Save your bypass kit with a direct replacement valve instead of swapping out the whole assembly. The Camco 37463 is the factory-matched 3-way valve for Supreme Permanent Bypass Kits 35953 and 35963, giving you a single-handle control to route water through your heater during the season and around it during winterization.
The 3-way valve is the heart of any permanent RV water heater bypass system. A single quarter-turn of the handle switches your water heater between normal operation (water flows through the tank) and bypass mode (water skips the tank entirely), making antifreeze winterization faster and more reliable than juggling multiple shut-off valves.
When a bypass valve develops a drip, a cross-thread, or a cracked body, replacing just the valve -- rather than the entire kit -- is the smart repair. The Camco 37463 is purpose-built for that job, machined to the same thread and port dimensions as the original component in the Supreme Permanent Bypass Kits.
Matches the original valve spec in Camco Supreme Bypass Kits 35953 and 35963 -- no adapters, no modifications.
One handle controls all three ports: inlet, outlet, and bypass line. No need to operate multiple valves.
Brass body resists corrosion from potable water and antifreeze, providing a longer service life than plastic alternatives.
Flip to bypass and pump antifreeze through your lines without filling the water heater tank -- saves time and antifreeze.
In a standard permanent bypass kit, the 3-way valve sits between the cold water supply line and the water heater inlet and outlet. In normal (flow) mode, the valve routes cold supply water into the heater tank and returns hot water to the system as usual. In bypass mode, the valve closes off both heater ports and connects the cold supply directly to the hot-water outlet line, completely isolating the tank. This means you fill only the plumbing lines with antifreeze -- not six to ten gallons of tank volume.
By isolating the water heater with the bypass valve, you avoid pumping antifreeze into the heater tank. A typical 6-gallon RV water heater requires roughly 1.5 to 2 extra quarts of antifreeze if not bypassed. The Camco Supreme bypass system eliminates that waste every season.
This valve is the correct replacement for the 3-way valve included in these Camco Supreme kits:
If you are unsure whether your existing bypass assembly uses this valve, compare the port spacing and thread size (1/2 in. NPT on all three ports) to the specs in the table to the right before ordering.
Camco Supreme bypass kits -- and therefore this replacement valve -- are designed to work with the most common RV water heater brands and configurations, including Suburban SW and SW-series heaters and Atwood/Dometic GC-series heaters. The bypass kit itself connects to standard 1/2 in. NPT water line fittings found on virtually all gas and gas/electric RV water heaters.
Replacing a bypass valve on an existing permanent kit is a straightforward plumbing swap when you follow a few basics:
Operate your bypass valve at least once per season -- even if you do not winterize -- to prevent the internal stem from seizing. A seized valve is the most common reason a functional bypass kit needs a replacement valve. A single exercise cycle each spring or fall keeps the valve free-moving.
This listing is for the replacement 3-way valve only. It does not include supply hoses, check valves, additional shut-off valves, or any other hardware included in the original Camco 35953 or 35963 bypass kit. If you need a complete bypass assembly, order the full kit instead.