Is ProPress Better Than Solder Plumbing Fittings??

[@RogerWakefield]

So which do you like better?

[@louietheplumber3609]

Roger Wakefield both , but if I have time & not in an attic I'll solder

[@charlesking678]

Propress. Saves on labor on big jobs and with service you get in and get out and collect your money much faster. Propress all the way.

[@garyvallone5393]

Another way for illegal alien unskilled labor to take jobs from real plumbers

[@williamknighton7416]

I love the ProPress from a working standpoint because it makes the job faster and easier but sometimes soldering it it feels like it maybe has kind of an art form to it I say strictly for you don't work at ATS a ProPress is my favorite but sometimes soldering you know can be fun especially to make a really nice clean solder joint

[@boby115]

Been using ProPress and megapress system for years ( 6 years ) now in the gas industry & it's worked out well. Recently they just took the ProPress copper gas fittings off the market because the O-ring just failed a more stringent testing standard. The mega press is still good at this time. Personally I have had no problems with the ProPress or megapress as long as the proper stab depth procedure was followed. One of my coworker, gas fitter buddies just ran into a problem with a 2" megapress fitting with proper stab depth (leaking ). We sent it off to our lab for testing and still waiting for results. Just a note to all the pipefitters and plumbers out there that use this system, time and experiences over time are the best test. Systems like this start losing their luster if failures start exposing their ugly heads ( time will tell).

[@pedroengler223]

I have pro pressed under full pressure, in a hotel with supply solenoid on a timer. This solenoid opened on me mid installation of a bypass line and I was able to press a ball valve(open) before a catastrophe happened. Believe me I was soaked by the time everything was brought under control. I was not a fan of the propress going into that job, I immediately became a fan,👍🏼, good video. The positives outweight the negatives. Not all A&Es approve this product because of personal experiences with projects where the installations where not done properly. However I try to push for this product whenever I can. The big thing about this product is that the copper needs to be debarred properly, the fittings need to be bottomed out, and ( most problems I have seen are this stage) do not forget to pro press every joint. The outfit I used to work for had us initial the joints that we were responsible for, this alone brought down the number of failures due to forgetting to crimp joints in big jobs. Keep up the great work on these vids.

[@roadrunner694]

I installed propress over twenty years ago and it is still holding, I borrowed the press tool from the plumbing store I bought the copper and fittings from.

[@wackyfours]

My employer had us soldering everything,' until one guy burned down 6 units. Now we pro press everything. Personally, I love it, it’s fast and convenient. The only thing you have to be is extra cautious when crimping the fitting in a tight/tough spot where you might struggle to properly place your pro-press tool. I’ve had a couple situations where I test my work and I inspect every joint and everything seemed dry, gauge pressure is good through out the day. The following day, I always recheck my fittings and in two different occasions the tiniest drip of water, one that doesn’t leave a puddle because it’s so small, was oozing out. My advice is, double check your press fittings.

[@keitht24]

I don't trust the guy in this video. He basically trashes a lot of these products that make DIY jobs easier. I feel like he's concerned about losing work to DIY & other plumbers who're embracing these products to squeeze stubborn old timers like him out of the market. Propress & Sharkbites make plumbing jobs faster & infinitely easier. Being an old timers set in his ways makes him resistance to accepting new technology.

[@ericbutler856]

I've used it for about 9 years working as a plumber in the school district we have a lot of old buildings that go back to the 50s I've done a lot of difficult repairs to do that would have been very hard to do soldering. I know because I've had to solder some 4" water mains in tight areas .I've used to progress and it was a lot easier. But on some of these old pipes I've had them leak instantly on pipes that were pitted . I have to cut in a bunch of 4" and 3' valves and wondering how well there going to do on the 3" copper lines because there hot water lines and a bunch of out hot water lines tend to pit.

[@victorvinegar7116]

Propress is definitely a lot easier to install. It only becomes difficult when you're in a tight space, than I would rather sweat a joint. I don't know what I would say is better from a longevity standpoint though. I'm sure it'll hold for a long time but no one can really say for sure. Older guys hate it in general. They say it takes skill away from the trade. I agree with that, but technology will always evolve and if it makes the job easier and lasts just as long there's no stopping it. Love the editing by the way

[@liberaltears1714]

Victor Vinegar I think that’s why they made it $3,000 so the diy guys wouldn’t buy it

[@joshcowart2446]

I had that old timers attitude and I’m not old. It was more of a joke than anything. I’d say these damn kids and their propress never learning how to solder. That being said it was nice having a skill you could still teach rather than telling them to push a button. We started doing a lot of work for Austin ISD the past couple of years. They allow propress but not mega press. They said it’s because they can’t work on it which doesn’t make sense to me. It was nice however to pull out the power vice and dies and show a bunch of youngsters how it’s done

