• Inquiry:
  Our supplier quit handling the Mr. Fizz bottles and we are looking for a new source.
  
  Answer:
  Mr. Fizz is working on the tooling for the base and bottles, two minor but needed improvements. The popular FizzLite line will be dropping the white color altogether but replacing it with a beautiful violet clear in August or September. We will send a flyer four weeks before they are ready to ship.

• The Loudest Burp according to Guinness World Records
  Who: Paul Hunn
  When: July 20, 2004
  Where: London, UK
  What: 104.9 dB

  The world's loudest burp measured from a distance of 2.5 m (8ft 2 in)and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high, read 104.9 dB on a certified and calibrated class 1 precision measuring noise level meter, and was achieved by Paul Hunn (UK) at the offices of Guinness World Records, London, UK, on July 20, 2004.

• Drinking Water Facts excerpts taken from www.bidness.com/esd/h2ofacts.htm

  Just How Important is Drinking Water?
  Water has been called "the most essential nutrient." Since creation, the amount of water on this planet has not changed. Every living creature depends on water to survive. A person can live for weeks without food, but only for a few days without water. Almost daily, you can pick up a book or newspaper and read yet another fact emphasizing the significance of drinking water in our lives.
  
  Did You Know That:
  "Because most food contains a large amount of water, you obtain approximately 3 1/2 cups from what is eaten over the course of a day. Interestingly, the body's metabolism itself is another source, since -- as it makes and uses energy -- one of its daily byproducts is about 1/2 cup of water. So, if you add up your losses (two cups for the lungs, two for sweating, and six for the intestines and kidneys), you come up with a total loss of ten cups ... not counting any excess lost through perspiration during exercise. Therefore, taking into account the approximately four cups provided by food and metabolism, the average person needs to drink six to eight cups of water daily just to keep functioning well." -- Mother Earth News
  
  "Drinks containing concentrated nutrients, such as milk, sugar-sweetened soft drinks, and salty tomato-based juices, count more as food than drink since they themselves increase your body's water needs." -- N.Y. Times Guide to Personal Health
  
  "A reduction of 4-5% in body water will result in a decline of 20-30% in work performance." -- NY Times Guide to Personal Health
  
  "An athlete commonly loses four or five quarts (of water) in a practice session." -- "Realities of Nutrition"

• Question:
  Dear Mr. Fizz,
  Re: Optimizing making a bottle of seltzer.
  
  As mentioned in one of your notes on making seltzer, this requires CO2 + cold temperature. Two elements that you omitted are "time" at the cold temperature, and exactly when the charger is removed.
  
  Let me illustrate. My previous method was to fill with tap water, charge, shake, remove the charger, and put in the refrigerator at least overnight. I noticed that upon removal of the charger, some amount of undissolved CO2 would escape. I also noticed that toward the end of the bottle of seltzer, the stream was rather weak. I reasoned that the hiss upon removal of the charger was CO2 that was not immediately absorbed into the water, where we want it. This would also explain anemic end stream. My new method is to fill with tap water, charge, shake, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours with the charger still attached! Then, remove the charger. This way, the CO2 has had more time at cold temperature to be completely absorbed into the water before removing the charger. Proof of this is the fact that there is hardly any hiss when the charger is removed, and the stream is robust right up to the end!
  
  Arnold Weiss
  
  Answer:
  Dear Mr. Weiss:
  I appreciate your well written comments.
  Mr. Fizz

• Question:
  I have read that some brands of soda siphons produce a soda with a low level of "fizz" while others produce a high fizz level. Where do Mr.
  Fizz siphons rate? Is there any difference between your mid priced models and the Mr Fizz Sr. as to the level of fizz produced??
  
  I like the idea of a lifetime guarantee and the high quality of the Sr. model, but is it that much better than the lower priced models?
  
  Thanks,
  Jim Goodman
  
  Answer:
  Dear Jim:
  
  Thanks for writing. Very good question.
  The amount of ‘fizz’ is the saturation of CO2 in the water. That is a result of pressure, temperature and time.
  
