End Feed, Compression or Push-Fit: Which Copper Fitting Should You Use?

End Feed, Compression or Push-Fit: Which Copper Fitting Should You Use?

If you are plumbing in copper, you have got three connection methods to choose from: end feed, compression, and push-fit. Each has its place on the job. Get it wrong and you are either wasting time with a torch where you did not need one, or coming back to fix a leak because you used the wrong fitting for the application. This guide cuts through the noise and tells you exactly when to use each type — with product picks you can collect today from APM Electricals in Acton.

End Feed Fittings: The Soldered Standard

End feed fittings are the bread-and-butter of copper pipework. They are the cheapest fitting type per unit, they require no solder pre-loaded in the fitting, and when done right they make a joint that will outlast the building. You clean the pipe end and fitting with wire wool or emery cloth, apply flux, push the pipe into the fitting, apply heat with a blowtorch, and feed solder into the joint until it runs all the way around.

The downside is obvious: you need a torch and solder, you need clearance to work the flame, and you need a dry pipe. If there is any water movement in the pipe you will never get the solder to flow properly. End feed is the professional standard for new installations and planned refurbishments where you can drain down properly.

Best for: New installations, extension work, anywhere you can drain and dry the system.

We stock the full Embrass Peerless Atomic End Feed range including WRAS-approved couplers in 15mm, 22mm, 28mm and larger sizes. The Atomic range has a slightly thicker wall than budget alternatives, which matters on high-temperature central heating circuits.

Compression Fittings: No Flame Required

Compression fittings work mechanically. You slide the cap nut over the pipe, slide on the olive (a small brass or copper ring), push the pipe into the fitting body, and tighten the nut. As the nut tightens, it compresses the olive against the pipe and fitting body, creating a watertight seal. No torch, no flux, no solder.

Compression is the go-to when you cannot or should not use a flame. Working under a timber floor, near insulation, inside a kitchen cabinet, or in a tight spot where heat build-up is a risk — compression is the safer and often faster choice. They are also demountable: undo the cap nut and you can disconnect the fitting and reuse the body, though the olive is usually replaced.

The main consideration is overtightening. A compression joint only needs to be hand-tight plus one and a quarter turns with a spanner. Go further and you distort the olive, the pipe, or both, and you end up with a leak or a fitting you cannot remove. Use PTFE tape on the threads if you want extra peace of mind on compression fittings going into a male iron fitting.

Best for: Repair work, live systems where draining is impractical, working near combustibles, under floorboards.

Our Embrass Peerless Compact Compression Coupler range covers 8mm through 54mm and includes straight couplers, tees, elbows, and male-iron adaptors. The compact body is particularly useful in tight spaces. For heavy-pattern applications (large bore, high-pressure commercial work), we also stock the HP series.

Push-Fit Fittings: Speed on Site

Push-fit fittings use a grab ring and an O-ring seal. You deburr the pipe, push it into the fitting until it clicks, and it is done. Genuinely no tools required for the connection itself. They work on copper, plastic barrier pipe, and most compatible CPVC pipes, which makes them useful on mixed-material installations.

The trade-off is cost per fitting (push-fit is the most expensive of the three) and the fact that some installers and specifiers are not comfortable with them for central heating circuits running at higher temperatures and pressures. Always check the manufacturer's temperature and pressure ratings — reputable brands like Hep2O are rated for central heating, but make sure you are using the right product for the application.

Push-fit excels for appliance connections, under-sink work, and anywhere speed matters and access is limited. They are also fully demountable with a simple disconnect tool or the cap on the fitting itself.

Best for: Fast repairs, appliance connections, plastic-to-copper transitions, under-sink plumbing.

We stock Hep2O push-fit fittings in 15mm, 22mm, and 28mm, including elbows, straight couplers, and tees. Hep2O is a Wavin product and one of the most trusted push-fit brands in UK plumbing.

Quick Comparison: End Feed vs Compression vs Push-Fit

WRAS Approval: Does It Matter?

WRAS (Water Regulations Advisory Scheme) approval means the fitting has been tested and certified as safe for use in UK potable water systems. For any work on the mains cold water system or domestic hot water, you should be using WRAS-approved fittings. The Embrass Peerless Atomic End Feed range we stock carries WRAS approval, as do most of the compression fittings in the Embrass range.

For central heating circuits (closed system, not potable water), WRAS approval is not a requirement — but quality still matters. Stick to recognised trade brands like Embrass Peerless rather than cheap unbranded fittings, especially on high-pressure pressurised systems.

Stock Available Today in Acton

We carry end feed, compression, and push-fit fittings across the full copper pipe size range at our trade counter in Acton. Walk in, tell us what you are working on, and we will pull the right fittings. No minimum order, no waiting for delivery. Browse the full range in our plumbing fittings collection.

APM Electricals — 24 Western Avenue, Acton, London W3 7TZ. Call 020 8702 8080. Open to the trade.