[@pauldank3453]

@@joshcowart2446 i Just got taught to solder and honestly i am glad it is Not Standard in our company but i can see how it requires more skill

[@joshcowart2446]

Krasser Dude it’s good to have that as an option though. For example, we put a bunch of angle stops on thinking we were putting in wall hung lavs. I had to take them all off and cut the rings to pull escutcheons whenever I learned cabinets were going in. The copper got a little messed up in the process and compression fittings wouldn’t seal so I just soldered on male adapters and screwed in threaded angle stops and it fixed it. Also if you do commercial work you’re ultimately going to have to put copper trap arms in and they don’t make pro press dwv fittings yet that I’m aware of.

[@Qusin111]

Pro press is easy but every single joint will leak in 15-20 years

[@Tracker7266]

A few years ago I renovated a master bathroom and called a plumber that I knew and trusted to set my shower pan and shower valve. He used ProPress. When I was watching him, I listened and learned a lot. Later on I had another bathroom renovation and some other plumbing repairs over the years and both times I rented a ProPress tool from a local plumbing supplier. I learned how to sweat or solder copper when I was younger from my grandfather & dad and I consider myself a pretty decent DIY person. So many times I've tried to solder "on-the-fly" or with water unknowingly in the line. A few times, when re-pressuring the lines, I'd find micro drips. Sooo .... drain the system, reheat, re-solder. Can be very frustrating. Also, a few times soldering copper in cramped quarters got to be a logistical nightmare and pretty dangerous. Hands down, ProPress is soooooo much easier. Just a few weeks ago I rented the tool to replace a large section of M pipe that was seeping and two gate valves that were shot along with about 20-30 feet of 1/2" and 3/4" pipe. The fittings aren't cheap and the tool rental cost was marginal but a task of soldering 15-20 joints that would have taken an entire day or weekend, only took about 2-3 hours. That includes cutting out the old, cutting in the new, dry fitting and connecting with the ProPress tool. That being said, I was on the hook and responsible for anything that happened to the tool or if it was stolen. It was $50.00 to rent for a weekend. (1 day rental fee) but the tool with the heads, batteries, etc. was over a $3,000 deposit. A 3/4" ball valve ran about $22-$25.00 at the time of this posting. The cost of a plumber would have been around $350-$450.00 for what I needed done. Total cost, tool rental, fittings and L copper pipe, cost me about $175.00-$200.00. Do I worry about the longevity and lifespan. Absolutely. Will I loose sleep over it, nope. My home was built in the early 80's. The M pipe I replaced was only 30 yrs. old and had pinhole leaks. The gate valves were leaking and shot. The L pipe and ProPress fittings will probably last longer than the crap the builder installed. Plus, I won't be around or living here in another 40-50 yrs. LOL

[@RogerWakefield]

Ray C I do like propress. I also agree that people learning to use it and make their own plumbing repairs can save a lot of money. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! I do appreciate it...

[@complaintrain]

Solder is proven when installed correctly. Propress will save you time on the job obviously and will pay for itself in time after a few jobs. But, time will tell longevity wise for progress fittings depending on those o-rings. Tenperature and quality of water on those o-rings! Soldering you can install tighter fitting layout, unlike propress. Usually newer technology is good, but having to adapt to change is what makes it hard to switch over. Solder for sure. I would have to see installs over ten years and water quality tests on those non failing installs to switch over.

[@915richyrooter9]

I prefer solder fittings but pro press fittings gets you in and out of job quickly the area where I work most of the gate valves don’t close or ball valves,like you said dealing with hot work permits working in day cares where you don’t want to set off the smoke detectors if you solder it’s a nice tool but pretty expensive!👍🏼

[@christianvega7493]

Funny you say that had to reschedule a main valve replacement in a condo unit but god damn main valve for that particular line doesn't hold water old gate valve waited 1hour thinking it was draining 8 floors and nothing. Main 2inch valve outside doesn't hold .

[@jacinthebox31]

I personally love the propress and megapress! Love to solder also! Done that for many applications cars, refrigeration, plumbing. But this press together system is a game changer when keeping up with the demand! Amazing invention and investment!

