Camco 37463 RV Water Heater Bypass Valve | Brass
Camco 37463 RV Water Heater Bypass Valve | Brass — Product description
The Camco 37463 is the three-way brass bypass valve at the heart of the Supreme Permanent water heater bypass system. Plumb it in once, and every fall you just flip the lever to route antifreeze around your water heater instead of filling the tank. It saves you 6 to 12 gallons of antifreeze a season and makes winterizing faster.
If you store your RV or camper anywhere the temperature drops below freezing, winterizing isn't optional. And the water heater is the part that quietly wastes the most antifreeze. A typical RV water heater holds anywhere from 6 to 12 gallons. Fill that tank with pink RV antifreeze every fall and you're pouring money down the drain. The Camco 37463 bypass valve is how you stop doing that.
This is the three-way brass valve at the heart of Camco's Supreme Permanent water heater bypass system. You plumb it into your fresh water lines once, and it stays there. When it's time to winterize, you drain the water heater, flip the valve to bypass, and the antifreeze you pump through the coach routes straight around the tank instead of filling it. So you winterize the lines, the pump, and the fixtures without wasting six-plus gallons topping off a water heater you just drained.
Why brass? Because this valve gets cycled twice a year, every year, for the life of the rig. A plastic valve can crack or seize after a few seasons of that. The brass body shrugs it off. The flow design is non-restrictive too, so when the valve's set to normal operation you get full water pressure at the tap. No trickle, no pressure drop, nothing to notice during the camping season.
Operation is dead simple. It's a single lever. Normal position sends water through the heater like always. Bypass position seals off the tank and sends water straight down the line. Flip it, and you're bypassed in a couple of seconds. Come spring, flip it back, refill, and you're ready to go.
A quick honest note on what this is. The 37463 is the permanent-install three-way bypass valve, the same brass valve Camco uses in its Supreme Permanent bypass system. If your coach already has bypass plumbing and you're replacing a tired valve, this drops right in. If you're building a bypass from scratch, plan your fittings and lines to match your water heater's inlet and outlet, and mount the valve somewhere you can actually reach behind the heater. Most heaters live in a bay you get to from outside or through an interior panel, so give yourself room to turn the lever.
Who's this for? Anybody who winterizes their own rig and is tired of buying an extra jug or two of antifreeze just to fill the water heater. Full-timers heading south still want it for the occasional hard freeze. Weekend owners who park the trailer for the season absolutely want it. It pays for itself in saved antifreeze within a couple of winters, and it makes the whole job faster.
One thing it's not. This isn't a fix for a leaking or failed water heater, and it won't drain the tank for you. You still pull the drain plug or anode and empty the heater first, then bypass. Do it in that order and your winterizing goes clean every time.
If you're new to winterizing, here's where this valve fits in the routine. Drain your fresh water tank and the water heater. Bypass the heater with this valve. Then either pump RV antifreeze through the system with the pump's siphon kit or blow the lines out with air, whichever you prefer. The bypass means every drop of that antifreeze protects the plumbing that actually needs it, instead of disappearing into the heater tank. Store the rig, and next season you reverse the steps. It's a quick job once the valve's installed, and it's the difference between a cracked fitting in January and a coach that's ready to roll in April.
Key Features
- Three-way brass valve routes antifreeze around your water heater when winterizing, so you skip filling the tank
- Bypasses a 6 to 12 gallon water heater, saving a jug or two of RV antifreeze every season
- Permanent installation: plumbs into your fresh water lines once and stays put
- Non-restrictive flow design keeps full water pressure at the tap when set to normal operation
- Brass body stands up to twice-a-year cycling for the life of the rig, where plastic can crack or seize
- Single-lever operation, flip to bypass in a couple of seconds
- Part of Camco's Supreme Permanent water heater bypass system, drops into existing bypass plumbing
- English language packaging
Why Buy from NVN Marine
- Authorized Camco reseller, full manufacturer warranty
- NMEA member and ABYC certified, advice from real boat techs
- Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock items
- NY headquarters and Fort Lauderdale flagship retail store
Technical specifications
| Title | Camco 37463 RV Water Heater Bypass Valve, Supreme Permanent |
|---|---|
| Brand | Camco |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 37463 |
| UPC | 014717374637 |
| Product Type | RV Water Heater Bypass Valve |
| Valve Type | Three-Way |
| Material | Brass |
| Installation | Permanent |
| Series | Supreme Permanent |
| Flow Design | Non-restrictive |
| Application | RV / Camper Water Heater Winterizing |
| Function | Bypasses water heater to reduce antifreeze used when winterizing |
| Packaging | English language |
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need to bypass the water heater when I winterize?
Your RV water heater holds roughly 6 to 12 gallons. If you don't bypass it, all of that fills with antifreeze every fall and you're buying extra jugs for no reason. Bypassing routes the antifreeze around the tank so it only protects the lines and fixtures that can actually freeze and crack.
Do I still have to drain the water heater first?
Yes. This valve bypasses the tank, it doesn't empty it. Pull the drain plug or anode rod, let the heater drain fully, then flip the valve to bypass and run your antifreeze. Drain first, bypass second, every time.
Is this the whole kit or just the valve?
This is the three-way brass bypass valve, the same one in Camco's Supreme Permanent bypass system. If your rig already has bypass plumbing, it's a direct replacement. If you're plumbing a bypass from scratch, you'll want to match your fittings and lines to your water heater's connections.
What's the valve made of, and why does that matter?
Brass. You're cycling this valve twice a year for the life of the rig, and brass handles that far better than plastic, which can crack or seize after a few seasons. It's the part you don't want failing in the middle of winterizing.
Will the valve slow down my water flow during the season?
No. The flow design is non-restrictive, so with the valve in the normal position you get full pressure at the tap. You set it and forget it until next fall.
Is this a permanent or a seasonal install?
Permanent. You plumb it into your fresh water lines once and it stays put. Each winter you just flip the lever to bypass and flip it back in spring. No installing and removing hardware every season.
How much antifreeze will this actually save me?
However much your water heater holds, so figure 6 to 12 gallons of capacity you no longer have to fill. For most owners that's a jug or two of pink antifreeze saved every winter, and the valve pays for itself in a season or two.
Can I use RV antifreeze in the toilet and drains too?
Yes. Standard pink RV antifreeze is safe for your fresh water plumbing, toilet, and P-traps. Once the water heater is bypassed with this valve, pump antifreeze through until it runs pink at every faucet, the toilet, and the shower, then pour a little down each drain.
