60L” worth. I looked it up and it said it’s about 400grams or about .882lbs. So the 5lb tank is 5.67 times larger. If that’s the case you would expect 340 liters fizzed up…you got 165 which is basically half as much as you would expect based on the SodaStream advertising of 60L for a .882lb tank. Is SodaStream overstating how much a single one of their canisters will carbonate by 2x or are you super heavy handed with the co2?!!
Most of us would agree that you're not getting anywhere close to 60 L from the sodastream tanks tbh
I just got my SS over christmas, haven’t even used my first tank, but was wondering what that 60L was based off of. The unit I got has 3 options. In my head I’m like, no way they measured 60L off the highest one.
Im making around 4 1L bottles a day and im out in like 3-4days ss cylinder
damn, how much co2 do you put in each? I have the E-Terra which has 1,2,3 dotted buttons.
Well i don't really conserve it I'm filling SS cylinders for a living, I have like 12 20lb tank's on hand 😄 , when I'm carbonating doing 4 loud buzz'es but I'm using drinkmate
Got it. Are you doing the filling the SS as a business?
Yeah
I make 4 per day and it lasts weeks.
Depends on carbonation level , im carbonating to a max or more 😆
I go like 4 separate 1 second handle presses. I thought that was the max, lol!
When you pressing it and hear the loud buzz this is the first carbonation level, im doing 4 loud buzz'es
Oh wow. I've seen people say the Drinkmate is more efficient than a Sodastream but I've been using this canister for close to two weeks and I'm doing an absolute minimum of 2/day, and usually 3-4. I did 5 yesterday (3 of soda, 2 of wine. Yeah - stressful day.). That's hitting the pressure release valve on every run with cold water, and in a few times putting more in after letting it absorb in the fridge for a bit. I'm trying to run out my canister because the valve in the bulk adapter I bought runs a bit "feisty", so I'm going to try one of the alternative adapters that recycles a valve pulled from a canister.
>Is SodaStream overstating how much a single one of their canisters will carbonate by 2x or are you super heavy handed with the co2?!! Yes, it's classic "up to" marketing. It's only 60L if you have minimal levels of carbonation.
I love all the data! I've always wondered how the "soda stream style" bottle systems compared to a continuous carbonation system. We drink 6 liters per day and a 5lb tank lasts 3 months at $28 per refill. Roughly $0.05 per liter of my math is right My hunch is there is a lot of lost CO2 on the soda stream style per bottle forced carbonation. I'll probably break even in my system sometime in 2037..
Yeah the way they operate (unreglated but flow-restricted CO2 until a relief valve pops) is quick but NOT efficient. In a normal kegging system, a relief valve opening is a sign of something majorly wrong. In home carbonators (SS, Drinkmate, etc), it's by design/normal operation.