[@connicrow9463]

FYI, they have speedy convenient HVAC press fittings, and even removeable re-useable push fit types too now. Yes, specialized HVAC sized fittings with built in high pressure refrigerant O rings, and they crimp connect together same manner. No more lugging gas tanks, brazing mistakes, torching flames to set off alarms, and inner pipe soot from high heat to foul up TXV valves. They're more expensive of course but IMO well worth it

[@pualruiz]

I love and use both methods in my shop. One thing I will say about using propress tools, I don’t think guys who just came into the field and guys or gals right out of school should use it. I think soldering is a art. And that’s what I learned to do when I first started. Solder before you press

[@jeroncannon5278]

I love propress! When i used to do service calls using propress would speed things up so fast i was able to add 1-2 more jobs a day and make more money. Waiting for the whole system to drain out and you know immediately if its going to leak or not. Fantastic system! It was expensive for the tool but had it pay for itself in a couple of months with the extra work i was able to do!

[@hoth2o106]

I've got 4 service trucks with a propress in each one. Saves time every time. Only use the torch to remove a fitting if needed. Been using propress for 10 years and as long as you install the fittings properly there are no problems

[@frankmccurry2083]

I have a Milwaukee propress and I love it I am trying to get the Megapress

[@jellybean1976928]

10 years? That's nothing. When your installing under slab on a new build you should be looking at longevity in the hundreds of years, or at least a hundred years. Are the rubber fittings still going to seal in a hundred plus years?

[@salemkid_96]

Nibco pro press fittings suck

[@harrisfogel6992]

@@jellybean1976928 Having had slab leaks from 50 year old copper with soldered fittings, I think that is a moot point. The thing about gaskets, is that if designed and manufactured properly they can have incredibly long lives. Oxidation is normally where failures occur, and these types of fittings, seal against that. It's different then a SharkBite for that reason. I don't have a PowerPress tool, but would love one.

[@jellybean1976928]

@@harrisfogel6992 I own 4 houses that all have copper plumbing much older than me and I've never had a failure in copper, only in GAL pipe. Whereas I own 60 cars, the Majority of which are between 30 and 50 years old, I can be sure that even the best gaskets deteriorate and have a lifetime that shouldn't IMO have concrete poured over them making them non serviceable.

[@shawndunleavy892]

Mega press is a godsend. We’ve been pressing for about 12 years and never any fitting failures. Plus you can work with residual water in the line. Also check out the jaws ridgid makes that work on Milwaukee and their own press tools. It’s an actuator with small little jaws you open by had and put on the fitting then press it. It lets you press on angles and is great for tight spots

[@KharmenSense]

I do apartment maintanence. We have a lot of wore out gate valves that don't shut the water off completely or at all. The Propress is great for the fact I can keep working to get that leak/install done. I order the fittings on Amazon which are way cheaper than any Sharkbite (which I hate with a passion). I use the Ridgid RP115 and plan on getting the RP315 as soon as I can. A tub manifold install will consist of me sweating the copper in the shop as much as I can then using the propress at the apartment where expedience and safety concerns are a key factor. This cuts down on costs. coming out of the slab I will do a propess to ball valve to copper then pex adapter to pex to the copper I sweated in the shop to manifold (if that makes sense). I do this so the next guy down the road only has to cut off the pex to remove the manifold and replace with the same. This enables the next guy down the road to be able to do a replacement sans problems. Roger, I live on your channel. It has really expanded my knowledge and abilities vis a vis plumbing issues. When I get to a problem I don't have an understanding of, I tell my manager "I'll be right back, have to go ask Uncle Roger"

[@kevin7151]

Roger, thanks for the informative video. I appreciate your views on Propress but as a homeowner, still am inclined towards sweated joints. My house is 90 years old and many joints are original and still working in good order. No offense to Propress or Sharkbite, but they dont have that same history.

[@kevin7151]

@@connicrow9463 I respect your opinion, just am not an early adopter. Like to see things work out of a longer period of time, thats all. I hold the same position with respect to drug testing before it is made widely to the public. Just cautious that's all.

[@user-gy7kx8zx8k]

I like what your doing with the new edits

[@johncordero3510]

Freakin hilarious and informative

[@daelnelbel]

So when you did the old Windows Error insert I got an Ad, which made me laugh.

[@drasco61084]

Same here hahahah

[@robertdurnez5221]

@@drasco61084 q

[@joebaker9861]

As a handyman, I’ve been looking into getting a ProPress for a few years now. I struggle with not only the cost of the tool, but the exponential cost per fitting (which you failed to mention). However, every single time I’m soldering a fitting in old wok, and the heat travels up the pipe and gurgles that pocket of water (that’s lying in wait, for just the right moment, to totally screw my joint up) I swear I’m going out and buying one. As of yet, I haven’t been able to convince my wallet to let the cash go. My question to you (since you’re a seasoned professional) would be, how do you justify the added cost to a homeowner? Especially in today’s market, where the cost of everything is already 2-3 times as normal. Love your videos. I’ve watched many of them and almost always learn something new. And I absolutely refuse to use Sharkbite. I’ll never understand how they even make code.

