Carbonation problem
Product overshoots the target
Too much carbonation shows up as gushing, a harsh bite, or a tank that has to be vented before it can be packaged.
What you are seeing
Measured carbonation lands above target, product gushes or foams when released, or you are venting the tank to bring it back down before packaging.
Likely causes
- Pressure set higher than the target needs at the product's real temperature.
- The product is colder than the temperature used to set the pressure, so it takes up more CO2 than planned.
- Carbonating for longer than needed.
- Aggressive burst carbonation at high pressure.
- Residual sugar and live yeast still producing CO2.
Checks to run first
- Confirm product temperature at the thermowell before setting a pressure.
- Check that fermentation is truly finished: stable gravity over several days, and no sugar added since.
- Measure dissolved CO2 with a calibrated meter.
- Review how long the tank was held at pressure, and at what setting.
FizzWizz stops active dosing at the calculated endpoint and holds the selected level, so the result depends less on someone remembering to turn the regulator down.
It does not stop CO2 made by fermentation. A beverage that is still fermenting, in the tank or in the package, keeps building pressure whatever the controller is doing.
When to get help
Bring an over-carbonated tank down slowly, within the vessel's rating and your tank manufacturer's guidance. If finished product keeps overshooting, send us your process details.