My propress pipe connection at my water heater failed. At the sealing ring. Three years old.

Propress failures are almost always installation errors. Or a cheap part issue.

Most professional plumbing companies are 100% propress now.

The time factor is a fraction of the old solder method. They still charge a fortune.

I had a heating system put in, a few years ago, the plumber was new to propress and I had 5 leaks.

He eventually fixed them all and has not been a problem since.

Fortunately, the work was all in my garage.


Some plumbers use knock-off cheap fittings and that also causes problems.

I would only want Viega fittings, the company that invented propress.

I would also only use Sharkbite where I have access. I have a repair going strong for five years in a closet where I can see it.

While I am no pro plumber, I have had nothing but good things to say about Shark Bite fittings. I have installed many water heaters with them/hoses, redid my washer hot/cold levers and a splice in the wall them (also have an access panel there for the future) and capped off many pipes using them. Some have been on for over 9+ years without issue. All of my repairs were for the most part,exterior, so take that as you may.

When I remodeled my kitchen back in January 2017 I used shark bites to run hot/cold water lines to the sink and I used shark bites when I installed an outdoor faucet for my hose and so far none of the shark bites have failed.