Tips: Free-flow cylinderUpdated 4 months ago

In rare cases, a CO₂ cylinder can develop a fault that causes it to remain in an open position and release CO₂ continuously. Internally, we refer to this as a “free-flow” cylinder.

This phenomenon is related to the cylinder itself, not to the appliance. The cylinders are part of a shared deposit/refill system and are reused across many different brands. As a result, no single brand can fully control or independently select the specific valves used in the cylinders circulating under its own brand, nor can it directly monitor or eliminate all valve-related defects.

Our appliances are, however, specifically designed to safely handle this behaviour under normal, upright operation. The system includes multiple independent safety valves which open progressively as pressure increases. In the event of a rapid pressure rise, these valves can also open simultaneously to relieve pressure.

If such a free-flow event occurs, it is crucial that the appliance is kept upright. The appliance must not be laid on its side or upside down.

If the appliance is placed on its side or upside down during a free-flow event:

• Water can enter and partially fill the safety valve channels, which significantly reduces their venting efficiency.
• There is also a risk that liquid CO₂ may be transported into the bottle, leading to a much faster pressure increase than under normal operating conditions.

For this reason, distributors and service partners must ensure that all downstream instructions clearly state that:

• The appliance must always be used and left in an upright position, including in abnormal situations such as continuous gas release.
• In the event of a suspected free-flow cylinder, the end user should leave the appliance standing upright, avoid touching or moving it, and allow the cylinder to empty itself. During this venting process, significant ice build-up may form around the cylinder area due to prolonged gas release; this is expected and not, in itself, an indication of an additional malfunction. The user should leave the appliance untouched and contact support, after which the appliance and defective cylinder will be handled through the appropriate support and return channels.