Propresser May 2026

Have you made the switch to ProPress? Or are you still soldering until the bitter end? Drop a comment below—let’s hear the debate. And don’t forget to check your local code amendments before pressing that first fitting. Disclaimer: Plumbing codes vary by jurisdiction. Always consult local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) before using alternative joining methods.

The liability of fire alone justifies the tool cost. Being able to press a valve onto a live 2" main line without shutting down a 40-story building is a superpower.

Soldering requires: cutting, reaming, cleaning (abrasive cloth), fluxing, assembling, heating, applying solder, wiping, and cooling. ProPress requires: cutting, reaming (deburring is critical), marking depth, pressing. A skilled fitter can press a fitting in 5 seconds versus 60 seconds for solder. propresser

Can’t get the line 100% dry? Solder is impossible. With ProPress, you can press a fitting into a dripping line. The O-ring is lubricated and can handle residual moisture and minor dribbles. This is a lifesaver for emergency repairs on domestic water lines in occupied buildings.

In hospitals, schools, and data centers, getting a hot work permit is a bureaucratic nightmare. It involves fire watches, extinguishers, and sometimes paying a firefighter to sit there. ProPress requires no flame, no spark, and no fire watch. It slashes insurance liability on job sites. Have you made the switch to ProPress

Flux is acidic. If you don’t wipe it off after soldering, it can corrode the pipe over time. ProPress uses no flux, meaning cleaner lines and less risk of pinhole leaks years down the road.

But if you walk onto a new construction site today, you are just as likely to hear the ratcheting click of a ProPress tool. Manufactured by Viega, ProPress is a mechanical press fitting system that has fundamentally changed how we join copper tubing. It is faster, colder, and statistically more reliable than traditional solder. And don’t forget to check your local code

For a DIY homeowner, a $3,000 tool is insanity. Even for a journeyman, the ROI only makes sense if you are pressing 100+ fittings a week. The fittings themselves cost 3x to 5x more than a standard copper fitting. A ½” copper elbow is $0.80; a ProPress elbow is $4.00.