How do you install the SoluCalc Co2 water softener?

Scan this QR code to access a platform with all the technical documentation you need to install and commission your SoluCalc.

The SoluCalc is installed immediately after your water meter. A pressure regulator with a filter is installed before it to protect the SoluCalc from any impurities in municipal water and, above all, from water hammer (major pressure fluctuations in the water supply). You do not have to buy this pressure regulator from us, but you must install one for the Solucalc's 5-year warranty to apply. Please provide a 220V power outlet within one meter of the unit.

Installation is very easy with our video tutorial. We also offer a video call to check your installation remotely.

How do you adjust a CO2 water softener?

The SoluCalc requires a single manual adjustment at startup: a pressure difference of 0.2 bar between the CO2 pressure and the dynamic water pressure.

Adjustment procedure: available in a video and in the user manual.

Since this adjustment is manual, the water pressure must be stabilized at X bars so you can set the SoluCalc to X + 0.2 bar. A good pressure regulator is therefore essential to ensure your SoluCalc works properly. This is the only adjustment you need to make! The SoluCalc is designed to automatically adjust CO2 injection to match the instantaneous water flow rate.

Will the SoluCalc CO2 water softener clean my plumbing system?

With the initial setting maintained, the SoluCalc can clean your plumbing system very gently and slowly. Limescale deposits in your plumbing will slowly dissolve in the water and be flushed out with the water flow.

How long does it take to install a SoluCalc CO2 water softener?

Allow about 2 hours to install and adjust a complete system if this is your first time, but an experienced plumber can do it in less than an hour.

What maintenance is required?

The SoluCalc requires no maintenance. You only need to replace the CO2 cylinder when it is empty.

What warranty is included?

The SoluCalc comes with a 5-year warranty, provided you install a pressure regulator, available as an option on this page or purchased separately.

Why does water hardness stay the same with the SoluCalc?

Water hardness measures the amount of calcium in one liter of water. Unlike salt-based water softeners, which replace this calcium with sodium, the amount of calcium does not change after treatment with the SoluCalc. Instead, it converts calcium carbonate into calcium bicarbonate. The measured calcium level is therefore identical before and after the SoluCalc, so the hardness stays the same. The SoluCalc eliminates the problems caused by limescale without removing calcium from your water. You can still check your SoluCalc's effectiveness by measuring your water's pH, or simply by noticing that you no longer need white vinegar or hydrochloric acid to clean your faucets.

What are the limitations?

When water evaporates, the calcium bicarbonate still present in the water remains as a white powder that does not stick to surfaces. This residue is very easy to clean because it is no longer limescale, a simple wipe with a cloth is enough. When water evaporates completely on a heat source (an evaporation-based steam oven or a commercial dishwasher), the calcium bicarbonate tends to bake onto the heating element because it cannot evaporate.

Evaporation without a heat source causes no problems, since the calcium bicarbonate can be removed with a simple wipe of a cloth. A white layer will always remain in your kettle, this is calcium bicarbonate that has baked onto the heating element. However, your coffee maker, kettle, boiler, and all your heating equipment are protected.

Have you heard concerns about corrosion?

It is true that injecting large amounts of CO2 into water tends to make it more acidic. Water with a pH that is too low (<5) can tend to corrode pipes.
That is why the SoluCalc was designed with components that have been tested and proven for more than 10 years to ensure microdosing of CO2, injecting only the amount needed to treat the water you use and thus preventing corrosion problems. You can easily check your water's pH with a simple pH meter.

What about after-sales service for the SoluCalc Co2 water softener?

Most after-sales service requests involve settings that have been changed: if the CO2 pressure is lower than the water pressure, the SoluCalc cannot inject CO2, it is simply a matter of physics.
The first thing to do is repeat the adjustment procedure (a very simple 30-second procedure, available in a video and in the user manual). If the problem is not resolved after a few days, you can contact us directly by email or phone, and we will walk you through the diagnostic procedures. If your unit is found to be defective, you can receive a replacement under warranty.

How much CO2 does it use?

The SoluCalc uses food-grade CO2, the same gas used in draft beer systems in bars and restaurants. It is therefore readily available for purchase.
A 10 kg cylinder can treat an average of 100 m3 of water, equivalent to the average annual water consumption of a family of 4. These cylinders are supplied with a refundable deposit, and a gas refill costs about 40 € for 10kg of CO2.

Does CO2 pose a risk?

CO2 does not explode, and it is used in many fire extinguishers. In addition, the SoluCalc uses food-grade CO2, the same gas used in SodaStream devices and draft beer systems… You simply need to know that it is an asphyxiating gas that is heavier than air.
If it leaks, it tends to fill a room from the bottom up. You therefore need to be careful with installations that require large amounts of CO2 in a room without ventilation. When calculating risk, keep in mind that 10 kg of CO2 represents about 5 m3 of gas. Your calculations should therefore account for the room where the cylinders will be installed. We offer a CO2 detector on our website.

How do you know when the cylinder is empty?

When the CO2 cylinder is empty, the pressure shown on the left-hand gauge of the pressure regulator drops to 0. It does not work like a car's fuel gauge, which gradually drops as you use the fuel in your tank.
The CO2 pressure gauge reads 0 when there is no gas left in the cylinder. Customers most often notice this because limescale returns to their plumbing system.
If you would like to be alerted immediately before limescale returns, we offer an empty cylinder detection system.