SharkBite Push to Connect 1/2 in. Push x 1/2 in. Dia. Push Brass Coupling

I bought a pair of the 18" braided stainless lines w/shut-off valves to connect a new hot water heater. I was extremely skeptical at first. Surely anything that said "push on and walk away" was too good to be true. I pushed them on and walked away. Never saw even a hit of a leak. I am completely sold. You will want a simple copper pipe cutter (I got the compact one from Ridgid for ~$12). It gives you a nice, even squared up opening to push the connector on. Still cheaper than a torch, flux, solder, more copper pipe (which you'll still need the cutter for). If it leaks when you put it on, it's not installed correctly. But it's hard to mess these up.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Shark Bite fittings are great for home repairs because it makes a great water title connection without having to fire up a torch and risk starting a fire. We use them as a safe alternative to soldering in homes.