[@zacharygallipeau1070]

@3:02

[@akwlb2]

The tool is an investment. If you charge by the job you add your material plus 10% and you finish faster. If they're paying for material you just have to sell them the product say how it's safer (fire wise) and that they pretty much last just as long.

[@jimmycreamer7905]

Soldering,brazing is an art. Done right joint will never fail, yes I’m 64 been doing it 45years. It has stood the test of time.LEARN TO DO IT,OR Take the easy way out! Yup old school. Didn’t the shuttle have a issue with a ORING

[@alfredocuomo1546]

What you're not addressing is the issue of residential copper pipe that is "M" rated thin wall that has a tendency to leak with propress harder copper fittings, they leak a lot almost like a sweet leak because the thin wall copper is crushing under the pressure of the harder fitting. This doesn't seem to happen on "K" & "L" rated commercial copper pipe.

[@deetredacted7270]

totally agree; I've used propress for about 20 years now no issues at all. evenn used it on hydronic heating systems. only thig I use sharkbite for is t&p drain line

[@joshcowart2446]

It hurt seeing him toss that fitting. They ding so easy and that looked like a 2” 90 which is probably $30. The two things about pro press I don’t like is there’s something in the back of my mind that worries about that o ring long term. I don’t like any sort of gasket I can’t change. The other thing i don’t like is you can’t undo it. I can sweat off a fitting. Once something is pressed you have to cut behind the fitting which may be in the wall. Sometimes you can get the smaller sizes off. Lining them up is another issue. Sometimes when pressing they get turned the wrong way. I’ve been able to turn megapress fittings a little with a pipe wrench but copper is too weak.

[@mx-lj4qq]

On point

[@scott19087]

Exactly! Propress had its place, it's quick and easy to use. Compression is where it's at.

[@paulallen-01]

The gasket doesn’t make the seal. You could literally pull the gasket out and press the fitting and it still wouldn’t leak. How do you think that propress passes fire ratings?

[@joshcowart2446]

@@paulallen-01 that’s what they say but I’ve found that not to be the case. Go ahead cut your pipe with a band saw or sawzall then just just shove it in the fitting regularly and tell me how well the system does when you nick or snag that o ring.

[@joshcowart2446]

@@paulallen-01 on top of that, EPDM can be fire rated. Uponor pex is fire rated. They even make fire rated pvc. It doesn’t ha w to be metal rod be fire rate

[@jamesclark5082]

I have used pro press I love it it saves time yes fittings are pricey but so are shark bites I have seen shark bites leak I use pro press in renovation work and I am in situations where sometimes valves dont shut off all way and can still get the job done quickly. I love it

[@isaiahyeates7816]

I use pro press and I love it... the only thing that I'm worried about is sometimes I plumb into older piping with well water running through it with low PH. As you know this will cause the piping to become thin. Is it still a good idea to pro press the thin pipe? Usually if I encounter thin piping I will just solder it for peace of mind. I'm a well water guy not a plumber but we do install the pressure tanks

[@jasonhines1232]

I subscribed just because this dude's edits are awesome, let alone great content.

[@RogerWakefield]

Jason Hines are you related to my videographer? I'm not giving him a raise if you are... Thanks for watching, commenting, and subscribing!

[@pauljohnson9853]

Hey Roger, I am seriously thinking about making a career change to plumbing, because their are so many aspects that I like about it. Can you give advice on a couple that I'm worried about: -Crawl spaces: How often are you in them, and how safe, gross are they? -Diseases: How likely can someone get hepatitis, legionnaires, aids, etc? Do plumber's get shots to prevent this?

[@peterschulties3258]

Crawl spaces are typically pretty bad. The most important thing is that you use safety precautions like a quality mask. The other thing is you need to be in decent shape. The amount of time spent in a crawl space is different for every plumber. For me as an example, maybe 1 in 50 jobs. Disease....Yes we are vaccinated for Hep and Tetnis. Again saftey first. This trade is getting safer everyday. It's a very rewarding profession and we need more people entering the trades.

[@mattmartin5136]

Propress fittings are now available at Home Depot as well as propex-a

[@usernumber4735]

I just want to say thank you so much! I am starting my career in plumbing after finally finishing my trade school just a little bit ago and I LOVE your videos! every video I have seen has been both very entertaining and extremely informative! So keep EM' coming!

