Camco 35953 RV Water Heater By-Pass Kit, 8-Inch Hose with Two Brass 3-Way Valves
A permanently mounted bypass for a 6-gallon RV water heater: an 8-inch crimp-proof reinforced hose plus two 3-way brass valves with shutoff and flow indicators, Teflon tape included. Install it once on the 1/2-inch-14 NPT heater ports and every future winterization routes antifreeze around the tank instead of through it, saving roughly 6-10 gallons of pink antifreeze per season.
Check Latest Price on Amazon →Why You Need This
Winterizing without a bypass means filling the water heater tank itself with antifreeze, then flushing it out again in spring. That is 6-10 gallons per season wasted, and every season you leave the tank full of pink fluid is a season of unnecessary scale and gasket wear. The 35953 turns that chore into flipping two valve handles.
🏆 How It Compares
The permanent, mount-once answer to winterizing: two brass 3-way valves and an 8-inch reinforced hose that let you bypass a 6-gallon heater in one turn and keep 6-10 gallons of antifreeze out of the tank. Longer 35963 covers 10-gallon heaters; the quick-turn Camco variants trade the flow-indicator handles for a simpler single-lever body.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Saves 6-10 gallons of RV antifreeze every winterizing cycle, so the kit pays for itself in about two seasons
- Two 3-way brass valves with flow-indicator handles: one turn bypasses the tank, no hose swapping
- Fits 1/2-inch-14 NPT tapered ports on 6-gallon heaters and mounts permanently with Teflon tape included
❌ Cons
- The 8-inch hose is sized for 6-gallon tanks; 10-gallon heaters need the longer 35963 kit
- Permanent install means cutting into the heater lines once, which is more than a screwdriver job
🎯 Who Is This For?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Camco 35953 RV Water Heater By-Pass Kit, 8-Inch Hose with Two Brass 3-Way Valves best for?
Anyone who winterizes a 6-gallon-tank RV every year and is tired of pouring 6-10 gallons of antifreeze into a heater they are only trying to protect.
Who should buy the Camco 35953 RV Water Heater By-Pass Kit, 8-Inch Hose with Two Brass 3-Way Valves?
Four-season campers and owners who store the rig from November to March. If you already own a bypass kit, you do not need this; if you still disconnect lines or dump antifreeze straight into the tank, this is the upgrade.
What problem does the Camco 35953 RV Water Heater By-Pass Kit, 8-Inch Hose with Two Brass 3-Way Valves solve?
Winterizing without a bypass means filling the water heater tank itself with antifreeze, then flushing it out again in spring. That is 6-10 gallons per season wasted, and every season you leave the tank full of pink fluid is a season of unnecessary scale and gasket wear. The 35953 turns that chore into flipping two valve handles.
What are the drawbacks of the Camco 35953 RV Water Heater By-Pass Kit, 8-Inch Hose with Two Brass 3-Way Valves?
Owners and reviewers call out a few trade-offs: The 8-inch hose is sized for 6-gallon tanks; 10-gallon heaters need the longer 35963 kit Permanent install means cutting into the heater lines once, which is more than a screwdriver job
How much does the Camco 35953 RV Water Heater By-Pass Kit, 8-Inch Hose with Two Brass 3-Way Valves cost?
It is listed at $35.45 on Amazon. Prices on Amazon move around, so check the current price before you buy.
What do owners say about the Camco 35953 RV Water Heater By-Pass Kit, 8-Inch Hose with Two Brass 3-Way Valves?
It carries a 4.4-out-of-5 rating from 529 Amazon customer reviews.
Have a question we did not answer? The Amazon listing carries the full spec sheet and customer Q&A.
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