  Seltzer bottles have a ‘overfill’ sleeve inside that only allows so much water to go in the bottle. The space over the water is the ‘air pocket’ that accepts the CO2 charge. Each maker has a slightly different take on this but the fact remains that the water needs to be pressurized by the CO2 so that the CO2 can saturate, becoming Carbonic Acid.
  
  The amount of CO2 in a cartridge is usually 8g +/- 0.75g. Amongst all of the CO2 cartridge manufacturers, we see variations of the actual gas charge in this range. So if you have a slightly under filled bottle of water and a CO2 cartridge which is at the low side of the filling tolerance then the resulting ‘fizz’ will be poor.
  
  The most important steps to be taken to ensure the best possible ‘fizz’ considering all the variables:
  1. Time – Allow a ‘charged’ bottle to stand for at least 2 hours. It takes time for the CO2 to saturate.
  2. Temperature – Cold water accepts the CO2 easier. Placing a ‘charged’ bottle of cold water in the refrigerator for 2 hours is the best preparation.
  3. Don’t shake the bottle before dispensing.
  4. Push the dispensing lever arm slowly and don’t dispense ‘wide open’ as that too will cause separation of the gas from the water.
  
  Therefore, I don’t feel that there is a brand which is better than another in terms of the amount of ‘fizz’ provided because of the variables involved.
  
  It really depends on how you use the bottle. I know for example that our P/N 40105 8g CO2 cartridges are the most tightly controlled in terms of gas charge. Made in Japan, they are a little pricey compared to others.
  
  If you really want a lot of fizz, you should try the ‘SodaClub’ product. I have been impressed with their ‘fizz’ even though they are considered a competitor.
  
  I would really appreciate it if you could tell me where you have been reading about the ‘fizz-factor’ you mentioned. I am after all, “Mr. Fizz” and I need to know.

• Question:
  Dear Mr. Fizz,
  I hope you can help. I was very excited to bring home my new Mr. Fizz carbonated drink maker. I wanted to try to make my own carbonated lemonade. After reading all the instructions available to me online and in the pamphlet I thought I would give it a try. I rinsed all parts before adding water to the container, screwed on the top and inserted the CO2 cylinder. The gas went into the bottle. I turned the bottle a couple times to "distribute the gas". After adding my lemonade base (2Tblsp) to a glass with ice, I squirted in the seltzer. I tried the drink and to my disappointment there was no carbonation what so ever. I heard the gas go into the water and container so I have no clue what happened. I was hoping that this home made seltzer would be super-fizzy and not go flat as quickly as prebottled seltzer. I am very disappointed. Please tell me if you have any suggestions, or if I can return the product for a refund. I bought the one liter plastic bottle and a box of 10 cylinders. I purchased it at The Warehouse Waterbury Connecticut (a restaurant supply store).
  Thank you for your time.
  Joy Latvis
  
  Answer:
  Dear "Flat Water:"
  The "fizz" (CO2) is absorbed by time and temperature of the water. You (need to) are "forcing" the CO2 into the water. So, fill with cold water, charge, and let it sit in the fridge. Mr. Fizz enjoys very fizzy water every night…He fills the bottle the night before, charges and chills…ready for the next day. The fizz action will take place quickly if the water is very very cold, like 34°F. Tap water is not usually colder than 50°F, and it would take several hours in the fridge to get it to the required 34°-38°F.
  This will cure your belching blues.
  Mr. Fizz

• Question: Is there anyway to increase the level of carbonation?
  
  Answer:
  Dear Mr. Distefano:
  It sounds like your bottle might have a slight leak and/or the gas (CO2) is not getting into the water. 1. Charge the bottle and chill it "charged." CO2 needs cold and time to absorb into the water. 2. Check for leaks in the head. Charge the unit as usual and put the head in a bowl of water. If air bubbles steadily stream out, then we can identify the origin.
  Happy Burps,
  Mr. Fizz

• Question: Do you know the PSI that the plastic bottle is rated for and the PSI of the CO2 cylinder?
  