[@wickedleeloopy2115]

30 years ago progress was unheard of . Battery & tool technology has come along way

[@petersmart1999]

2 words,JetSwet ! Used them for years,easy!

[@fuckinmatt6241]

Im a plumber i feel the same as you i used progress in commercial work but residential id rather sweat my joints. But that being said. Megapress is far superior to threading gas pipe. A few months back i did two house next to each other about 3500 sq ft. Layouts were a little different But used about the same material on both. The first i threaded it took me and my helper A day and a half to do the first one and had a leak we had to find and fix. The second i decided to press and no joke it took us about two hours no leaks no issues. Yes the cost is substantial for the setup and the fittings but the time u save in labor makes it worth it , Not to mention if u rent the tool and the heads from the suppler for about 30 dollars a day. Id like to see a video on mega press vs threaded pipe .

[@henryt9254]

The biggest flaw with Propress is that you cannot reuse any fittings once it is pressed. With soldering any mistake can be unsoldered and be corrected, but not Propress.

[@frankgrimes6771]

You can press an open propress ball valve on a waterline w.FULL LIVE PRESSURE, then simply close the ball valve. Amazing system.

[@RogerWakefield]

Frank Grimes I like that so much better than sharkbite fittings! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@HygroHybrid]

I prefer solder. But like you said there are some instances with fire permits fire hazard scenarios where it can be valuable but I wouldn't look to it in every fix

[@mastersfan04]

Im a service plumber in southern California. I like the convenience of propress, but i have noticed it doesn't do well with earthquakes. I have repaired numerous propress leaks, but i supposed those propress fittings may not have been done correctly.

[@zuborpatrik3382]

In Hungary, we do basically everything with press joints, and the satisfying noise of the machine itself.. absolutly worth it :)

[@eyellgeteven9928]

Yeah, I love that sound, especially when you are doing bigger stuff like 4" fittings. Propress is one of those things that almost every time I use it, I'm amazed by it and very thankful it was invented.

[@in-textbaptist4947]

Hey Roger. I was wondering if you could ever adress the math that comes with plumbing? From your perspective so far deep into the business, how neccessary is it? Do you really just need the basics or is it really as essential as our teachers back in high school made it seem to scare us into calculus?

[@paintball130]

I love propess. Except for when it pulls while I'm pressing it and fucks up my square, plumb, and level... then i hate it with a passion

[@johng9562]

With soldered copper fittings proven 50 to 100 year lifespan, and propress fittings being so very new, there is no proof to back up their 50 year lifespan claims....guess we'll have to wait another 30+ years to find out.

[@BC-sk3bp]

Don't use much.. But when I do I love it. Especially for gas. Megapress oh yeah 😁

[@mothman-jz8ug]

I've used SharkBite pex tubing, Sharkbite cinch rings, SharkBite barbed fittings, and so on. They've always performed as well as other brands.

[@kalenbarker7891]

Just saw it being sold at Home Depot this evening.

[@MisterGreenGuy]

Yep, they started carrying press fittings this year, but not when this video was made.

[@BigDaddyLinux]

We have been using pro press for a few months now and I love it. The only downsides are that the Milwaukee tool sometimes clamps on so tight it's almost impossible to get off the fitting without hammering it off (especially when using Pro Press to Rehau adaptors) and it's more expensive when mistakes are made in cutting the right size pipe and things are already clamped but I guess that's more operator error than anything else. Other than those two small things, Pro press makes my job a whole lot easier. Thanks for the video from a new sub

[@RogerWakefield]

BigDaddyLinux thanks for watching and commenting! I love the feedback and additional information! And, thanks for subscribing!

[@mkl5448]

I would invest in pex tools before pro press. I know you were not comparing those, but just saying. I just think in the next 10 to 20 years everything is going to be pex. I don't really agree with it, but that's where it's headed. Also the ProPress is really hard for tight quarters, but it does seems like a really great system.

[@2dthoughts]

Love Pro Press Was able to fix a leak live on an 1”1/2 or 2” line at a grocery store years ago Cut line, got ball valve on second attempt, after water shot it out of my hands first try Scary but worked perfect. Been sold since

[@irishmike4914]

But $200 for a 2" propress ball valve compared to $45 kills me. The best $250 I spent on tools in the last few years was a jet sweat kit.

[@2dthoughts]

@@irishmike4914 yeah I have an old Jet sweat kit But the ease and time saved is well worth the price to me Especially since the customer ultimately buy the parts I have the 2” jaws but only used them once in a supermarket. Was a live replacement because water couldn’t be shutoff. Worked great and never could have done it with a Jet sweat and torch

[@irrelevant2235]

How could ProPress be better than solder since the EPDM rubber o-ring inside of the ProPress joint will rot over time whereas there is nothing to rot in a soldered joint?

