ProPress Systems

Justin Gavin

I am almost finished installing a light commercial system using Pro Press fittings. I can honestly say that we have saved about 3-4 days in labor vs. conventional sodering methods.

Has anyone else tried it yet? And if so any problems I should look out for.

Our wholesaler is pushing hard on the product because the cost per fitting is 4-8 times the price of regular copper.

My 2 cents from a business standpoint is this:

You do save on installation time. Almost unreal the amount of time saved.

But since the fittings cost so much you have to make a pretty beefy investment in fittings or else your installers will be going back and forth to the wholesaler.

Any other thoughts on the system, pro or con, would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

Justin Gavin

kevin_5

Try the archives Justin

I don't have a Pro Press Justin, but I have read some stuff here about it. Do a word search on pro press or something.
I remember people saying about what you said as far as saving a lot of time. You are the first one I remember talking about fitting cost. To add another twist, I am wondering how electrical resistance soldering compares with the ocnventional torch. I'm assuming it's faster but never tried it. Kevin

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Steve Ebels

Another option

We bought a roll groover (Rems) and have been using that for all of our main piping runs on most jobs. The grooved cast iron fittings are less expensive than the ProPress fittings and are a proven system. Central brand fittings are by far the least expensive in our area. A good 20% less than Victaulic and 10-15% less than Pro Press. Again, this is in our area (Northen Michigan). Check around and think outside the box, distributors around here vary by a great margin.

Many times for the branch runs we use Stadler-Viega's PAP product with their pressfit system for going to radiators, baseboard or whatever. This is incredibly quick and foolproof to use.

Firedragon_4

Be careful, you didn't say

where you were from but some states are not allowing Pro Press or Victaulic due to an ASME ruling.

There's some confusion too, because ASME doesn't want them in the supplies, but the returns are a diffrent story. That's on steam, for sure and water is up-in-the air.

Best bet, check with the state boiler people or a commercial insurer.

Steve Ebels

I haven't heard

Of this ruling George. What are you refering to? We just had a job inspected this spring by Boiler and Mechanical here in Michigan and had one of those nice Green stickers applied with no questions asked. It was roughly 850' of 2 and 2 1/2" steel with around 140 grooved fittings in the string. Low pressure hot water heating application.