How To Install RV Water Heater 3-Way Bypass Valve

Updated 09/29/2020 | Published 09/25/2020

Question:

Do you have a three way valve that lets you attach the 1/2 female npt to the hot water tank inlets and outlets, instead of screwing the male npt into the tank?? My tank has about a 2 inch male nipple coming out of the tank which is what I would like to attach to with a female npt, and have a male npt on the outside of the three way valve to reattach my water lines to. It seems to me that all your valves you sell are reversed of this orientation and seem the be backwards for my application. Why are all these made that way when most tanks have a male fitting to attach the supply lines to. It defeats the purpose of the three way valve if you need couplers and nipples to make this work properly. Am I misreading your info on this that the flow is bypassed through the female port and out through the side port?? If so it would need to bypass through the two male ports and shut off the female port to work on my RV. I do not get it why these are made like this, seems backwards to me. Can you help me if I am thinking this wrong...

asked by: Keith H

Expert Reply:

I have attached a photo below which shows the proper installation of a three way water heater bypass valve kit like the Camco RV Winterization Bypass Kit part # CAM35953. The female fitting on the bypass attaches to a male fitting on the water heater. The other two male fittings on the bypass then attach to the hoses.

expert reply by: Conner L