[@ysfoz5684]

I see a lot of plumbers, mainly in UK, bending copper pipes, but in the US many use elbow fittings. Any comments on bending Vs. fittings?

[@kirkpennell3028]

Induction heater no flame and the new ones work great

[@bigneilh]

I can only imagine this is going to be a recall on propress when people discover the rubber washers start to deteriorate. I don't know why no one else sees it? This reminds me of the early pex style piping that is all being ripped out!

[@barryprobber4921]

I have thought about that before because of seeing the way that age and wear has affected similar gaskets but overall, I like to see which approach fits the job! With all the minerals, etc. in today’s water, valves just don’t totally stop the water flow you’re not a plumber if you haven’t struggled with that!

[@mikevila3715]

Hi Roger, I have the Rothenberger press tool for A/C - Refrigerant, Plumbing & Black Iron Piping. It’s the best tool ever, but is not cheap to purchase.

[@kooale]

Good intro for the novice/uninitiated. MANY THANKS!

[@nakclahan6445]

I got pro press n loving it

[@isaiahyeates7816]

To everyone saying O rings don't last don't last forever... you're wrong. I'm a Well water guy and pull pitless adapters that were installed the 60s with leather o rings that I will pull up and set back down without even a whisp of water leaking.. we just put a bit of leather conditioner and back into the well they go... and those are o rings that are pulled out worked and put back down atleast 4 or 5+ times in the lifetime of a house. Not in a press fitting with. Constant 3000lb of force... I've pulled rubber o rings installed in the 70s and haven't even batted an eye they're all in perfect condition. Just some silicone and in they go 🚶 I highly doubt there will be any problem with the o rings. I see the rubber lasting for atleast 100 years

[@mahtoe]

For the do it your self-ers, they do sell manual pro press fitting crimpers for around $150. You don't need to buy a $2000 battery operated crimper.

[@drewd7824]

Which pro press and heads do you recommend!?? That will do fire systems, gas’s and water?

[@spenceryelinek4313]

Im gonna replace my houses plumbing and the company I work for has a few of the milwaukee press tools and will let me borrow it for the job. Sure, the cost is higher, but man its such a time saver and it looks great.

[@hoth2o106]

You forgot to mention that you can buy a chain cutter attachment for the propress to cut cast iron pipe up to 4 inches in diameter

[@andrewr6861]

So I consider the joint itself Inferior only because of the weak link the rubber o-ring. If minerals in the water are breaking down copper pipe the rubber has no chance of lasting just as long. As ease of use yeah I understand why people love it. At the same time you are taking the skill out of skilled trade, just my opinions.

[@johnathonmcguire7738]

I know this video was awhile ago but home depot sells propress fittings now. thank you for the great information.

[@Prosecute-fauci]

Pro press isn’t just as good as solder at maximum working pressures, but at the pressures that you actually see in the world it is identical.

[@GenoVictor]

Thank you, Roger, for your video! Without question, you are the subject matter EXPERT!

[@firestarterfernie]

The edits make it really entertaining to learn new things. Keep it up :)

[@ryanmilliken3938]

My company does a lot of commercial stuff and we started megapressing gas lines and most of the time can get them 100% done in 3 days vs threading taking a week +.

[@centralcoastcamper9631]

I've never seen an o ring that lasts forever.

[@doug960]

I've never seen a piece of copper pipe last forever, either... Especially in low P.H. well systems. 50 years is more than acceptable. Most homes are overhauled and re-plumbed way more often than every 50 years anyway.

[@isaiahyeates7816]

Lol... I've seen leather o rings I've pulled easily 50+ years old. May not last to 200 years but I believe they will last a life time

[@u82zar]

I don’t believe the O ring is what seals. I believe it’s the copper that’s fused together with the tool. The O ring is a “backup” from what I understand. I just used this tool and it’s the best recent tool invention. The connections I did aren’t going anywhere.

[@josephdunnavant2898]

Never seen copper last forever either so what’s your point

[@oilandfireguy1739]

​@@u82zar I've heard the same thing. The copper males the seal. I also see solder joints full of corrosion on the regular.

[@tyronelove82]

Great incite, awesome since of humor.👍🏻

[@tallbrian100]

I have seen leaking pro-press fittings, have also seen leaking solder fittings, burnt flux. Skilled plumbers are hard to come by.

[@markstokes7366]

Roger my local HD has started carrying propress

[@plumb_bob_rob]

Thank you for making all these great videos

[@RogerWakefield]

Hampton Amos thank you for watching and commenting. I also hope that you subscribed. Are you in plumbing? If so where are you located?

