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Welcome To Carbonics Inc., Houston's Dry Ice and Beverage specialists

Carbonics, Inc. is the Greater Houston Area’s number one source for dry ice, CO2, nitrogen, helium, beer gas, syrups
and beverage equipment sales & service!

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about Beverage Equipment


M-F 7:30AM - 4:00PM

Installation

Repairs

  
How much soda does a Bag-in-Box syrup make?

One (1) 5-gallon Bag-in-Box syrup will yield approximately 30 gallons of soda.

One (1) 3-gallon Bag-in-Box syrup will yield approximately 18 gallons of soda.


How long will a CO2 cylinder last?

            One (1) 20 lb. CO2 cylinder will yield approximately 90 gallons of soda;

One (1) 10 lb. CO2 cylinder will yield approximately 45 gallons of soda.

One (1) 20 lb. CO2 cylinder will push approximately 16 kegs (full-sized / half-barrel) of beer.


How do the Rentals Work?

You determine how much CO2 you will likely need, and pick a cylinder size that will work for you.
let's say, for example, you have a C-store and decide you need 20lb Cylinders. These are about 28" tall, 9" in diameter, and when
full they weigh about 44 lbs (20 lbs of CO2).

Next you pay a deposit for each cylinder.  There is also a monthly rental fee of a few dollars per month, per cylinder, depending on the size of the cylinder.
This may be billed quarterly or annually.
Finally there is the cost of the gas itself.

If you are on a delivery route, then someone will stop by each month and swap out your empty cylinders for fulls. Let's say you have 3 20lb'ers
and 2 of them are empty. You would receive 2 fulls, we would pick up the 2 empties. You would be charged for the gas for the 2
cylinders, plus a fee that covers fuel and Federal Hazards Material Compliance fees. Your monthly rental charges will be billed separately, either quarterly or annually.

 

What is the syrup to water ratio?

Regular sugar syrups are typically 5 parts water to 1 part syrup, a 5:1 ratio. Other ratios are 4:1, 3:1, 6:1. Be sure to read the label for each product.


What is the difference between “Pre-Mix Syrup” and “Post-Mix Syrup (BIB)?”

Pre-mix is soda which is ready to drink. It is the product that is in a bottle or a can, but can also be prepared in large 5-gallon containers known as “figals.” Those containers are bulky stainless steel refillable tanks at about the same cost as a can or bottle soda product.


Post Mix is the combination of BIB syrup AND carbonated water mixed together at the nozzle. An average 5-gallon name brand syrup is approximately $65 and will yield approximately 30 gallons of product. The Post Mix system is where the real cost savings and profits are to the seller.


What does the carbonator do?  Do I need one for my Fountain soda water dispenser?

The carbonator combines CO2 gas and water together giving you carbonated

water (sometimes called seltzer water or soda water).


Do I need a water filter for my fountain machine?

YES!  The quality of your water will determine whether or not you need a water filter. The long term performance of your beverage dispensing equipment will be affected by the quality of your water. If your water tastes “funny” or displeasing, then your soda will also taste “funny” or displeasing.  Remember, your drink is 87% water, so good quality water will produce a much better product than poor quality water.  The syrup and carbonation cannot disguise water that tastes bad.  You definitely don't want your "hard" water to leave calcium deposits inside your fountain machine, eventually rendering it nothing but scrap!


Do I need a water regulator to install a fountain machine?

YES!  A water regulator chokes down the flow in the event your water pressure is in excess of 50 psi.  In many places your water pressure will fluctuate as people nearby use more or less water throughout the day.  This is terrible for soda systems, because it will cause your ratio of syrup to water to change.  The best way to prevent this and guarantee a consistent final product for the customer is to use a water booster to artificially boost your water pressure higher, then a water regulator to reduce it to exactly 50 psi.  In this way, during periods of high pressure there is no problem because the water regulator will not allow the line pressure to exceed 50, and in periods of low water pressure, the water booster keeps the pressure higher so that your equipment doesn't try to operate with too little water.  Still not sure?  Let us come give you a free estimate to install your equipment.


Do I need a water booster to install a fountain machine?

A water booster is needed in the event your water pressure is less than 40 psi. This is important because you don’t want to burn up your carbonator from low water pressure.


What size water line is required to run a fountain machine?

Beverage dispensing systems require a water line of 3/8” to ½” and never the small ¼” sized water line. This is important because you don’t want to burn up your carbonator from not having enough water.


How long will my Dry Ice last?

Dry Ice needs to be kept below -109 degrees Fahrenheit or it will begin to turn into gas/vapor.  So, if you don't have a freezer capable of -110 F then the best thing you can do to preserve it is
purchase a Dry-Ice specific Cooler (some of which we sale), and fill the cooler completely with Dry Ice, then close the lid and do not open it again.  Each time you open the lid, it's like Blasting the Dry Ice with extreme heat.  If the room is 75 degrees, then you've just exposed the Dry Ice to 185 degrees of heat. (-110+75).  It's not terribly useful to just have Dry Ice sit in a container and not use it for anything, granted.  So in real life, pack whatever cooler you have as full as possible, so that as little air gets in each time you open the lid.  take up the extra space with cardboard, bubble wrap, or whatever.  Plan to open your cooler as little as possible and plan to lose 10-15 lbs of Dry Ice per day under those conditions. 

Need your cooler to remain cold for three days?  Pack it with 30 lbs of Dry Ice.  If it's opened several times per day, on day 3 there may be no physical Dry Ice left, but the items inside will still be frozen cold. 

*  Do not put your food directly on the Dry Ice, the Ice will freezer burn the food quickly.  Instead Separate the food from the Ice with cardboard, bubble wrap, or something to help insulate the food from direct contact.


When it comes to dry ice, no one will take care of you like Dry Ice Houston, a division of Carbonics, Inc.  We deliver block and pellet dry ice weekly and daily to hospitals, laboratories, doctor’s offices, grocery stores, airlines, and just about anywhere else you can think of.  See our Company Story

Carbonics Dry Ice Slices packaged and ready to ship Houston, TX

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