Soda Machine Troubleshooting
Fountain soda machines are one of the most popular—and probably one of the most used—pieces of equipment in your business. Due to their ease-of-use and ability to dispense multiple beverage options, they’re perfect for establishments like cafeterias, convenient stores, quick service restaurants and commercial kitchens. Because of this, if an issue arises, it’s important to isolate the problem quickly and get it resolved. Here’s an easy soda machine troubleshooting guide that covers common issues that can occur.
Problem: Soda is Flat
Possible Causes
- No CO2 connection or loose CO2 connection
- Insufficient CO2 supply/CO2 tank may be empty and needs replacement.
- Unit is out of ice.
- Poor connection or issue with carbonator.
Problem: Unit isn’t Dispensing
Possible Causes
- No power to the unit.
- Unit isn’t turned on.
- The circuit the unit is connected to doesn’t have power, or circuit may have tripped.
Problem: Unit is Only Dispensing Syrup
Possible Causes
- Connection to water supply is off
- Kink or blockage in the water line
- Carbonator isn’t plugged in
Problem: Noise Coming from Unit While Dispensing Soda
Possible Causes
- Loose CO2 connection.
- Issue with CO2 connection.
- Empty box hookup.
- An electrical issue (if you hear air being expelled while dispensing).
Problem: Not Enough Syrup in Soda
Possible Causes
- Poor or loose connection to the syrup container.
- Issue with connection to syrup container.
- Low level of syrup, which needs to be replaced.