[@StilettoSniper]

I was a bit skeptical about ProPress, but after doing more research and working with the Ridgid tool and Viega fittings, I have come around to seeing this as a viable solution IF proper procedures are followed in preparation prior to crimping (which is the same logic for making a making a good solder connection). Unfortunately, KZbin is full of examples by "professionals" (and I use that term very lightly) that do not think it is necessary to clean, deburr and outer ream pipes at all when they are using Propress or Sharkbites. I was also skeptical about the quality of the water seal of ProPress versus Sharkbite, as both use an EPDM o-ring. HOWEVER, as shown in the following video, quality Propress fittings appear to seal not only with the o-ring but with the mechanical heavy crimp performed by the tool: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYubiIZ8ptZkaac. Based on what is shown in this video, ProPress has a major leg up on Sharkbite in terms of water sealing, as a Sharkbite is 100% reliant on the EPDM o-ring alone. Remove the o-ring from a Sharkbite and install the fitting on the pipe, it will leak like a sieve. This video seems to show that is NOT the case with a properly installed ProPress fitting, at least the Viega and Nibco elbows tested here at 60 psi. Anyway, food for thought for anyone that believed (as i did) that ProPress and Sharkbite are identical in their water sealing capabilities since both use an EPDM o-ring. This video has made me stop and see that this is NOT the case, as Propress apparently has two systems (the heavy crimp AND the o-ring) that seal against water leakage while Sharkbite has only one. At least within the parameters of the test indicated in the linked video.

[@petersmart1999]

I can remove a solder joint,a propress fitting needs to be cut out and use a specialty fitting or add pipe! Im not against them,I just hate the lack of skill!

[@DragonsRage]

I used a pro press for the first time in school today! I think over time the pro press will be better as its electric so you don’t have to buy fuel

[@fixerupperer]

The cost of gas for the torch is a negligible consideration with all the other factors. The cost of flux is probably the only less important one.

[@latenight6815]

Yes but 1 fitting offsets the price of the fuel, Flux and some solder

[@txreal2]

What about what's better for the long term FOR THE CUSTOMER? HOW LONG WILL EACH LAST?

[@MrTooTechnical]

Solder for life baby. Woohoo

[@doinkstankhammer987]

I work on packaged pump systems that use sharkbites on some of the 1” connections, running 100psi and have yet to see one fail.

[@TheDavelaird]

i agree with your take on Pro Press and Mega Press-I've used them for a few years now and barely ever solder or braze-The Tools are more Expensive in Canada, but worth every penny on the savings on Labour (70% 0ver soldering) I'm a Master Plumbing & Heating Tradesman in Toronto and I find The newer Ridgid Pro Press and MegaPress Tools outperform The Milwaukee ones (China Vs Switzerland Manufacturing)-

[@andygoeler8178]

Awesome videos....insightful and fun to watch!!!!

[@RogerWakefield]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting!

[@frank3stangs]

Just Bought a Rigid 241 kit and used it for the first time tonight!! I think I'm going to like it a lot!! ;-)

[@jimallen5867]

What is the best pipe type for a main water line and what type of underground fitting to the meter is best?

[@Arpeman_Fi]

So how much each of them handle on - Presure - Vacuum - Heat - Cold - Temperature fluctuations - Pull stress - Push stress - Shaking stress - Test of Time Or what style of connection would you rather use on each of those stress

[@irrelevant2235]

Once you ProPress a fitting, you can't Un-ProPress it out. Once it's there, it's there! Whereas with soldering, you can always unsolder a fitting if needed.

[@Vincerama]

For home owners, you can get manually operated propress tools for under $200, if you are so inclined.

[@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr]

I am a landlord, I fix almost all of my plums myself, I use pex and shark bites, my oldest repair is 15 yrs old , so far, so good!

[@wolfunger8399]

Roger, I love your videos, but EPDM o-rings are stated by Viega to have a 50 year life expectancy in ProPress. A copper joint soldered has a life expectancy of 70 to 120 years. So the ProPress might be as good as solder as far as ability to seal, but how long it seals is now not equitable. My house was built in 1972, and its copper water system is still good without leaks, but if ProPress had been done back then, I would have to worry about it. I can sweat a joint in under a minute so I don't mind sweating as us old Dinosaurs done it enough that we can do it in our sleep.

[@josecarbajal6706]

Press fittings are available at Home Depot. Zurn and Apollo

[@common_c3nts]

Propress and sharkbite are the same things. They are used by bad plumbers who are too lazy to solder or use Pex-A. Never trust fittings that rely on an oring.