  Answer:
  Dear Ms. Kristek:
  FizzLite PET plastic bottles are of the same design and material as regular soda bottles. Typically, these bottles have a design rating of
  200 psi. The valve you activate by pushing the lever arm (dispensing) is the safety valve. Excess pressure will cause it to "open." All CO2 cylinders contain the same pressure of about 850 psi at 70F. The air space above the water in a seltzer bottle is were the CO2 expands into. It takes about 40 psi to "convince" the CO2 to go into the water.
  Mr. Fizz

• Question: How is it possible to clean the crusty deposits of soda syphons?
  
  Answer:
  How to clean the inside of the bottle…by Mr. Fizz.
  Everyone's seltzer bottle needs to be cleaned now and then. Think about it! You clean your coffee pot or tea kettle the same way. Cold water, some baking soda and a few ice cubes. If the mineral deposits are heavy, add clear white vinegar. Be sure to remove the overfill sleeve and let the bottle dry out. Also, do not forget to replace the overfill sleeve!
  Regards,
  Mr. Fizz

• Question:
  We have a 1 qt seltzer bottle that keeps "burping" ! Not just "baby" burps either. I'm talking "manly" burps that send water all over the kitchen floor and cabinets! We get the water to fill the bottle from the automatic cold water spout on the refrigerator and it seems cold to the touch. Could it be that the "volcanic" reaction we are getting from the bottle when charging is due to incorrect temperature of the water? Your help would be appreciated-although the kitchen floors gets mopped more regularly this way--the soda is not at it's best!
  Thanks,
  Wendy Freeman
  
  Answer:
  Hello:
  At first, it sounded like you were "overfilling" the bottle. Good job on the cold water, the colder the better! Over night in the fridge is even better. The relief valve opens if there is too much pressure, i.e., too much water. Always leave a space over the water, about 2-3" in most models. The CO2 is measured in the cylinder so the same amount "expands" into the seltzer bottle when you "transfer" the gas. If you are not overfilled, then you have an overly active valve spring in the head, which is . . . well, prematurely uh . . . fizzing or uh burping.
  Happy Belching!
  Mr. Fizz
  
  
• Question: What is the difference between club soda and seltzer?
  
  Answer:
  The term "club" soda comes from Rocky Mountain Resorts in Canada at the turn of the Century. Club's in the mountain regions were blessed with bubbling natural wells of fizzy water. The patrons dubbed it "club soda." "Seltzer" is thought to be derived from Eastern Europe in the 1700's when it was first discovered.
  
  
• Question: Carbonating other than pure water?
  
  Now I understand that it would not be what the seltzer bottle was specifically designed for, but I was curious... What would happen if I placed something other than water in the bottle and injected it with the CO2.
  
  For instance:
  • Vodka (60% water) can it be infused?
  • Other types of mostly water liquor (e.g. brandy, whiskey, tequila)
  • Flavored water (e.g. iced tea or lemon or other flavored non-carbonated water)
  • Soda which has become 'flat' (e.g. Coke, Diet Coke, Tonic water)
  
  I'm sure that repeated use of certain sodas like Coke with the citric acid would damage the components but I am wondering whether a once in a while use would hurt the seals which contain the gases.
  
  Thanks in advance for your observances and/or warnings
  Pete Willis
  
  Answer:
  Pete:
  Great questions! I have been (burp) working with seltzer bottles since 1965. Sugar in a pressurized seltzer bottle will cause foam when you dispense it into a glass.* As a young (burp) experimenter, I found that most wines, not sangrias, could be put in a seltzer bottle without much foam.
  
  You can rejuvenate most diet sodas (but please read our very important article about Aspartame on mrfizz.com) by putting it in the bottle and pressurizing with CO2. But remember, the #1 rule of (burp) carbonation--temperature of the liquid and the time it takes to absorb properly.
  
  Booze (belch . . . burp #?!@) really does not carbonate well at all, but fruit does! The water in the fruit gets fizzy. You can serve some very interesting dishes with fizzy fruit. However, a seltzer bottle has a small opening and it is tough to get the fruit in. Try one of our 1/4 liter cream whippers. It has a large mouth (opening) for orange slices, etc.)
  
  * Bars which use the "gun" dispenser with the buttons actually mix carbonated chilled water with a syrup at the head of the "gun."
  
  Happy Burping to All!
  Mr. Fizz

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