Stealth Winterization Tips
When winter is coming, it's time to protect your Guzzle H2O Stealth from below freezing temperatures. Temperatures below 32 degrees are dangerous for the plumbing on board your adventure vehicle. Water expands when it freezes and the ice will break the carbon block filter housing or the uv unit.
Here are two different ways to winterize your Stealth system.
First remove your carbon filter.
Whatever your method, the first step is to remove the carbon filter from the clear canister. Filters are good for a maximum of 6 months or 1000 gallons, so this is a good time to get on a schedule of filter replacement. Discard this filter because you will install a new one in the spring. Put the clear plastic housing back on the filter base and tighten it by hand.
(Pro tip: Add a filter wrench to your next filter order to make unscrewing the canister super easy.)
Next, follow your vehicle manufacturers instructions for winterizing the onboard plumbing.
Option 1: Food Safe RV Antifreeze Solution Food Safe RV Antifreeze
A lot of adventure vehicle manufacturers recommend using RV antifreeze solution, and this is absolutely compatible with the Guzzle H2O Stealth system including the UV unit. It is an easy and reliable way to make sure your plumbing will not freeze.
When using this method, make sure that the faucet where your Stealth unit is installed is open, and verify that the pink antifreeze solution comes out the faucet. Once this happens, you are ready for the arctic blast!
Option 2: Compressed Air
People that have access to an air compressor might like to use the compressed air method to winterize by pushing water out of their plumbing with air pressure.
Again, start by following your vehicle manufacturers recommendations for injecting compressed air into the plumbing. Van in Snow
Then, to make sure the Stealth unit is completely free of water, remove the carbon filter canister, and open the faucet.
Set your air compressor to 30psi, and inject air straight into the base of the filter. This should push any remaining water through the UV unit, and out of the faucet. When no more water comes out the faucet, turn off the faucet, and put the clear housing back on the filter base.
With either of these methods, you will be safe from broken pipes and damaged plumbing. And if you decide to get your adventure rig out for a snow adventure, you can always repeat this process as needed.