[@ernestleo6284]

There is no question welding two metals together whether steel or copper will always be stronger than compression, push to connect or bolts and nuts. With plumbing the question is will the push to connect or compression be strong enough to hold the fitting? Push to connect are rated at 200 PSI while compression fittings are rated even higher. Since the PSI in my home is 80 both push to connect and compression seem suitable. What is the downside? With copper fittings that are soldered you are exposing your water intake to lead which is hazardous to your health. In that case you would need to install a water filtration system to remove the lead. With push to connect or compression you don't have the lead problem if you are comfortable with a non-soldered fitting. Push to connect were invented by a British engineer in 1980 to be used as a quick fix for plumbing leaks on vessels where it is impractical or impossible to weld or solder.

[@vanillasky4221]

You plumbing worth it sir! Thank you for the informative videos and for the good laugh, most old bucks font have this kind of humor

[@MrThumper1440]

Weak point I see might be the o-ring. I know my copper pipes are over 65 years if not more. Wondering if an O-ring can last that long?

[@danlux4954]

He said the are engineered to last 50 years. My house is 60+ years.

[@trbgeneralconstruction555]

My wife said your edits are do good.

[@shockingshorts8043]

The megapress yeah hands down probably worth the investment the ProPress may I think I just read her keep on soldering

[@samthesaxman4487]

7 Astronauts died because of defective o-rings on a space shuttle

[@ericbaker8807]

To clarify, the data collected after the incident doesn't suggest the O-rings were defective. The data suggests they were used outside their safe operating conditions. Every material has a glass transition temperature. Get too hot, and materials become rubbery and not as effective. Get too cold and things become brittle. The morning of the launch, the ambient temperature was very low. Actually it was a record low if I remember correctly. This caused the O-rings to become brittle. Many engineers suggested delaying due to cold conditions.. but they launched anyways. Also, you're comparing apples to oranges here. Plumbing a hot/cold water system is just a tad different than sealing solid rocket booster combustion gases lol.

[@memyself5924]

What about turning the inside of the pipe into a stop sign? So much for laminar flow. I repair loads of leaks near pro press nineties

[@newblakestone]

Nice magic trick at the beginning Edit: when did sharks start making tie fighter noises xD

[@Lou-jf4rl]

From a home owner / landlord perspective I value copper over pex and propress. I'd much rather have a new build home with soldered copper.

[@jefftitterington7600]

Keep on making videos (this unskilled homeowner loves them) and please - keep up the great editing!

[@AskDoctorMurphy]

i've had to replace many soldered fittings that are above 35mm that have leaked within 5 years. I replaced with press fittings

[@zawajzzabahs9494]

I feel more comfortable that there will be no leaks after soldering, but propress is quick and easy to use in tight spaces.

[@jenniferbyrne8334]

I love using pro press for boilers because there’s guaranteed to be no leak if you Cut everything cleanly and Remove the burrs. Back when I was an apprentice I remember all the times that my coworkers rush through soldering we would fill the system up and have leaks Then have to drain everything and Try again

[@firefighter72335]

I use press. I love it. I have the small and large units with jaws that go up to 4in.

[@IppiopaidFEEDBACK]

I just started using pro press for the first time last week. I’m not a plumber, just a renovation laborer however I am assisting a plumber to do 300 hotel bathrooms for the next 4 to 6 months. Pro-press had been excellent, I feel like superman right now. The only question I have to ask is about cleaning the pipe that you are attaching it to. The pipe is dirty and dusty from being in the wall for over 35 years, do I need to clean that off like you clean off when you’re soldering? I know you have to takeoff all the burrs when you cut it and mark it before you press it together.

[@Matthiass721]

I was given the mini Milwaukee propress tool with the 1/2,3/4,and1” jaws as a bonus when I signed on with my company, and I gotta tell ya, it really saves time and hassle on residential service work. I personally think it looks great too.

[@DiegoRamirez-hn7yp]

Hey man where can I get the tool im a service plumber and how much is it and also does Ferguson supply the fittings? Or homedepot

[@williamknighton7416]

Thank you for the video I own my own ProPress it's in Milwaukee with heads up to inch and a quarter but I've never had to get anything larger than 1 inch and I've seen the megapress and I love the idea I've never actually used it but I hope someday soon as I get my hands on one so I can just as soon as my knee heals up like go back to work thanks again for the great video

[@irishmike4914]

My friends and I are waiting for each other to but it. Nobody wants to be the guinea pig

[@tdobson888]

Everything has it's place I've used all systems depending on what was needed