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.
At its core, ProPress is a flameless connection system. Instead of using heat and filler metal (solder), it uses radial compression.
For decades, the soundtrack of a residential or commercial plumbing site was unmistakable: the hiss and roar of an acetylene torch, the sizzle of solder melting, and the thud of a fire blanket smothering a stray spark. Soldering copper was a rite of passage—a skill that separated journeymen from apprentices. propresser
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.
ProPress doesn't make you a better plumber than the old-timer with the torch. But it does make you a faster , safer , and often more profitable one. In a trade where margins are razor-thin, that clicking sound is the sound of money being saved. Have you made the switch to ProPress
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.
| Feature | ProPress | Solder (Torch) | SharkBite (Push) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Very Fast | Slow | Instant | | Permanent? | Yes | Yes | No (removable) | | Tool Cost | High ($3k) | Low ($100) | None | | Fitting Cost | High ($4) | Low ($0.80) | High ($6) | | Fire Risk | None | High | None | | Reliability (Long term) | Excellent (40+ yrs) | Excellent (50+ yrs) | Good (25 yrs) | | Best Use Case | Commercial, large repipes | Tight spaces, low budget | Temporary caps, homeowner | And don’t forget to check your local code
A Milwaukee ProPress tool weighs about 8 lbs. Holding that above your head in a ceiling tile while balancing on a ladder for the 50th press of the day is a legitimate workout. A torch is light.