You have the tool. The question nobody answers well is what to actually carry, because a press system only saves time if the fitting you need is already on the van.
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Stock by what you repair, not by what a kit contains
Most pre-built assortments are weighted toward elbows because elbows photograph well. On service work the ratio you actually burn through is closer to:
- Couplings — the most used fitting you own. Every cut-out repair takes at least one, and usually two. Carry more of these than anything else.
- 90 degree elbows next.
- Tees, in fewer numbers — you plan tees, you rarely meet them by surprise.
- Press by thread adapters, both male and female, for tying into valves, water heaters and existing threaded work.
- Press by PEX or push adapters if you work on mixed systems.
⭐ The single most useful item is a coupling without a stop. A standard coupling has an internal shoulder, so it needs one pipe free to move. In a repair, both ends are usually fixed. A stopless coupling slides fully onto one side, then back across the joint — it is what turns an impossible repair into a five-minute one. Carry several.
Sizes: half and three-quarter cover most of it
On residential service, 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch will handle the large majority of what you meet. One inch appears on mains and larger runs; above that you are usually on planned work where you can pick up fittings for the job.
⚠️ Check what your jaws actually cover before you buy fittings. A compact tool that stops at 1 inch cannot press the 1-1/4 inch fitting sitting in your case, and reaching that size means buying up — see RIDGID vs Milwaukee press tools and M12 vs M18.
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Assortments worth starting from
- 1/2-inch press fitting kit — couplings, 90 elbows and tees — a sensible spread of the three fittings you use most in the size you use most.
- 3/4-inch press fittings assortment — tees, couplings and elbows — the second size to stock, and the one that catches you out on water heater and main runs.
- Viega 78047 ProPress zero-lead 1/2-inch couplings, 10-pack — buying couplings in bulk separately is how you keep the fitting you always need in stock.
🔴 Confirm the fittings are rated for the service before they go on the van. A standard press fitting is built for potable water and hydronic heating. Gas, refrigeration and some chemical services need a different sealing element entirely — that is covered in press fitting O-rings and what each seal is rated for.
The rest of the case
Fittings alone do not make a working kit. What actually stops a job:
- A tube cutter and a reamer. Every press joint starts with a square, deburred cut — an inner/outer pipe reamer handles both sides of the cut.
- A depth marker. Marking insertion depth on the tube is the only way to see at a glance that a fitting is fully home before you press it.
- Spare batteries. A dead press tool on a Saturday is a soldering job you did not plan for.
- A way to deal with water, because you will meet a line that will not drain.
Full tool comparison: best press tools. Fitting brands and how interchangeable they really are: copper press fittings.
Where a starter kit pays for itself
Not on planned repipes — there you buy for the job. It pays on service calls where the line will not dry, in occupied buildings where an open flame means a hot work permit, and in tight ceilings where you cannot safely get a torch in. That is the honest case for the system, and it is set out against sweating in ProPress vs soldering and can you press a wet line.
FAQ
What press fittings should I keep on the van?
Mostly couplings, then 90 degree elbows, then a smaller number of tees, plus press-to-thread adapters, in 1/2 and 3/4 inch. Include several couplings without a stop — they are what make a repair possible when both pipe ends are fixed.
What is the difference between a coupling with and without a stop?
A coupling with a stop has an internal shoulder that sets insertion depth, so one pipe must be free to move. A stopless coupling slides fully onto one pipe and back over the joint, which is what you need when both ends are fixed.
Do press fittings from different brands mix?
Fittings and jaws are not universally interchangeable, and mixing outside a manufacturer’s stated compatibility can void approvals. Check the specific combination before you rely on it — the brand comparison covers this in detail.
Related guides
For the plumbers reading this
Most of this site is written for homeowners — this page clearly isn’t. If you’re in the trade and want the occasional straight-shooting note when I publish something like this (fittings comparisons, tool tests, code changes), drop your email. No spam, no course funnel, written by a licensed GA journeyman.
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